52 Notable alumni of Baku Music Academy
Updated: June 03, 2026 EliteDegrees
Baku Music Academy is ranked #9,308 in the world and #18 in Azerbaijan by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 52 notable alumni from Baku Music Academy sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with Baku Music Academy won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Salman Gambarov
1959-. (aged 67)
pianist
composer
jazz musician
Salman Huseyn oglu Gambarov is an Azerbaijani jazz pianist and composer.
2. Javid Samadov
1987-. (aged 39)
opera singer
Javid Samadov is an Azerbaijani baritone opera singer, who currently resides in Nuremberg, Germany.
3. Ayyub Guliyev
1984-. (aged 42)
conductor
Ayyub Ramiz oghlu Guliyev
4. Yusif Akhundzade
1946-. (aged 80)
military personnel
conductor
Major General Yusif Akhundzade is a prestigious Azerbaijani military conductor and director. Akhundzade was the current Senior Military Director of the Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan. He also served concurrently as the director of the Central Band of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, a position he held from 1992-2024.
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5. Franghiz Ahmadova
1928-2011 (aged 83)
music educator
deputy
opera singer
Franghiz Yusif qizi Ahmadova was a prominent Azerbaijani operatic soprano and music teacher. From 1951, she performed as a soloist at the Azerbaijani State Opera. She toured widely across the former Soviet Union, singing in the major opera houses of eastern Europe.
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6. Kovkab Safaraliyeva
1907-1985 (aged 78)
pianist
pedagogue
composer
Kovkab Kamil qizi Safaraliyeva was an Azerbaijani classical pianist, piano instructor, and concertmaster.
7. Rauf Babayev
1937-2020 (aged 83)
singer
Rauf Yusuf oghlu Babayev was an Azerbaijani singer (tenor), People's Artiste of Azerbaijan (2006).
8. Rauf Abdullayev
1937-. (aged 89)
art director
conductor
Rauf Janbakhish oghlu Abdullayev is a chief conductor of Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra, professor, People's Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR, laureate of the State Prize of the Azerbaijan SSR, Istiglal Order and "Golden Plane" international award.
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9. Shahin Novrasli
1977-. (aged 49)
composer
pianist
jazz musician
musician
Shahin Novrasli is an Azerbaijani jazz pianist, and composer.
10. Isfar Sarabski
1989-. (aged 37)
composer
DJ producer
pianist
jazz musician
Isfar Rzayev-Sarabski is an Azerbaijani pianist and composer, winner of the Solo Piano Competition of the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2009, Honorary Artist of Azerbaijan (2010), and receiver of the Zirva State Prize (2010). He is the great-grandson of Huseyngulu Sarabski, celebrated Azerbaijani opera singer, actor and one of the founders of opera in the Islamic world.
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11. Khuraman Gasimova
1951-. (aged 75)
opera singer
pedagogue
Khuraman Gasimova is an Azerbaijani opera singer (soprano) and actress.
12. Faraj Garayev
1943-. (aged 83)
university teacher
music educator
composer
Faraj Gara oglu Garayev; December 19, 1943 in Baku) is an Azerbaijani composer, music instructor, professor, son of the prominent Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev and one of the leading composers of post-Soviet period.
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13. Tofig Bakikhanov
1930-. (aged 96)
composer
artist
music educator
music teacher
Tofig Ahmed-agha oglu Bakikhanov is a composer. He was awarded the title People's Artiste of the Azerbaijan SSR (1990).
14. Amina Figarova
1964-. (aged 62)
pianist
composer
jazz musician
Amina Figarova is an Azerbaijani jazz pianist. Trained as a classical pianist in Baku, she became interested in the local folk music, later specializing in jazz. Since the late 1980s, together with her husband, the flutist Bart Platteau, she has performed in jazz festivals around the world.
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15. Rafig Babayev
1936-1994 (aged 58)
film score composer
conductor
composer
jazz musician
pianist
Rafig Farzi oglu Babayev was an Azerbaijani jazz musician, composer, conductor, arranger, author of scores for films, and People's Artist of Azerbaijan (1993).
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16. Agshin Alizadeh
1937-2014 (aged 77)
composer
Agshin Aligulu Alizade was a Soviet and Azerbaijani composer, People's Artist of the Azerbaijani SSR (1987).
