Yerkesh Shakeyev - «Alash»

31 May - Day of Remembrance of Victims of Political Repressions and Famine in Kazakhstan.

Presentation of the album «Alash». Author of music and performer - Yerkesh Shakeev.

Special guest of the evening famous Kazakhstani film director - Yermek Tursunov.

Artists of the State Academic Korean Theatre, Q'Band will also take part in the concert.

The proceeds from ticket sales will be directed to the development of creativity of Kazakhstani repressed poets.

For the first time in Kazakhstan’s history, a full song cycle has been composed based on the poetry of outstanding Kazakh figures and poets - Saken Seifullin, Magzhan Zhumabayev, Akhmet Baitursynov, Mirzhakyp Dulatov, Ilyas Zhansugurov, Shakarim, Beimbet Mailin, Sultanmakhmut Toraigyrov. These songs will be featured in the concert programme and during the album presentation of Yerkesh Shakeyev’s «»Alash«», performed in Kazakh with English translations displayed on screen. The concert will also include Yerkesh Shakeyev’s popular original songs known to the audience.

The «Alash» album was produced at the renowned Metropolitan Studios in London and at Yuri Demchenko’s studio in Almaty. Mixing was done by Paul Norris, a Grammy Award winner, and mastering by Matt Colton, the 2025 Grammy Award winner. Original tracks from the album will also be performed during the concert.

Yerkesh Shakeyev is a legendary Kazakh composer, poet, and singer-songwriter. He is the author of over 800 lyrics and melodies, with more than 700 officially published works. Around 60 of his songs were created in collaboration with A’Studio and Batyrkhan Shukenov, including iconic hits such as «Nelyubimaya», «Tvoi shagi», «Stop, Noch», «Belaya reka», «Soldat lyubvi», «Eti teplye letnie dni», «Vremya lyubvi», «Dusha», «Fashion Girl», «Kto», «Vsyo proydyot», and «Ostrov nadezhdy» (performed with Alla Pugacheva).

Some of his other well-known works include:

«Zazhigay serdtse» - Ani Lorak, «Donna Osen» - Duo «L», «Devochka v platitse belom» - Duo «Myuzikola», «Molitva» - Anita Tsoy, «Zimnie Livni» and «Asyl Äzhem» - Rakhhat Turlykhanov, «Krestnaya Mat’» - Parviz Nazarov, «Serdtse pod pritselom» - Band 101, «Nikomu tebya ya ne otdam» - Yerkesh Shakeyev himself

Shakeyev has recorded over 65 compositions with prestigious orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Metropolitan Orchestra, and London Voices. He has collaborated with renowned soloists including Maxim Mrvica, John Lenehan, Alexander Baillie, Vadim Eiltncrig, and Chloe Hanslip (Brit Awards winner). These works were recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios and Air Studios in London. His music is available online - just search for Yerkesh Shakeyev.

He has released several neo classical albums on digital platforms, including:
«Waves from Heaven», «Wedding Symphony», «Remember Me», «Celestial», «Blossom».

Yerkesh Shakeyev’s music was featured at the opening and closing ceremonies of the International Composers Festival 2022 in Bexhill, UK, and has been performed at international festivals in Georgia, China, Turkey, Spain, Australia, India, the Netherlands, and Kazakhstan. Over 150 scores have been composed based on his works.

Major solo concerts include:

Author's Concert, 1998 - Palace of the Republic, «Vysota (The Height)», 2002, «New Vysota», 2003, «50 Hits of Yerkesh», 2012 - Almaty, Astana, Kokshetau, «Anniversary Concert for Low-Income Families», 2019, «Operalia» with Rusanda Panfili & Oliver Poole, «EastWest in Almaty», 2022, «EastWest in Astana», 2022 featuring Mario Stefano Pietrodarchi, Oliver Poole, and Vadim Eiltncrig, Unique concert formats: «Anticoncert #1», Sympho-apartment concert, and «Songs with a Guitar» intimate performances.

Concerts abroad:

- 2015, St' Luces, London - London Symphony Orchestra & Marat Bisengaliev, conducted by Lior Shambadal (Berlin Symphonic Orchestra)

- 2018, «Waves from heaven» with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at London's Cadogan Hall, conducted by David Firman

- 2018, «Waves from heaven» in Tsinandali with the Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra.

- October 2021 «Pier 39» jazz album presented at Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow with renowned trumpeter Vadim Eilencrig; nominated «best jazz album on Radio Jazz».

- In 2025, his works were performed by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra