Jamilia Jazylbekova

Jamilia Jazylbekova, born in Kaskelen, Kazakhstan in 1971, is an internationally recognized composer whose work bridges traditional and contemporary musical languages. She studied flute and piano at the State School of Music in Almaty before pursuing composition at the Moscow State Conservatory under Nikolai Sidelnikov and Vladimir Tarnopolski. From 1995 to 1997, she was a DAAD fellow in Germany, continuing her studies with Younghi Pagh-Paan at the University of the Arts in Bremen, as well as in analysis and electronic composition with Günter Steinke and voice with Maria Kowollik.

Jazylbekova has received numerous awards and fellowships, including residencies at Villa Massimo in Rome, Villa Aurora in Los Angeles, and in Spain. Her music has been performed at leading festivals across Europe, the CIS, North America, and Asia, and interpreted by renowned ensembles such as the Arditti String Quartet, Ensemble Modern, Ensemble Aventure, Klangforum Wien, Oslo Sinfonietta, Le Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, ensemble mosaik, Remix Ensemble, and Quatuor Diotima.

She has received commissions from institutions and festivals including MaerzMusik Berlin, Deutschlandfunk, the Theater and Philharmonic Orchestra of Heidelberg, Aspekte Festival Salzburg, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Ensemble Remix and Casa da Música Porto, Imago Dei Festival Krems, the Berlin Biennale, the Senates of Berlin and Bremen, Ensemble Courage, Ensemble Intégrales, Nieuw Ensemble, de ereprijs orkest, the city of Oldenburg, and the International Gaudeamus Music Week.

Now based in Germany, Jazylbekova is known for her stylistic versatility, experimental sonic language, and the synthesis of traditional and avant-garde elements in her compositions.