Music education in Kazakhstan -
Music tours in Almaty -
The Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory is the oldest and most prestigious musical higher educational institution in Kazakhstan, located in Almaty. It was founded in 1944 on the initiative of the outstanding Kazakh composer, teacher and public figure Akhmet Zhubanov, who became its first rector. Initially, the institution was called the Alma Ata State Conservatory and was created with the aim of training professional musicians, composers and musicologists for the development of national musical culture within the framework of the Soviet educational system.
The Conservatory trains highly qualified specialists in all areas: performing arts (piano, orchestral and folk instruments, singing), composition, musicology, conducting. Famous creative groups, such as the orchestra of Kazakh folk instruments named after Kurmangazy, were formed here. Graduates of the Conservatory include entire generations of outstanding Kazakhstani musicians, composers and teachers who have glorified the country on the world stage, including Akhmet Zhubanov, the first rector, and stars such as Bibigul Tulegenova, Ermek Serkebayev, as well as laureates of international competitions.
How to get there and visit
The Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory is located in Almaty at 86 Abylai Khan Avenue, 88, 90, corner of Bogenbai Batyr Street, Almaly district, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°15'08"N 76°56'31"E
Buses No. 12, 98, 99 and trolleybuses No. 5, 6 will take you directly to its steps. If you prefer the metro, the nearest station is Almaly, from which the building is only a few minutes away. A pleasant walk. You can also always take a taxi or a private car.
Working hours: Monday-Friday from 09.00 to 18.00; Saturday-Sunday – weekend.
Contacts: +7 727 261 76 40 (reception); + 7 701 272 98 69 (concert department)
History
In 1991, after Kazakhstan gained independence, the conservatory was awarded national status, and in 1997 it was named after the great Kazakh kuishi and 19th century composer Kurmangazy Sagyrbayuly, a symbol of the national musical heritage.
Historically, the conservatory has played a key role in the development of a professional music school in Kazakhstan. Already in the early years of its existence, unique directions began to form here, combining the traditions of European academic musical education with the rich heritage of Kazakh oral musical culture — kuev, dastanov, folk songs and instrumental traditions of playing dombra, kobyz and other national instruments.
The first Kazakh operas and symphonic works were created within the walls of the conservatory, and teaching methods adapted to the cultural context of the region were developed. Among the first teachers and graduates are such outstanding figures as Latyf Khamidi, Evgeny Brusilovsky, Manshuk Mametova (she studied here in her youth), and later a whole galaxy of People's Artists of the USSR and Kazakhstan, laureates of international competitions and prominent teachers.
Architecture
The conservatory building is located in the historical center of Almaty and is an architectural ensemble that has developed over several decades. The main building, built during the Soviet period, is designed in the Stalinist neoclassical style with elements of local flavor: strict proportions, colonnades, and a solemn facade, which emphasizes the importance of the institution as a cultural center of the republic.
Inside, the building is equipped with modern classrooms, concert halls, including a large concert hall with 500 seats, chamber auditoriums, specialized classrooms for playing national instruments, recording studios and a rich music library storing rare sheet music, phonograms and archival materials on the history of Kazakh music. In recent years, the conservatory has been undergoing renovation of its premises while preserving its historical appearance, but with the introduction of modern technologies – digital music laboratories, interactive whiteboards, and online platforms for distance learning.
Information
Today, the Kazakh National Conservatory is not only an educational institution, but also an important cultural center of the country. Concerts, master classes, international festivals (including the annual Kurmangazy Festival), competitions for young performers and scientific conferences are regularly held here. The Conservatory actively cooperates with the world's leading music academies from Russia, China, Turkey, South Korea, Europe and the USA.
The training is conducted in bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs, as well as in postgraduate and PhD programs. Special attention is paid to the preservation and innovative development of the Kazakh musical tradition: courses on ethno-music, traditional performing practice, as well as modern genres, including jazz and electronic music, are integrated into the educational process. Thus, the conservatory remains a living bridge between the past and the future of Kazakh music, preserving its national identity and at the same time opening up to the world.
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