THE SOUNDING CHRONICLE OF AN ERA:On the 120th Anniversary of Academician A.K.Zhubanov

Abstract

The article is devoted to the multifaceted contribution of Academician Akhmet Zhubanov to the development of Kazakh musical art, scholarship, and education. It highlights the historical significance of his work as a composer, conductor, scholar, and organizer who stood at the origins of Kazakhstan’s leading artistic ensembles and cultural institutions, including the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Orchestra of Folk Instruments, the Zhambyl State Philharmonic, the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory, and other prominent institutions. Particular attention is paid to Zhubanov’s role in the formation of national musicology, the development of the scholarly school of art studies, and the establishment of the first dissertation council in the field of art studies in Central Asia. The article presents the international scientific and practical conferences dedicated to the 120th anniversary of Academician Akhmet Zhubanov, held in April 2026 in Aktobe as part of a series of jubilee events, including festivals, concerts, and competitions, as well as in Almaty. It emphasizes the broad participation of leading scholars from Kazakhstan and abroad, together with representatives of cultural and educational institutions. The main directions and contemporary relevance of the conference papers devoted to Zhubanov’s creative legacy and theoretical ideas are examined, demonstrating their significance for modern musicological research. The article concludes that Akhmet Zhubanov’s legacy continues to retain fundamental importance for the development of national culture, remains a vital spiritual and scholarly foundation of contemporary Kazakh art, and continues to influence the formation of research and educational practices.