Department of “Solo Singing”

Professorial and teaching staff

Head of the Department of Solo Singing

Dalel Zeineshuly Uash

 The Department of Solo Singing was established in 1979 on the basis of the Department of Musical Comedy. The founders of the Department of Solo Singing were People’s Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Professor Kauken Kenzhetayev, Associate Professor Mariyash Zholymbetova, Rakhilyam Mashurova, Esim Segizbayev, Polat Ildarov, Malik Yergaliyev, Gulnara Gizatova, Arnold Shpizman, Maksut Zhunis, and Kurmanbek Baikuatov.

The primary goal of the department is to train professional actor-singers with a wide vocal range, proper breath support, a well-developed vocal timbre, and the ability to transition seamlessly from singing to speaking and from speaking to singing without altering the vocal timbre, while continuously developing their acting skills.

For the first time in the history of the Faculty of Theatre Arts, an industrial internship was organized in Pavlodar for fourth-year students majoring in Musical Comedy. These students became the foundation of the newly established Pavlodar Musical Drama Theatre named after Zh. Aimauytov. The grand opening of the Pavlodar Musical Theatre was dedicated to the 75th anniversary of K. Kenzhetayev and featured an outstanding performance by a group of academy graduates.

Graduates of the Department of Musical Comedy have earned special recognition in Kazakhstan’s arts sector through their vocal performance achievements. Among them are People’s Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan Roza Rymbayeva; Honored Artists of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mayra Ilyasova and Duysen Kenzheyev; Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Kudaibergen Bekishev; cultural figures Talzhibek Atambekova, Mukhtar Baizhumanov, Dosmukhamed Uyabayev, Aigul Imanbayeva, Meruyert Tusipbekova, Karakoz and Gulbaushan Tileubekova, Syrym Kashkabayev, Zhankaldybek Tolenbayev, Roman Chekhonadsky, and Elena Lomonosova. Also among the graduates are soloists of the Abai Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre Rysken Medenova and Dulat Tokanov, as well as international vocal competition laureate and trainee of the La Scala Theatre, Saltanat Myrzabekova.

The department has employed and invited renowned opera singers of Kazakhstan, including People’s Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sh. Umbetaliyev; Honored Artists of the Republic of Kazakhstan A. Sembin, B. Kozhabayev, Nina Radchenko, Zhuldyz Baimuldina, Murat Shalabayev, Bolat Zhomartov, and T. Kuzembayev.

A special contribution to the development of the Department of Solo Singing was made by People’s Artists of the Republic of Kazakhstan Shora Umbetaliyev and Vladimir Kim; Honored Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan and graduate of the Moscow Conservatory Amangeldi Sembin; Kanat Kulymzhanov; outstanding teacher Polina Dorokhova; Viktor Darensky; Ryskhan Shaushiyeva; and Sergey Breusov.

• • From 1987 to 1999, the department was headed by Associate Professor M. O. Zhunis.
• • From 1999 to 2007, the department was headed by Professor Kurmanbek Baikuatov, a distinguished cultural figure of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
• • From 2007 to 2009, the department was headed by Torgyn Smailova, a graduate of the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory.
• • From 2009 to 2015, the department was headed by Professor D. Z. Uashev, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan and laureate of the International Chamber Competition “Altyn Kuz.”
• • From 2016 to 2021, the department was headed by Professor G. Sapargaliyeva, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan.
• • From 2022 to 2024, the department was headed by Senior Lecturer V. N. Alpysbayeva, laureate of the All-Union Competition.
• • Since September 2024, Professor D. Z. Uash, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan and laureate of the International Chamber Competition “Altyn Kuz,” has once again been appointed Head of the Department of Solo Singing.

Today, the department proudly includes People’s Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan, State Prize Laureate, and recipient of the Barys Order Nurgali Nusipzhanov; Honored Artist of Kazakhstan Zhumatai Makhambetov; Honored Workers of Kazakhstan Professor Guldana Sapargaliyeva, Professor Dalel Uash, and Senior Lecturer Bolat Zhomartov; Lecturer Dina Dyutmagambetova; cultural figure of the Republic of Kazakhstan and recipient of the Qurmet Order Galina Karamoldayeva; recipient of the Qurmet Order Tleubek Kozhanuly; Associate Professor of the Higher Attestation Commission Kurmanbek Baikuatov; Professor Maksut Zhunis; Senior Lecturer and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Venera Alpysbayeva; lecturers Olga Lukasheva, Nursultan Sabirov, Shakharizada Saparova, Mamyrbai Siyaz, Svetlana Akhmetova, and Timur Tleukabylov; as well as accompanists T. Kulikovskaya, S. Kayupova, D. Bisembayeva, L. Kurmangaliyeva, E. Yanovets, and T. Gagloyeva. Young lecturers are also actively working within the department.

The department regularly hosts master classes conducted by distinguished performers and prominent figures in the arts. Invited experts have included People’s Artist of the USSR and Professor of the Chisinau Conservatory (Moldova) G. Muntyan; People’s Artist of the USSR and State Prize Laureate Bibigul Tulegenova; Academician of the International Academy of Vocal Arts and Professor Shakhmardan Abilov; People’s Artist and Professor Gafiz Yessimov; Honored Artist of the RSFSR and Professor of the Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory N. N. Arsentyeva; as well as Professor and Doctor M. A. Khamidova (Uzbekistan).

These master classes are conducted annually according to the approved academic schedule. Thanks to the productive 45-year history of the Department of Solo Singing, highly qualified actor-singers have been trained, many of whom have become winners of international, national, and regional competitions. Today, they successfully work in foreign countries, CIS states, theatres of various genres throughout Kazakhstan, and numerous concert organizations.