Munojot Yoʻlchiyeva

Munojot Yolchiyeva (born 1960), also known under the Russian form of her name, Munadjat Yulchieva, is the leading performer of classical Uzbek music and its Persian-language cousin Shashmaqâm. She is famous for the unique quality of her voice and her natural charisma. She is recognized as People's artist of Uzbekistan (1994). She is honored as the Heroine of Uzbekistan (2021).

Professional career
Yolchiyeva was born in 1960 in the Buloqboshi district of Andijan region in Ferghâna valley near Tashkent, and from an early age it was obvious she had a great gift as a singer. This nearly resulted in her being channelled into a career as an opera singer, but she was inexorably drawn towards the slow, aching music of her own ancient culture, something that seemed almost pre-ordained by her name, which means 'ascent to God' or simply 'prayer'.

She is frequently accompanied by her mentor, the famous rubab player, Shawqat Mirzaev. Her repertoire includes many of his compositions, and she usually performs with his ensemble. Typically the group use local instruments such as the dutar (two stringed lute), the tanbur (3-stinged lute), a gidjak spike fiddle, doira frame drum, ney flute and at times the chang zither. Those lucky enough to attend one of her rare concerts abroad will witness a sumptuously dressed performer of startling gravitas and charisma, with long pigtails trailing down to her waist.

In 1997, she won the International Music Festival. In 2005, she performed at the Austrian Music Festival Glatt und Verkehrt.

Only two recordings of her music are widely available – the first for the French label Ocora (1994) and the most recent (1997) on Germany's Network label, which has the subtitle A Haunting Voice.

Medals

 * "Oʻzbekiston SSRda xizmat koʻrsatgan artist "(Honored artist of the Uzbekistan SSR) (May 3, 1990) - for contributions in music, theater, national choreography, and songwriting, as well as for preparing and conducting the Navruz holiday and telegrams.


 * "People's Artist of Uzbekistan" (June 10, 1994) - for contributions to the development of the national theater and participation in public life.
 * Winner of the Sharq Taronalari Festival (1997)


 * "El-yurt xurmat"(Order of "Respect of the Country") (August 27, 1998) - for contributions to education, culture, healthcare, and sports to strengthen the independence of our country.


 * "Fidokorona xizmatlari uchun"(Order for "Selfless services") (August 23, 2004) - for contributions to the development of national culture, science, education, literature, art, and healthcare.


 * "Order of Outstanding Merit" (August 24, 2011) - for strengthening the independence of the homeland, the development of national identity, the promotion of culture, and participation in public life.


 * "Mehnat shuhrati"(Order of Labor Fame) (August 29, 2019) - for contributions to the intellectual development, physical education, and sports of the people, and for contributions to the enhancement of socio-political culture.


 * "O‘zbekiston Qahramoni"("Hero of Uzbekistan") (August 24, 2021) — for contributions to the reforms carried out in the New Uzbekistan in the coming years, dedication to the welfare of the state and its people, work in production and socio-cultural fields, the role played in nurturing our youth with values, respect for national and universal values, and participation in the social life of the country.