Students honor wartime veterans with courtyard concerts in Nizhny Novgorod
Students in Nizhny Novgorod’s Avtozavodsky District have been performing wartime songs for veterans in their own courtyards. The initiative, called Spring of Victory, brings together young volunteers and local residents to honour those who lived through the war. This year marks the second time the project has taken place, with even more events planned than before. The performances began with students visiting veterans at home, singing classic songs like Den Pobedy (Victory Day). Neighbours and passersby quickly joined in, turning small gatherings into shared moments of remembrance. Among those visited was Tatyana Alekseyevna Prikaznova, a former concentration camp prisoner, who thanked the students for their performance.
Anna Ivanovna Balakina, who worked on the home front during the war, also shared her memories with the young performers. The courtyard concert became a space for stories and music, connecting generations. Denis Krasilnikov, a first-year student at Nizhny Novgorod Industrial College, described the experience as deeply moving and said he hopes to take part in more events like this. The Spring of Victory initiative is organised by the district’s Youth Council and the youth board of GAZ Group. Over 300 events are scheduled across Avtozavodsky as part of the wider Victory Day celebrations. Young volunteers plan to visit even more veterans in the coming days, continuing the tradition of music and remembrance.
The project has grown since its first year, with more students and residents taking part. Veterans like Prikaznova and Balakina have received personal visits and performances, while the community has come together through shared songs. Organisers say the initiative will keep expanding, ensuring wartime memories remain alive for younger generations.
