ASTANA – At a Nov. 8 press conference and Shabyt gala concert for the 17th International Festival of Creative Youth held in the Palace of Peace and Accord, the names of the winners of the international festival were announced.
During the competition’s five days, 495 participants showed their skills and competed for the title of winner in six categories. Kazakhstan was represented by 364 participants from all regions of the country; 131 competitorscame from China, Uzbekistan, Russia and Kyrgyzstan.
Bolat Mazhagulov, head of the Department of Culture of Astana and international jury members noted the competition’s high level of organisation.
“This festival is certainly among the best and most prestigious creative competitions,” Mazhagulov said.
“This competition is unique; across our country,opportunities for young people to express themselves, unleash their creativity and become known to a wide audience are made available,” Zhaniya Aubakirova, People’s Artist of Kazakhstan and rector of the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory said.
At the evening gala concert, Mazhagulov presented the President’s Cup to Rakhat-bi Abdisagyn, athird year student of the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory and a 15-year-old composer from Almaty.
“For me,this is an invaluable and honourable award. We, the youth of Kazakhstan, are happy to live in a country where … the economy is developing andclose attention is paid to culture and creativity,” Abdisagyn, the grand prize winner of the Shabyt International Festival,said.
He also thanked the members of the jury, his teachers and mentors.
Eight lucky holders of grand prizes in six categories were named: ZEBO, a chamber ensemble quartet from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, headed by Professor Ulykbek Imanov; the classical music nomination in the composer’s contest was awarded to Abdisagyn from Almaty; in the Art category Lolita Hugayeva from Kokshetau won; the folk music (folk wind instruments) award went to Raikhan Omar from Almaty; the folk music award (plucked folk instruments) was won by Assylai Apenova from Almaty; the chamber choir nomination was awarded to the chamber choir of the State Philharmonic of the Akimat (Mayor’s office) of Astana; “Best literary work (poetry) was won by Batyrkhan Sarsenkhan, Turkestan; in the category Choreography, Yerkin Rakhmetullayev from Astana took home the prize.
The organisers of the main cultural event were the Akimat of Astana, the Department of Culture of Astana and the Kazakh National University of Arts.
