From her first steps in the musical world, Asel Imayo, a graduate of the Kazakh National Academy of Music, demonstrated a talented mastery of the violin. In 2000, she began her professional career, becoming an artist of the Variety and Symphony Orchestra and concertmaster of the K. Baiseitova Opera House Orchestra in Astana. Her skill did not go unnoticed, and in 2005 she joined the West Kazakhstan Orchestra under the direction of the outstanding Kazakh violin virtuoso Marat Bisengaliev. In 2012 she became the first violin in his symphony orchestra in Almaty.

However, for Asel this was only the beginning. In 2018, she founded the Art-Mirai private foundation with a special mission - to preserve and promote Kazakh academic music in the world, as well as to preserve cultural heritage (among the foundation's projects: organization of three Competitions of Composers of Kazakhstan, cultural and informational magazine “Altyn Art”; music showcase MusicBookShop, etc.)

Asel Imayo: “On a global scale, the Art-Mirai projects, my projects, are tiny pebbles, but they are tangible, real, they can fill the space. I am proud of them and thank everyone who helps me create and hone them. Together, a lot is possible…”

The spectrum of her activities covers not only performances on stage, but also the promotion of Kazakh musical culture. She shot a documentary about her professor, B. S. Kozhamkulova, and carried out the re-publication of collections of “Chrestomathy of Kazakh Violin Music”. She released a number of collections of Kazakh music (for children - “Shashu”, a collection of pieces by Kazakhstani composers “Arman Asuy”, a collection of popular melodies “Kazak music tanymal auenderi”, etc.) She is the organizer of recording sessions of Kazakh academic music.

In addition to her creative activity, Asel continues to develop intensively in the field of education. In 2011, she received a master's degree in art history, and in 2023 she completed her education, receiving a PhD. And behind all this success lies the very routine - hard work, patience, perseverance, personal charm and eternal love for music.

But there is a project that is especially close to Asel - "Tales of the Magic Violin". This is a book where musical melodies come to life in words and illustrations, connecting the past and present of Kazakh musical culture. Through a combination of sounds and fairy tales, Asel wants to remind Kazakhstanis of the rich heritage of Kazakh classical music. In the colorful book, you can read fairy tales with children based on the classic melodies “Karlygash”, “Ak Sisa” and “Eligai” in Kazakh, Russian and English, perform these melodies according to notes and listen to them via a direct link to the Art-Mirai Foundation’s YouTube channel . By the way, Asel's book can be found and purchased at the international book exhibition “Astana Eurasian Book Fair” in Astana.

Asel Imayo: “My book may seem like a drop in the sea of ​​diversity and wealth of the book fair, but nevertheless my “modest baby” is not inferior to others in the brightness of the cover, nor in the colorfulness of the illustrations, and even more so, in the uniqueness of the content.

In the kaleidoscope of projects that I have been involved in to this day, this is the most beloved. It is part of the multi-project “Magic Violin” and one of its beautiful results. And it has its own small big mission - “Magic Violin” and its fairy tales - a book in the heart of which Kazakh music sounds. For children. For my baby daughter, for my future grandchildren, for all children - today, tomorrow.”

Since 2020, Asel has been living in Japan, with her Japanese family, and continues to do what she loves. Asel Imayo is not just a musician, she is a cultural diplomat of Kazakh musical heritage. Between 2021 and 2023, she gave over 100 solo concerts in Japan. Her performances often become the object of attention of local media, which indicates her influence and popularity.

Asel Imayo: “I perform here quite often with concerts. The repertoire is very extensive, I play classical music that is loved by the Japanese, and popular music, both Japanese and world music. And, of course, Kazakh.

At the last concert in early April, I enjoyed playing popular classics. I shook myself up from the bottom of my heart! There is little time to do it now, but you still have to find it. Thanks to performances, you don’t let yourself relax. You buy new strings, change the hair on the bow, get out the etudes and caprices, drive the scale.

During my studies, I did not like the technical exam - when I had to pass scales and etudes. And now I enjoy savoring them in those rare hours alone with the violin.

Every time after concerts I thank not only the audience, but also my parents for once buying me a violin and finding the time (in crisis moments, the power of persuasion) to engage in my musical education”

A new creative initiative of the talented violinist is a wonderful project – “Kazakh Music from the Cradle” - Album “Qazaq MusicBox for Babies”. The sound is like from a music box, with original rustles of a vinyl record, creating a magical, unique atmosphere. You can feel that these recordings were created with soul and warmth, especially since Asel herself recently became a mother again. Among the collected beautiful melodies there is a popular song “Karlygash” (“Swallow”) by Akhmet Zhubanov.

Asel Imayo: “I am very warmed by the thought that I can give my little daughter - a citizen of Japan, something that will connect her with Kazakhstan from birth, and even before it.

Now there are many Japanese children's songs and timeless classics around her, at home, in a few (so far) toys, in a móbile, in public places, children's rooms. Time will fly by quickly and she will be absorbed by society, mother's tunes will go into the past, but one day, even after many years, hearing the melody of Eligai or Balkhadisha, she will recognize it, feel something native and it will warm her soul…”

Album “Qazaq MusicBox for Babies” can be found on YouTube, Spotify and other music platforms.