Zarina Anvarovna Altynbayeva
Founder and Artistic Director
Zarina Altynbayeva is a Kazakh opera singer, leading soloist of the Abay Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre, recipient of the Order of Qurmet, Honoured Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2025), and founder and Artistic Director of the Zarina Altynbayeva Youth Music Competition (ZAYMC).
She holds a Master of Music degree from the University of London Goldsmiths, graduating with distinction in 2011. Altynbayeva is a prizewinner of numerous international competitions, including the Alion Baltic International Music Competition (Latvia, 2018), where she was awarded First Prize; the XVI Tokyo Music Competition (Japan, 2018), where she received First Prize and the Audience Award; and the Montecatini Opera Competition (Italy, 2019), where she won Second Prize, among others.
Zarina Altynbayeva maintains an active international performing career, appearing on the stages of renowned opera houses and concert venues worldwide, including the Pergolesi Opera Theater (Italy), Astana Opera (Kazakhstan), the Paliashvili Georgian National Opera and Ballet Theatre (Georgia), Tokyo Bunka Kaikan (Japan), the Mariinsky Theatre and Helikon Opera (Russia), the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre (Azerbaijan), and many others.
She holds a Master of Music degree from the University of London Goldsmiths, graduating with distinction in 2011. Altynbayeva is a prizewinner of numerous international competitions, including the Alion Baltic International Music Competition (Latvia, 2018), where she was awarded First Prize; the XVI Tokyo Music Competition (Japan, 2018), where she received First Prize and the Audience Award; and the Montecatini Opera Competition (Italy, 2019), where she won Second Prize, among others.
Zarina Altynbayeva maintains an active international performing career, appearing on the stages of renowned opera houses and concert venues worldwide, including the Pergolesi Opera Theater (Italy), Astana Opera (Kazakhstan), the Paliashvili Georgian National Opera and Ballet Theatre (Georgia), Tokyo Bunka Kaikan (Japan), the Mariinsky Theatre and Helikon Opera (Russia), the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre (Azerbaijan), and many others.
Opera Repertoire
- Soprano Soloist — Carmina Burana (C. Orff)
- Adina — L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love) (G. Donizetti)
- Leïla — Les pêcheurs de perles (The Pearl Fishers) (G. Bizet)
- Giulietta — I Capuleti e i Montecchi (V. Bellini)
- Rosina — Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) (G. Rossini)
- Oscar — Un Ballo in Maschera (A Masked Ball) (G. Verdi)
- Musetta — La Bohème (G. Puccini)
- Violetta — La Traviata (G. Verdi)
- Adele — Die Fledermaus (J. Strauss II)
- Clorinda — La Cenerentola (G. Rossini)
- Azhar — Abai (A. Zhubanov, L. Khamidi)
- Nedda — Pagliacci (R. Leoncavallo)
- Norina — Don Pasquale (G. Donizetti)
- Cleopatra — Giulio Cesare in Egitto (G. F. Handel)
- Micaëla — Carmen (G. Bizet)
- Gilda — Rigoletto (G. Verdi)
- Lucy — The Telephone (G. Menotti)
- Eurydice — Orpheus and Eurydice (C. W. Gluck)
- Khan Sultan — Khan Sultan. The Golden Horde (Kh. Shangaliyev)
- Mimì — La Bohème (G. Puccini)
“I believe that music has the power to unite cultures, broaden horizons, and give young performers the opportunity to be heard. For me, ZAYMC has become more than just a competition—it is an important mission to support those who are ready to dedicate their lives to the art of music.”