Orozobay Kenchinbayev

Orozobay Kenchinbaev was born in 1943 in the village of On-Zheti-Karagay (Semyonovka) in the Issyk-Kul District. He graduated from the art studio of the Ministry of Culture of the Kirghiz SSR. His interest in craftsmanship began in childhood: Kenchinbaev made toy musical instruments, studied literature and learned from older makers.

Kenchinbaev later worked as an engineer in the komuz workshop at a factory of folk musical instruments. Several dozen instruments were made there for the “Kambarkan” ensemble; twelve varieties created or systematised by Kenchinbaev became part of the ensemble. The maker assembled temir-komuses into sets matched by pitch. At the 1991 World Congress of Jaw Harp Music in Yakutia, the Kyrgyz delegation presented an orchestra of twelve differently pitched temir-komuses. This work was recognised as a new achievement, and Kenchinbaev received the title “World Master” and joined the congress jury.

Orozbay Kenchinbaev is honored worker of culture of the Kyrgyz Republic, member of the Presidium of the World Congress of the Jew's harp. Since 1962, he creatively produces 20 kinds of traditional musical instruments (komuz Temir komuz kyl kayak, Kern surnay, dobulbas, choor, chopo choor, ace tayak etc.), 9 of which he owns the copyright. Because of the uniqueness of his skill on making folk musical instruments he is in demand throughout the Republic and abroad. For the manufacture of individual instruments he is addressed from Kazakhstan, Yakutia, Japan and other countries near and far abroad. All the famous republic komuzisty individually bought komuz Kenchinbaevu (S.Toktakunova, A.Esengulova, B.Shatenov, R.Amano Islands and others.). It also manufactures tools for many folk ensembles such as "Kambarkan", children's ensemble Temir komuzistov R.Madvarova, Kazakh folk instruments orchestra "Otrar-Sazy" and others. Kenchinbaev creates not only a talented musical instruments, but also masterfully plays on them. O. Kenchinbaev repeatedly was the winner of the International Folklore Festival (Africa Somalia, 1977) (France, 1985). He was awarded the title "Best Master" at the World Congress of Jew's harp (1991)., "National Master" of the Kyrgyz Republic (2002). He also won a silver medal at the exhibition of applied arts in Italy for the best manufacturer of musical instruments and yurts (2000).

Orozobay Kenchinbayev

Kyrgyz Komuzes