17. Khayyam Mirzazade
1935-2018 (aged 83)
composer
music teacher
Khayyam Hadi oglu Mirzazade was an Azerbaijani composer and professor.
18. Hagigat Rzayeva
1907-1969 (aged 62)
opera singer
actor
Hagigat Ali qizi Rzayeva was a Soviet Azerbaijani actress and singer of folk, opera, and pop music.
19. Nushabe Elesgerli
1967-. (aged 59)
singer
actor
İnstagram Alasgar gizi Hummatova is an Azerbaijani singer, actress, PhD in art history, and Honored Artist of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
20. Soltan Hajibeyov
1919-1974 (aged 55)
conductor
pianist
pedagogue
composer
music educator
Soltan Ismayil oghlu Hajibeyov was an Azerbaijani and Soviet composer. He was awarded the People's Artist of the USSR on 26 July 1973.
21. Murad Kajlayev
1931-2023 (aged 92)
conductor
politician
film score composer
composer
music educator
Murad Magomedovich Kazhlayev was a Russian and Lak composer and conductor. He was a People's Artist of the USSR (1981), People's Artist of the Republic of Dagestan (2016), and laureate of international premiums and contests. He was also Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Great Academic Concert Orchestra named after Silantyev, a professor and academician at Russian Academy of...
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22. Rauf Hajiyev
1922-1995 (aged 73)
conductor
politician
pianist
film score composer
composer
Rauf Soltan oghlu Hajiyev was a Soviet and Azerbaijani composer and politician. He was awarded the honorary title of People's Artist of the USSR (1978). He was Chairman of the Union of Composers of the Azerbaijan SSR, minister of culture of the Azerbaijan SSR (1965–1971).
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23. Shamsi Badalbeyli
1911-1987 (aged 76)
actor
theatrical director
film director
Shamsi Badal oghlu Badalbeyli was an Azerbaijani theatre director and actor.
24. Fidan Gasimova
1947-. (aged 79)
actor
music educator
opera singer
Fidan Akram gizi Gasimova is an Azerbaijani operatic soprano who was named a People's Artist of the USSR in 1988.
25. Dinara Aliyeva
1980-. (aged 46)
opera singer
Dinara Alieva is an Azerbaijani and Russian opera singer (soprano). She is currently a soloist at the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, where she made her debut in 2009 as Liù in Puccini's opera Turandot. People's Artist of Azerbaijan (2018).
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26. Jahangir Jahangirov
1921-1992 (aged 71)
pedagogue
film score composer
composer
professor
choir director
Jahangir Shirgasht oglu Jahangirov was a Soviet and Azerbaijani composer, conductor and choirmaster; he was named People's Artiste of the Azerbaijan SSR in 1964.
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27. Farhad Badalbeyli
1947-. (aged 79)
composer
pianist
musicologist
music educator
Farhad Shamsi oghlu Badalbeyli is an Azerbaijani pianist and composer. He was awarded the honorary titles, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan SSR (1972), People's Artiste of the Azerbaijan SSR (1978), the People's Artist of the USSR (1990), and laureate of the State Prize of the Azerbaijan SSR (1986).
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28. Franghiz Ali-Zadeh
1947-. (aged 79)
university teacher
pianist
musicologist
composer
music educator
Franghiz Ali Aga Kïzï Ali-Zadeh is an Azerbaijani composer and pianist of contemporary classical music, chairperson of the Composers Union of Azerbaijan. Her music synthesizes Western classical modernist techniques with the Azerbaijani mugham art music. Among her better known works are the chamber piece Gabil Sajahy (1979) for cello and piano, as well as the ballet Empty Cradle (1993); she...
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29. Jovdat Hajiyev
1917-2002 (aged 85)
composer
Ahmad Jovdat Ismayil oglu Hajiyev was one of the major Azerbaijani composers of the Soviet period. He is remembered for his monumental orchestral works, having been the first Azerbaijani to compose a symphony (1936). He studied under Azerbaijan's Founder of Composed Music, Uzeyir Hajibeyov and under Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich.
