Zhanat Yermanov is a clarinetist, Honored Artist of Kazakhstan, the senior lecturer of the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory and founder of the leading wind quintet in Central Asia.

ZhanatYermanov is the founder of the state woodwind quintet which has become known as “The Perfect Five”. He is a leading figure in the cultural life of the republic and is a professional musician of international stature. Zhanat has been interested in the clarinet since the age of ten, when his musical talent was first recognised. As a young and upcoming musician he took part and became an award winnerin regional and national competitions. He graduated from the specialist music school in Uskemen and then studied with Professor Sabirov in the National Conservatory. In spite of his youth and relative inexperience, Zhanat worked hard to master every aspect of the clarinet and crowned his achievement by winning the Grand Prixat the first ever International Woodwind Competition held in Almaty. Inspired by this success, Zhanat studied further to master his technique and to develop performance in the clarinet’s repertoire.

The clarinet first appeared in Europe and it is no surprise that the art of playing that instrument is well developed in those countries, with top professionals and centres of learning so, in 1997, Zhanat gained entry to continue his post-graduate studies at the Mozart Academy of Music in Warsaw, a notable achievement for a musician from Central Asia. He took master classes in solo and ensemble playing from world renowned artists Michel Letieg, PninaSalzman and Alexander Satz, benefiting from the international wealth of experience and enhancing his understanding of musical traditions from the baroque era to the music of the present day. Zhanat’s natural creativity and fine sound did not go unnoticed; the respected master Kyoko Hashimoto noted: “I had the pleasure of listening to ZhanatYermanov. He is a fine clarinetist with excellent technique and very sincere musicianship. I predict that he will be one of the most important musicians of musical society.”And Salzman commented: “ZhanatYermanov is a wonderful clarinet player. He is of course quite professional. His playing is very musical and poetical. He also possesses a lot of charm (a rare quality!) in his playing, and a lot of good taste and nobility.”

Zhanat did not rest on his laurels, choosing to develop his skills at music academies, in Nice and in Prague, where he studied with international artists including Poul Meer, Francois Lele, Yana Thomson, Andre Kazalet and Armand Angster. At this time, Zhanat’s playing caught the attention of various musical celebrities, including the violinist Zhyslin who, having heard Zhanat on a number of occasions, paid tribute to his technique and interpretation and predicted that a bright career laid ahead.

Since then, the talented musician has continued to expand his horizons. In 1997, Zhanat returned to Kazakhstan and in 2002 graduated on a scholarship from the Kurmangazy National Academy in operatic and symphonic conducting with Professor Abdrashev. Later, he would draw on all his collected experience and knowledge to found the wind quintet.

The idea was hatched from listening to and studying performances by various European wind ensembles. His dream was to create in his native Kazakhstan a top-class wind quintet, the first of its kind in central Asia.

There were many difficulties to be overcome but, in 2004 the quintet was given official status as The National State Wind Quintet of Kazakhstan and is based at the Dzhambul State Philharmonie. The quintet’s collective talent consists of Alexandra Schwabenland (flute), BakhtyarAlfarabiev (oboe), ZhanatYermanov (clarinet), ManarbekSabytov (French horn) and Almas Ashyrbekov (bassoon).

To date, the quintet has travelled widely to take part in competitions and festivals, including those in Vienna, Marseilles, Prague, Nice, Seol and Moscow. Touring with interesting concert programmes, the quintet has been met with international critical acclaim.

One special item in their varied repertoire has become a favourite around the world: a song called Aksisa by Zhayau Musa, arranged for the quintet by AdylBestibaev. Aksisa was largely responsible for the growth in popularity of the quintet and has now become its ‘signature’ show-piece.

As the quintet became more widely known, native Kazakh composers have added to the repertoire with new pieces dedicated to the quintet, including Nauryz, composed by Shildebayev and arranged by Zhanat himself, Betburys sati by Kydyrbekov, Bozyngenby Abdynurov and Festive Melody by Andosov. The quintet also perform music by classical masters and their repertoire includes the Fmajor Quintet by Dvorak, Bozza’aScherzo, Debussy’s Suite No.1 and Rimsky-Korsakov’s concert favouriteFlight of the Bumblebee.

Performing to international as well as domestic audiences, members of The National State Wind Quintet of Kazakhstan have collaborated with other artists including the Zhubanova string quartet, grand opera star Mayra Kerey and the Marseilles wind quintet, as well as playing separately, or in smaller groups.

On a recent concert tour to London, the “Perfect Quintet” performed with the charismatic Andrew Auster (a figure well known in Kazakhstan not only as a musician but as founding Headmaster of Haileybury schools in Almaty and Astana) at venues including St Martin-in-the-Field, together with other Kazakh musicians and the choir of Haileybury Almaty, a colourful combination which was received with interest and enthusiasm by the English audiences.

Currently, ZhanatYermanov’s quintet is involved in several domestic projects and international liaisons with prominent European musicians as it strives to conquer ever higher peaks of musical creativity.

Dr. Bakyt Turmagambetova, Musicologist