By Cole Hathaway July 17, 2024
This report tells the story of Aktoty Ashtarova, a talented Kazakh pianist who conquered the stages of Asia, Europe, and the US. She is the winner of two dozen international competitions, a scholarship recipient at the Long Island Conservatory of Music (LISMA) in the US, and a nominee for the MUZZONE TV channel’s Top Professional award.
Aktoty’s creative path was predetermined in early childhood. Aktoty’s mother has a musical education in piano, and her father plays the guitar well and sings. Although they did not pursue music professionally, they always supported their daughter’s choice. They saw how inspired Aktoty was when playing the piano and how she transformed on stage.
From the age of 9, Aktoty took part in prestigious international competitions. Italy, Spain, Germany, the USA, the UAE: her rivals’ performances were no match for Aktoty’s sensual and technically precise playing.
As a result, she has collected a whole collection of awards, including: first prize winner of the Rovere d’Oro International Piano Competition (Italy), first prize winner of the International Music Festival – Competition “Star at Tenerife” (Spain), first prize winner of the eighth international competition “Musical fireworks in Baden-Wuerttemberg” (Germany), first prize winner of the Forte International Music Competition and Festival (USA), third prize winner of the International Piano Competition (UAE)… And that’s not the whole list.
“I am one of those who love to perform on stage and compete in competitions. It is very disciplining and greatly improves your professional level. Preparation and performance provide a unique experience. On the one hand, you prove to yourself that you can do better, and on the other, you get a taste of the culture of music performance in other countries,” says Aktoty.
In 2016, after impressing the jury, which included a teacher from the Long Island Conservatory of Music (USA), with her stunning performance, Aktoty was invited to study on a scholarship at the American conservatory, in addition to being named the second prize winner of the competition in Georgia. Such invitations are rare and, as a rule, are recognition of a musician’s exceptional talent and professional level.
Aktoty decided to finish her studies at school and return to this issue later. All this time, the pianist continued to actively perform in competitions and prepare for admission to the US.
In 2018, Ashtarova flew to South Korea for a master class, where she had a meeting with the very same teacher from the Long Island Conservatory of Music.
The highlight of the training event was a concert at which Aktoty performed. “It was quite unusual: an open-air stage, surrounded by mountains, an amazing atmosphere. I was very nervous. After the concert, the director of the Long Island Conservatory of Music, who had also been present during my performance, approached me and said that she wanted to see me among her students. That evening, she handed me an official invitation and confirmation of my admission to the conservatory,“ says Aktoty. ”I was overcome with excitement, happiness, and joy all at once. I didn’t know how to express my feelings properly. But that was exactly what I was striving for at that point in my life,” recalls the pianist.
Today, Aktoty continues her creative journey, inspiring listeners with her soulful playing. Through her example, the outstanding pianist strives to show classical music fans that it is important to believe in yourself and follow your calling, even if classical music is not in vogue today—true art always finds a response in people’s hearts. This report tells the story of Aktoty Ashtarova, a talented Kazakh pianist who conquered the stages of Asia, Europe, and the US. She is the winner of two dozen international competitions, a scholarship recipient at the Long Island Conservatory of Music (LISMA) in the US, and a nominee for the MUZZONE TV channel’s Top Professional award.
Aktoty’s creative path was predetermined in early childhood. Aktoty’s mother has a musical education in piano, and her father plays the guitar well and sings. Although they did not pursue music professionally, they always supported their daughter’s choice. They saw how inspired Aktoty was when playing the piano and how she transformed on stage.
From the age of 9, Aktoty took part in prestigious international competitions. Italy, Spain, Germany, the USA, the UAE: her rivals’ performances were no match for Aktoty’s sensual and technically precise playing.
As a result, she has collected a whole collection of awards, including: first prize winner of the Rovere d’Oro International Piano Competition (Italy), first prize winner of the International Music Festival – Competition “Star at Tenerife” (Spain), first prize winner of the eighth international competition “Musical fireworks in Baden-Wuerttemberg” (Germany), first prize winner of the Forte International Music Competition and Festival (USA), third prize winner of the International Piano Competition (UAE)… And that’s not the whole list.
“I am one of those who love to perform on stage and compete in competitions. It is very disciplining and greatly improves your professional level. Preparation and performance provide a unique experience. On the one hand, you prove to yourself that you can do better, and on the other, you get a taste of the culture of music performance in other countries,” says Aktoty.
In 2016, after impressing the jury, which included a teacher from the Long Island Conservatory of Music (USA), with her stunning performance, Aktoty was invited to study on a scholarship at the American conservatory, in addition to being named the second prize winner of the competition in Georgia. Such invitations are rare and, as a rule, are recognition of a musician’s exceptional talent and professional level.
Aktoty decided to finish her studies at school and return to this issue later. All this time, the pianist continued to actively perform in competitions and prepare for admission to the US.
In 2018, Ashtarova flew to South Korea for a master class, where she had a meeting with the very same teacher from the Long Island Conservatory of Music.
The highlight of the training event was a concert at which Aktoty performed. “It was quite unusual: an open-air stage, surrounded by mountains, an amazing atmosphere. I was very nervous. After the concert, the director of the Long Island Conservatory of Music, who had also been present during my performance, approached me and said that she wanted to see me among her students. That evening, she handed me an official invitation and confirmation of my admission to the conservatory,“ says Aktoty. ”I was overcome with excitement, happiness, and joy all at once. I didn’t know how to express my feelings properly. But that was exactly what I was striving for at that point in my life,” recalls the pianist.
Today, Aktoty continues her creative journey, inspiring listeners with her soulful playing. Through her example, the outstanding pianist strives to show classical music fans that it is important to believe in yourself and follow your calling, even if classical music is not in vogue today—true art always finds a response in people’s hearts.