Today, we are interviewing Konstantin Ishkhanov, an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the Founder and the President of the European Foundation for Support of Culture, which initiates and promotes projects in Europe and in many other countries of the world.
Please tell us something about yourself.
I am Armenian. I was born in Baku and studied at the Institute of Oil and Chemistry. In 1990 we moved to Russia, and I continued my studies at the Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas. For more than 10 years, I worked in the oil industry in 2005, creating my own group of companies, “Industrial technologies of Electrical Engineering.” Then in 2012, I founded the European Foundation for Support of Culture. My goal is to promote young and talented musicians by creating platforms where they can perform and go forward. Currently, I live in Malta.
How did you get into what you do right now? Please tell us more about your journey?
I’ve always been surrounded by people who loved music and the arts. My parents both loved music. My mother would play classical music on the piano every day. We had many friends, among whom were famous musicians and artists… with whom we would talk, discuss arts, and spend musical evenings.
This is the reason probably why at some point, I’ve decided to dedicate my career to the promotion of culture and creation of opportunity for young musicians.
Who are your role models?
One must refrain from idolizing another, else one will forget who they truly are. (laughs)
What inspires you?
Achievements of goals
What’s your most memorable experience?
Malta International Music Festival 2018. That was the first year when we gathered on the island so many classical music stars such as Grigory Sokolov, Maxim Vengerov, Ray Chen, Andreas Ottensamer, and many others. For the first time, we had a guest foreign resident orchestra, leading international media, and other famous people.
What’s your greatest fear?
Now it’s Covid-19. I’m afraid that because of the pandemic, all the venues will remain closed, and we will not be able to launch our planned projects, conduct concerts, and festivals. So much work has already been done to carry out these plans. So many artists are involved that it will be a pity to waste our time and efforts if everything is canceled.
Looking back, what’s one thing you wish you understood better before you ever got started?
Can not think of anything that I would like to change from what has been done. We learn from our mistakes. I am grateful for everything that has happened and the experience I have gained in solving various problems and situations.
What are the success strategies/secrets that helped you in your journey?
I can say for sure that determination and commitment are my main secrets. Despite all the difficulties and obstacles that arise on the way to a dream, we must always go forward. When babies learn to walk, they constantly fall, but then they get up and continue trying. They are driven by the desire for success. I think we can all learn from them (laughs)
What keeps you going when things get tough?
In moments like this, I think of people whom the activities of our Foundation help, about grateful and admired audience leaving the halls after our concerts, about young and talented artists whom we have opened the way to the musical life, how they have built and continue to build successful careers. Yes, any work implies the presence of barriers on the way to achieving goals, but the result is worth it.
Please tell us about your company.
The European Foundation for Support of Culture (EUFSC) is a non- profit organization founded in Malta in 2012 to initiate and promote cultural and educational projects in Europe. The Foundation’s key objective is to promote talented musicians and artists and introduce broad public access across Europe to the most prominent facets of world musical and cultural heritage. In pursuance of this goal, every year the Foundation holds numerous festivals, competitions, exhibitions, conferences, presentations, master- classes, workshops, round-tables, concerts and other events seeking to support and promote culture, to inspire interest in various types of modern art and to support young talented musicians and gifted children. An important aspect of the Foundation is the international competitions organized in partnership with grant-giving foundations. The grant winners acquire financial support that can be spent on the acquisition of new musical instruments, education, training, and self-realization.
How can people connect with you?
I can always be reached via the press office of our Foundation and my social media pages on Twitter and Facebook.
Any message for our readers…
Never stop halfway and continue pursuing set goals, even the most ambitious ones, never stop dreaming! Truly believe that everything will work out!