Almaty pays last respect to first professional Kazakh conductor Shamgon Kazhgaliyev

Memorial service was held in the building of the State Academy Theatre of Opera and Ballet named after Abai. Shamgon Kazhgaliyev was born in 1927 in Zhangalinsky district of West Kazakhstan region. He graduated from the Department of Folk Instruments of Almaty State Conservatory and the Department of Conducting at Leningrad Conservatory. The work of Sh.Kazhgaliev is almost entirely linked with Kurmangazy Kazakh State Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments. In 1971 he became the artistic leader and the chief conductor of the orchestra. Since 1953 Kazhgaliyev was the chief conductor of the Kazakh State Orchestra named after Kurmangazy.