Aziz Shokhakimov / conductor
“On the podium of the Filarmonica del Comunale, the Uzbekian Aziz Shokhakimov, was the protagonist of a breathtaking performance of Brahms' First Symphony, exciting for its energy, rhythmic impulse, dynamic and agogic choices. An incredible conductor, just 22 years old, that we hope will be secured as Principal Guest Conductor of the Comunale Orchestra before another theatre discovers his great talent. At the end, the large audience went literally mad..." Il Resto del Carlino
Aziz Shokhakimov was born in 1988 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. At the age of 6 he entered Uspensky Music School for Gifted Children, where he studied violin, viola and orchestral conducting (class of professor V.Neymer).
At the age of 13 he made his debut with the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, conducting Beethoven's 5th Symphony and Lizst Piano Concerto No.1. During the following year Aziz was invited to conduct his first opera, Carmen, at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Uzbekistan. His relationship with both organizations resulted in numerous invitations to perform symphonies by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, Prokofiev, Shostakovich and operas by Verdi and Bizet among others. Starting in 2006 Aziz took up the position of principal conductor at the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, a position which he continues to hold.
In 2005 Aziz Shokhakimov was invited to participate in a training program at the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia, under the direction of Maestro Vladimir Spivakov, which subsequently resulted in subscription concerts. In 2003 Aziz began an association with the Youth Orchestra of Volga. He has led that orchestra in tours of some 20 cities in Russia, as well as France and Ukraine. In 2007 Aziz was invited to conduct a program of Beethoven symphonies Nos. 4 and 7 with Raanana Symphonietta and Rishon LeZion Orchestras in Israel.
In March of 2010 Aziz Shokhakimov was awarded second prize at the Gustav Mahler International Conducting Competition under the auspices of the Bamberger Symphoniker.
Future engagements in 2011 and 2012 will include performances with the Dresden Staatskapelle, Dusseldorf Symphoniker, Filarmonica del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, as well as concerts in North America, Mexico, and Latin America.
