Lacking Its Own Music Conservatory, Nation's Capital Showcasing Kazakhstan's National Music Conservatory

Reminder: Tonight the Symphony Orchestra of the Kurmangazy National Conservatory of Kazakhstan performs at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, with the traditional music group Turan, the regional premiere work by contemporary Kazakh composer Aktoty Raimkulova: Symphonic Poem "Jamilya", in memory of Chingiz Aitmatov

Founded in 2008 by a group of students from the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory, the members of Turan perform on ancient Kazakh instruments, including the lute-like zhetygen, sherter, and dombra (all plucked); the kyl kobyz ("the most ancient bowed instrument on earth"); the flute-like sybyzgy and saz syrnay; together with a host of percussive instruments, mouth harps, and throat singing.

Kazakhstan, Future European Union.

In 2010, Kazakhstan will chair the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Photo credits: (c) Copyright controlled 2009.