BISENGALIEVA, Galya

Galya Bisengalieva (born in Almaty, Kazakhstan) is an award-winning Kazakh-British composer, producer, and virtuoso violinist. Known for her atmospheric, drone-heavy, and genre-defying soundscapes, she navigates seamlessly between folk, ambient, classical, and electronic music. In addition to her acclaimed solo work, she is highly regarded as a collaborator and has long served as the leader of the London Contemporary Orchestra. Born into a musical family in the Soviet state of Kazakhstan, Bisengalieva was raised on traditional Kazakh folk songs sung by her grandmother and the sounds of the dombra played by her grandfather. Her early training followed a strict Soviet-style classical music program. At the age of 12, she received a scholarship that allowed her to continue her education abroad. She later relocated to the United Kingdom, studying at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music. Bisengalieva has carved out a distinct artistic identity focused on experimental music that combines acoustic strings with electronics. Also, as an elite instrumentalist and improviser, Bisengalieva's violin can be heard on major studio albums, experimental tracks, and high-profile cinematic scores.