In an interview with Kazakh musician/performer Janis Shaukenbaeva, who was hosted at the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia, I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that she had brilliantly performed the work of world famous compatriot Arno Babajanyan at the piano competition dedicated to the 95^th birth anniversary of Arno Babajanyan in the Aktyubinsk region, receiving warm rounds of applause and the high evaluations of the contest committee. On this occasion, Janis was given a two-week pass to Armenia. The shining face of the beautiful Janis, the long and thick hair reaching below her knees, her tallness and her smart and laconic answers to my questions served as evidence of the self-evaluation of the young musician/performer, who is 18 and has already achieved success in her career.

Karine Avagyan: Janis, welcome to Armenia! Please, tell us about how you participated in the competition.

Janis Shaukenbaeva: I am in my third year of studies at a music college and have already been transferred to the fourth year. Upon graduation, I will apply to the Conservatory. Aktyubinsk announced a children’s and youth competition dedicated to famous Armenian composer Arno Babajanyan, and I was one of the participants between the ages of 13 and 18. The participants had to perform two works, one of which definitely had to be one of the works of Arno Babajanyan, and the other had to be a jazz song of our desire. First, I performed a potpourri of his works. I think I performed them the way they were supposed to be performed. There were prizes for the best performers. The performers of Armenian descent were provided with the opportunity to participate in the “Ari Tun” Program, while we were given passes to spend a two-week vacation in Armenia. After the competition dedicated to the 95^th anniversary of the great composer, it was decided to turn the competition into an ongoing event.

Karine Avagyan: Do you like Babajanyan’s works, or did you simply perform that work by Arno Babajanyan in order to participate in the competition? Which other Armenian composer’s works do you like?

Janis Shaukenbaeva: Indeed, I do. My favorite work of Babajanyan is “Nocturne”. I also love Aram Khachaturian’s works that I have performed for my pleasure, but I have not performed them on stage yet. I perform the works of my beloved composers with pleasure and a high sense of responsibility.

Karine Avagyan: Was this your first time participating in a competition?

Janis Shaukenbaeva: No, this wasn’t the first time. I have participated in several competitions and have even participated in a festival in Los Angeles.

Karine Avagyan: You have been here for the past three days. Which sites have you visited in Armenia?

Janis Shaukenbaeva: We visited the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran), the Cascade Complex, and today we will be visiting the temple in Garni and Geghard Monastery.

Karine Avagyan: Janis, what did you know about Armenia before your visit?

Janis Shaukenbaeva:  I have Armenian friends in Kazakhstan. I know the history of Armenia and have heard about Mount Ararat, Lake Sevan, Armenian grapes and pomegranates.

Karine Avagyan: Do you like Yerevan? Is Aktyubinsk more beautiful than Yerevan?

Janis Shaukenbaeva: Yerevan is much more beautiful (here Janis’s mother interrupted and said Yerevan is splendid). The people are kind, cordial and straightforward.

I bid farewell to the talented and good-looking Janis and her mother, Saule Shaukenbaeva, who participated in the interview and stressed her daughter’s absolute hearing abilities that have amazed and charmed people since childhood. When Saule was praising her daughter, Janis turned red and tried to distract us from the conversation about her. Before leaving, Janis pronounced a couple of Armenian words and phrases that she had learned (“Barev dzez, im anunn eh Janis, shnorhakalutyun, siroom em Hayastane”-Hello, my name is Janis, thank you, I love Armenia”)…Our interview ended with this positivity.

Karine Avagyan