Samara Tokhtakunova (a.k.a. Samarbubu Toktakunova, born on March 9 1945, in… Read Full Bio ↴Samara Tokhtakunova (a.k.a. Samarbubu Toktakunova, born on March 9 1945, in the Chui region, Kemin district) is a komuz player from Kyrgyzstan. In 1964 she graduated from the Frunze Music College. In 1963 she joined the orchestra of folk instruments directed by Karamoldo Orozov. Since 1970 she is a soloist at the Kyrgyz National Philharmonic. As a follower of the great kyrgyz komuzists such as Karamoldo Orozov, Toktogul Satylganov, Nizaly Boros, Ibray Tumanov and Atai Ogombaev, she became famous not only in Kyrgzystan, but also abroad. Samarbyubyu Toktakunova and her husband Chalagyz Isabaev, who directs the ensemble komuzists, showed their talents in more than 50 countries.

One of the achievements and at the same time differentiations of Samara Toktakunova as a komuz player is the ability to perform great melodies (kyuyu), accompanied by a symphony orchestra, an orchestra of folk instruments and folk ensembles. To be a soloist accompanied by orchestra requires high education and the perception of art. For example, her performance accompanied by Kyrgyz Big State Academic Symphony Orchestra by Kuboldieva and Mironovich «concert for orchestra and komuz», by Atai Ogombaeva «Mash Botha», by K. Orozova «Kokoi kesti», by N. Borosheva «Ker tolgoo», accompanied by State Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Karamoldo Orozova A. Kydyrnazarova «Kyrgyz kochu», Aydaraaly «Koyron kyuyu», by N. Borosheva «Kelinderdin erke kyuyu», «kara ozgoy».

Accompanied by the folklore-ethnographic ensemble of Chalagyza Isabaeva, folk melody «Sarinzhi bokoy» raised the rating of komuz one step above. In 1988 Toktakunova was awarded the title “People's artist of the Soviet Union” , because komuz in her hands spoke as the queen of the kyrgyz komuz in Central Asia. She became the winner of the World 11-festival in Havana in 1989 and in 1980 she won the grand prize at the festival «Golden apple» in Almaty.

In 1975, Kyrgyz Republic awarded S. Toktakunova the prize «Lenin Komsomol» for the active participation in France, in the days of soviet art. In 1982 she was awarded the title «deserved artist of the Kyrgyz Republic», and in 1984 she was awarded the state prize by name of «Toktogula». In 1997 great komusist was awarded a medal «Danko», in 2002 the Order «Manas».

Samarbyubyu Toktakunova is known not only as a great komuzist, but also as a teacher who prepared and taught her students in the Kyrgyz State Philharmonic studio and in the Kyrgyz National Conservatory. National Certification Commission in 1997 awarded her by the title «Professor». At present, there are dozens of S. Toktakunova’s students and they are involved in the development of komuz art. They are: Honored artists Kyrgyz Republic Nurlan Nyshanov, Anara Esengulova, virtuosi komuzists Nurzat Orozalieva, Ruslan Zhumabaev, Rakhat Kochorbaev, Toktobyubyu Cherikchieva, Ishen Calendar. They learnt from Samarbyubyu Toktakunovoy and continue to develop komuz art.