Biography

Bagdat Abilkhanov is the first concertmaster of Astana Opera. Prior to this position he was a leader of the Kazakh State String Quartet, concertmaster of the State Chamber Orchestra "Academy of Soloists" and President's Chamber Orchestra. He has worked and was mentored by Norbert Brainin and Siegmund Nissel of “Amadeus Quartet” (United Kingdom); Guenther Pichler “Alban Berg Quartet” (Austria); Milan Shkampa “Smetana Quartet” (Czech Republic); Boghumil Smekalov “Janacek Quartet” (Slovakia); Laslo Mezo “Bartok Quartet” (Hungary); Rainer Schmidt “Hagen Quartet” (Austria); and most important, Valentine Berlinsky of the Borodin Quartet. Bagdad Abilkhanov was a prize winner of multiple national and international competitions including  L. Perozi International Competition, "Rovere d’ora" International Competition, J. Bellini International Competition, etc. He has received state awards including Honored Individual of Arts of Kazakhstan, Medal "Yeren yenbegi shin" ("Ерең енбегі үшін")  and State Youth Prize "Daryn." Beside his busy schedule with opera and ballet productions, Bagdat Abilkhanov serves as an Artistic Director and founder of Astana Opera's Chamber Music Concert Series "Музыкальный Перекрёсток." 
He has graduated from the famous State Baiseitova School for Gifted Children, Kurmangazy National Conservatory, and Kazakh National Academy of Music in Kazakhstan where he studied with Raissa and Aiman Mussakhajayeva.