In the beginning of 2019, the European Foundation for Support of Culture, with media support of the “Valletta 2018” Foundation and the Malta Tourism Authority, launched a project entitled “Malta – the new centre of tourism and classical music attraction”, which was held in the format of a presentation concert at European conservatories and to which all interested students were invited.
As part of the project in Almaty, a presentation concert was held on 8 May at the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory, Kazakhstan. The students had a unique opportunity to get to know Malta, learn about the activities of the European Foundation for Support of Culture and its educational projects, as well as international piano, violin and wind competitions for young talents.
The Conservatory has been educating professional musicians for more than seven decades. Compared to the conservatories of Europe and Russia it is quite young, but its history includes an entire era in terms of event saturation and development dynamics. It has reflected not only the formation of the first creative university and the entire system of professional musical education, but also the country’s history as the Kazakh SSR and then the sovereign Kazakhstan.
The teachers of the Conservatory are prominent concert musicians whose work is recognised and in demand not only in Kazakhstan. Among them are outstanding pianist Jania Aubakirova, celebrated choirmaster Anatoly Molodov, famous baritone Yermek Serkebayev, legendary singer Bibigul Tulegenova, Golden Trumpet Yuri Klushkin, virtuoso dombrist Karshyga Akhmedyarov, winner of international competitions Gaukhar Murzabekova, contemporary composer Yerkegali Rakhmadiev, and many others. Famous graduates include Quddus Khojamyarov, Soviet, Kazakh and Uyghur composer, teacher, public figure, founder of Uyghur professional music, People’s Performer of the Kazakh SSR and People’s Performer of the USSR; Shamshi Kaldayakov, popular Kazakh composer dubbed King of the Kazakh Waltz, People’s Performer of the Kazakh SSR; popular opera singers, People’s Performers of the Kazakh SSR Yermek Serkebayev and Bibigul Tulegenova, and many others.
The presentation concluded with a performance by violinist Karen Shakhgaldyan, laureate of Pablo Sarasate International Violin Competition, and young pianist Ruben Kozin, laureate of the Eurasian Music Games, who together played popular works by Maltese composers.