Batyrzhan Tankeev: "Playing the organ, you feel like part of a grandiose choir"

A student of the KazNUI College, Batyrzhan Tankeev, became a laureate of the VI International Organ Competition "Young Organist", which took place in Moscow at the music school at the P. I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory. The grandiose instrument, considered the “king of music,” has become accessible to young talents from Kazakhstan. Batyrzhan took an honorable third place and entered the ranks of the strongest organists in his age group.

His victory at the competition is a special event not only for the college, but also for the entire music community of the country. The news is unique also because Batyrzhan has been playing the organ for only 2.5 years, unlike other contestants who have dedicated more than 12 years to this instrument.

“During the competition, first of all, I noted for myself the preparation of my competitors, because the level was, of course, incredible! There were doubts whether I would be able to get to the second or third round, but I intended to win. When I went on stage, the thought was one - I came to Moscow, I must show everything I am capable of and give my best”, - shared his impressions Batyrzhan Tankeev.

The 19-year-old musician is studying at the college on a grant in the specialty “Piano”. He chose the organ as his second required instrument. His love for music was born in him thanks to his parents, who brought him to the children's music school in Kostanay. There he met his first teacher - the head of the “Piano” department Varyukhina Vera Alekseevna. She prepared Batyrzhan for admission to the music college.

“I originally wanted to become a musician. There are very many performers who can play both the cello and the piano, and they play virtuously. I think striving for this goal is worthy. That is, to be able to do something more, to expand your horizons. If a person wants to do something, if he sincerely desires it, there will be no particular difficulties for him, nothing impossible…”, - explained Batyrzhan Tankeev.

The organ, the musician admits, he has liked since childhood. His favorite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach - a master whose work is associated with the solemn and powerful sounds of the organ. Batyrzhan is glad that he can study the works of Bach and other authors at the college.

“You know, at about the age of six, I first heard Beethoven's “Ode to Joy”. I remember my dad turned it on on big speakers, which made me feel a strong contrast. A calm beginning, and then volume, polyphony, grandiose sound - all this has remained in my memory forever. The organ also gives these sensations. When I am with Him, I feel that I am not alone. Of course, this can be said about any other musical instrument, but here I feel that it is me - part of something bigger. The organ is a polyphonic instrument. Playing it, you feel like part of some grandiose choir or orchestra”, - shared his feelings Batyrzhan Tankeev.

The first large-scale musical competition in Batyrzhan's career took place in 2022. He became a laureate of the first degree of the republican competition of young pianists “Astana Piano Passion”. Then he gained a unique experience - he played a concert with an orchestra for the first time. The next challenge was the international organ competition named after Johann Trummer in St. Petersburg in 2023.

“At this competition, I was awarded first place. This was my first organ competition, where I had to play not in my homeland, but to represent the honor of my country, my educational institution, the honor of the school and my teacher on another prestigious stage. This is always very important. When we participate in international competitions, we as musicians also represent the face of our teacher.”

Batyrzhan Tankeev is learning to play the organ from Abilkhanova Saltanat Ayabekovna - Associate Professor of the Department of Piano and Organ at KazNUI. Saltanat is the first Kazakh organist to receive a fundamental European education in Germany. She completed her training - an assistantship-internship at the F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdi Higher School of Music and Theater in Leipzig, and participated in master classes of such outstanding organists as Martin Zander, Wolfgang Zerer, Michael Radulescu and Wolfgang Rübsam. And this year, Saltanat Abilkhanova, for the first time presented her student at the international competition “Young Organist”.

“This is already the sixth competition “Young Organist”, a very serious level. The founder and artistic director of the competition is Galina Vasilievna Semenova. She is a successor to the performance traditions of Leonid Isaakovich Roizman. For over 50 years she has been engaged in pedagogical practice. I call her an “organ workshop” for the production of talented organists. When I studied in Leipzig, I first heard her students. And I was struck then by how magnificently they played. In 2022, we accidentally met her at master classes, where we first met. She invited me to work as a jury member of the “Young Organist”competition, - said Saltanat Abilkhanova.

The jury of the competition is representative: Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, Head of the Department of Organ and Harpsichord of the Moscow State Conservatory named after P. I. Tchaikovsky Ruben Abdullin, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, Head of the Department of Organ and Harpsichord of the St. Petersburg State Conservatory named after N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Daniel Zaretsky, chief curator of the organ of the Zaryadye Concert Hall Lada Labzina and other leading organists.

“The jury included people who have been leading organists in Russia for 20 years. And it was very pleasant that Batyrzhan was able to perform well. He has been studying for only 2.5 years in the second required instrument at the college and such success. I think this is a lot of work and endurance. Of course, this is a special victory for us. We have had other organ competitions, but this is the first, international, and of such a scale...! He coped well with the tasks assigned. I think we have a future, who will continue the organ business in the country”, - concluded Saltanat Abilkhanova.

The competition consisted of three rounds. The final took place in the Prokofiev Hall of the Russian National Museum of Music in Moscow. At the third round, Batyrzhan Tankeev performed works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Louis Vierne. It was also difficult that it was necessary to get used to an instrument from another company, noticeably different from the one installed in Astana.

“Such competitions are difficult and require endurance, because there are three rounds, you need to be able to withstand them. There is always tension when you move from round to round. Moved from the first round to the second - hopes, from the second to the third - waiting again. Even the third round, when you play, you don’t always manage to exhale. A special atmosphere covers everyone. I would compare the preparation for the competition with the preparation of Olympic athletes who train for years. This is daily, hard work, the main thing now is not to stop”, - noted Batyrzhan Tankeev.