Kurmangazy National Conservatory’s 80th Anniversary Celebration: Grand Tour, Gala Concerts, and Scientific Forums
Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory Celebrates 80th Anniversary
Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory, based in Almaty, is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year with a series of jubilee events. Since its establishment, the institution has been committed to nurturing talent in the fields of composition, vocals, conducting, instrumental performance, and musicology. In an interview with The Astana Times, the conservatory’s rector Nurken Ashirov shared details of the upcoming celebrations and discussed the institution’s achievements.
Ashirov, who is a graduate of the conservatory, revealed that in addition to his role as rector, he also teaches students and leads the educational folklore orchestra established in 2019. His main instrument is the dombyra, a two-stringed national instrument, and he also plays the piano, while his spouse is skilled in playing the kobyz, an ancient Turkic string instrument.
Currently, the conservatory is home to 1,094 undergraduate students, 91 postgraduates, and 12 doctoral students. The institution offers programs in four faculties and 14 departments, covering music education and management, instrumental performance, musicology and performing arts, and folk music.
The conservatory, named after Kazakh folk composer Kurmangazy Sagyrbayev in 1945, has played a significant role in shaping the country’s professional music education system. Notable Kazakh musicians such as Akhmet Zhubanov, Yevgeny Brusilovsky, and Bibigul Tulegenova have contributed to the institution’s legacy, raising the musical culture of Kazakhstan to a high professional level and introducing traditional and academic music to international audiences.
To mark its 80-year milestone, the conservatory has planned a series of events, including two large gala concerts, cathedral concerts, and scientific forums. The institution also aims to organize a tour at both national and global levels, featuring performances by student groups. Additionally, plans to create a historical documentary and a book on the conservatory’s history are in progress.
International cooperation with universities and scientific organizations from 20 countries worldwide is also a focus area for the conservatory. By partnering with overseas institutions, the conservatory aims to develop new educational, scientific, and creative projects and promote the country’s image abroad.
As Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory celebrates its 80th anniversary, it continues to play a vital role in promoting musical education and preserving cultural heritage in Kazakhstan and beyond.
