Kobyz athlete Shakhnase Ilyasova from the village of Botakara, Bukhar-Zhyrau district, became the winner of the Green Dragon Festival competition in Sanya (China). She performed Batyrkhan Shukenov's composition "Otan-Ana" in her own interpretation.
The winners of the competition were selected in several categories: playing national instruments, vocals, choreography, choir, theatrical skills, design and visual arts.
Shakhnaze Ilyasova became the first in the nomination "Playing national instruments". She plays the prima kobyz.
– I performed solo at the competition. She played Batyrkhan Shukenov's composition "Otan-Ana", but in her own treatment, which was different from the original. I didn't expect to take the first place, it was a big surprise for me. Thanks to this victory, I now have the right to participate free of charge in any international competition organized by the same organizers as the Green Dragon Festival. Their next contests, for example, will be in Spain and Hungary, but I have not yet decided which one I will go to," said Shakhnaza Ilyasova.
She currently teaches the kobyz at the Rukhaniyat Center for Continuing Education in Botakar. More than ten children are learning to use the national instrument from her.
Shakhnaza Ilyasova's victory in the "Green Dragon" is not the only one. Last year, she won first place at the Golden Time Talent international online competition, and she was also included in the list of diamond allies of the global Confederation of Talents. She has also won numerous regional and national competitions.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/karaganda/press/news/details/918707