Renowned American composer and producer, two-time Grammy Award winner Walter Afanasieff, has come to Kazakhstan for the very first time. He took part in the international project of Dimash Qudaibergen and Hunan Broadcasting System in the city of Turkistan. The spiritual capital of Kazakhstan, with its centuries-old history, became the first filming location for the international music show Voice Beyond Horizon.

Filming took place at key tourist and historical landmarks of the region. The musical project brings together performers from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Italy, Malaysia, and Serbia. The contestants’ professional level is evaluated by specially invited international experts. Among the jury members is Walter Afanasieff — the producer of the iconic hit My Heart Will Go On, the soundtrack to the film Titanic.

“This is my first time in Kazakhstan. I have dreamed of this for many, many years. The feeling and impression are so strong that I just want to live here. The people, the food, the climate, the nature – everything impressed me and touched my soul. Honestly, this is one of my favorite cities I’ve ever visited in my life,” said Walter Afanasieff.

During the filming, the musicians visited the natural and cultural landmarks of the Turkistan region, including the Azret-Sultan complex, the Otrar settlement, the Karavansaray tourist complex, the ethno-village, and the Sayram-Ugam National Park.

The creative journey of the project participants will continue by train across other regions of Kazakhstan. Filming will also take place in Mangystau, Almaty, and Akmola regions, as well as in the cities of Almaty and Astana. The final stage of the show is scheduled to be held in the capital.

The project is being carried out by Dimash Qudaibergen in collaboration with Hunan Broadcasting System, which reaches more than 210 million viewers daily via broadcast and the digital platform Mango TV. Thanks to this partnership, millions of viewers around the world will discover Kazakhstan’s tourism potential.

The project has received organizational support from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the national company Kazakh Tourism, JSC Passenger Transportation, and regional administrations.