On August 21, the concert hall “Oner Ortalygy” hosted a press conference with the organizers and jury members of the 6th International Children’s Vocal Festival-Contest “Baqytty Bala 2025”, where they answered questions from journalists and participants who had arrived in Aqtobe from six countries.
The event was opened with a welcoming speech and words of encouragement by Boris Statsenko – baritone, soloist of the New Opera Theatre and the Kolobov Novaya Opera Theatre of Moscow, laureate of national competitions, and holder of the title Meistersänger.

Karlygash Azhieva, Honored Artist of Kazakhstan and director (Almaty), gave a special greeting to the international guests. She wished the contestants not only to showcase their vocal talent on stage, but also to find new friends during the festival.

When asked about the competition’s age range, she noted:

“With my experience, I must say – it is wonderful that such an age range has been set for this contest. It is unbearable when a seven-year-old and a fourteen-year-old are competing in the same category. Today’s children listen to a lot of music, to many languages. Here you have an excellent opportunity to prove yourselves, to show not only your skills but also your soul.”

Svetlana Aitbayeva, Honored Artist of Kazakhstan, recipient of the Order of Kurmet, and soloist of the State Academic Philharmonic of Astana, expressed her gratitude to the Aktobe regional authorities and the festival organizers for their effort and support:

“We will hold Baqytty Bala every year – it is truly a beautiful celebration. I am very glad to see you all here. As for the contestants, I am certain they will perform at the highest level – it couldn’t be otherwise.”

When asked about the construction of a new six-level stadium in Aqtobe with a capacity of 35,000 and the possibility of a concert by Dimash Qudaibergen, she emphasized that “Dimash always misses his homeland and dreams of returning here. If the opportunity arises, of course a concert will be organized.”

Allabergen Zhaksybaev, Honored Worker of Culture of Kazakhstan and artistic director of the “Dauys” vocal ensemble at the G. Zhubanova Regional Philharmonic (Aqtobe), was asked how an academic vocalist would evaluate pop performances. He replied:

“I started my career at 14 as the leader of a vocal-instrumental ensemble, and I have always enjoyed singing pop songs. Even recently, I performed ‘Poklonimsya velikim tem godam’. I also sing in German, Italian, Russian, and English. That is why I will pay special attention to contestants who perform in different languages.”

Dina Niyazova, Director of the G. Zhubanova Regional Philharmonic and Honored Worker of Culture of Kazakhstan, stressed the importance of the festival for the region and praised the excellent organization by the Aqtobe authorities. She added:

“This is a great school for every participant – to compare themselves with others, with peers from different countries, and to realize how similar we all are, regardless of age or language. The uniqueness of every child lies in the brightness of their soul, and that brightness will shine on stage. The contest is secondary – what matters most is unity and the chance to show the world that art is beyond politics and conflict, that it makes the world better. That, to me, is the most important thing.”

Contest Performances

The main competition day also took place on August 21. Contestants presented two performances: one in their native language and one international hit.

The stage of “Oner Ortalygy” resounded with traditional songs such as “Ciocârlia” in Moldovan, “Aykol Manas” in Kyrgyz, “Do Not Part With Your Beloved” in Russian, and many others.

Contestants also showcased their knowledge of foreign languages with world-renowned hits, including “I Who Have Nothing”, “I Put a Spell on You”, “Lady Marmalade”, “Maybe I, Maybe You”, and “I Surrender.”

Many participants chose beloved Kazakh songs they had known since childhood, such as “Qusni-Qorlan”, “Aliya”, and “Kuldir-kuldir kisinetip.”

Some even performed pieces from the repertoire of their idol, Dimash Qudaibergen. Azzamat Oryngali sang “Jamaica”, while Lev Smertin and Alikhan Nurlybek performed “S.O.S d’un terrien en détresse.”

Gala Concert

On August 23, the winners of the competition will be announced during the Gala Concert at the “Oner Ortalygy”. The event begins at 16:00.