MARAL YAKSHIEVA

Yakshieva, Maral (b. February 25, 1968, Chardzhou). Turkmen composer, now resident in Russia, of mostly chamber works that have been performed in Asia and Europe.
Mrs. Yakshieva studied music theory with Ludmila Osipova and piano with Konstantin Lykov at the College of Music in Chardzhou from 1983-87, where she graduated with a diploma of excellence in both subjects. She studied composition with prof. Redjep Allayarov and piano with prof. Orazgul Annamuradova. at the State Conservatory of Turkmenistan in Ashgabat from 1988-95 and there graduated with a diploma of excellence in both subjects. She then studied composition with Albert Leman from 1995-1997, on a scholarship from the government of Turkmenistan and music psychology with Maria Starcheus at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow from 1997-98. She has also attended master classes in Austria and the Czech Republic.
Her honors include the Makhtumkuli State Scholarship in Ashgabat (1993, for excellent study), two honorary diplomas from the Ministry of Education in Ashgabat (1993, 1995) and three grants from the Open Society Institute in Moscow (1999 to attend Allegro-vivo Chamber Music Festival) and in Tashkent (1999, 2004 to attend the Ilkhom-XX festival). Her music and has been performed in Russia and Uzbekistan, including 1st and 2nd Festivals of Japanese Music in Moscow (1999, 2000), twice at the Moscow Autumn festival (2001-02) and in the halls of Ashgabat State Conservatory.
As a pianist, she has performed contemporary pieces and improvisations (solo and trio with Thomas Buckner – baritone and Olga Virezoub – piano) in the Ostrava days Contemporary Music Festival (Czech Republic) and Russia. She served as an accompanist at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory from 1995-98 and Ippolitov State Music College (Moscow) from 1998-99.
She taught music theory at the College of Music in Chardzhou in 1987-88 and taught piano as an assistant teacher at the State Conservatory of Turkmenistan from 1993-95.