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30. Shafiga Akhundova
1924-2013 (aged 89)
composer
Shafiga Akhundova was a prominent Azerbaijani composer, the first professional female author of an opera in the East and People's Artist of Azerbaijan. Akhundova was born into a family of an eminent cultural figure Gulam Akhundov in Shaki in 1924. Gulam Bagir oglu Akhundov, who was a public servant and intellectual of his time, worked as the first secretary of...
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31. Eldar Mansurov
1952-. (aged 74)
composer
Eldar Bahram oglu Mansurov is an Azerbaijani musician, composer and songwriter.
32. Leyla Aliyeva
1986-. (aged 40)
journalist
television presenter
Leyla Mutallim qizi Guliyeva is an Azerbaijani television presenter. On 22, 24 and 26 May 2012 she hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan together with Eldar Gasimov and Nargiz Birk-Petersen.
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33. Khadija Gayibova
1893-1938 (aged 45)
pianist
Khadija Osman bey qizi Gayibova was an Azerbaijani pianist. From Georgia in the then USSR, Gayibova died in Stalin's Great Purge of the 1930s.
34. Mirza Babayev
1913-2003 (aged 90)
actor
singer
Mirza Abduljabbar oglu Babayev was an Azerbaijani movie actor and singer. He was awarded the title Honored Artist of the Azerbaijan SSR (1956) and People's Artist of Azerbaijan (1992).
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35. Diana Hacıyeva
1989-. (aged 37)
composer
singer-songwriter
conductor
singer
Diana Hajiyeva is an Azerbaijani singer and songwriter. She is a member and the lead vocalist of the group Dihaj, which represented Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with the song "Skeletons" finishing in 14th place.
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36. Asaf Zeynally
1909-1932 (aged 23)
composer
Asaf Zeynalabdin oglu Zeynally, also spelled Zeynalli (5 April 1909, Derbent – 27 October 1932, Baku), was an Azerbaijani composer.
37. Aisel
1989-. (aged 37)
pianist
singer
composer
Aysel Mammadova, known professionally as Aisel, is an Azerbaijani singer. She represented Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song "X My Heart". She has also performed the Azerbaijan national anthem at the opening of the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2023.
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38. Dilara Kazimova
1984-. (aged 42)
singer
songwriter
lyricist
composer
actor
Dilara Kazimova is an Azerbaijani singer and actress. She represented Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen with the song "Start a Fire".
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39. Vagif Mustafazadeh
1940-1979 (aged 39)
pianist
composer
jazz musician
Vagif Mustafazadeh, also known as Vaqif Mustafa-Zadeh, was a Soviet-Azerbaijani jazz pianist and composer, acclaimed for fusing jazz and the traditional Azerbaijani folk music, known as mugham. According to many world famous jazz musicians, Mustafazadeh is one of the pioneers and "the architect of jazz in Azerbaijan".
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40. Chingiz Mustafayev
1991-. (aged 35)
singer
songwriter
Chingiz Maharram oglu Mustafayev is an Azerbaijani singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He represented Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 with the song "Truth", finishing in eighth place.
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41. Arif Malikov
1933-2019 (aged 86)
composer
painter
music educator
film score composer
Arif Malikov was an Azerbaijani composer. He graduated from the Baku Conservatory as a music composer in 1958. He shot to fame in 1961 when his first major composition "Legend of Love" was staged at the Kirov State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Leningrad (present day St Petersburg) and received nationwide acclaim. The ballet has been staged in...
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42. Flora Karimova
1941-. (aged 85)
actor
singer
khananda
Flora Alakbar gyzy Karimova is an Azerbaijani pop, mugam and opera singer and actress.
43. Bulbul
1897-1961 (aged 64)
opera singer
khananda
musicologist
folklorist
music educator
Bulbul was an Azerbaijani and Soviet operatic tenor, folk music performer, and one of the founders of vocal arts and national musical theatre in Azerbaijan.
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44. Muslim Magomayev
1942-2008 (aged 66)
composer
opera singer
film score composer
memoirist
Muslim Muhammad oghlu Magomayev, dubbed the "Soviet Sinatra", was a Soviet and Russo-Azerbaijani opera and pop singer. He achieved widespread recognition throughout Russia and the post-Soviet world for his vocal talent and charisma, including a People's Artist of the USSR award in 1973.
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45. Irina Allegrova
1952-. (aged 74)
singer
lyricist
composer
actor
poet
Irina Aleksandrovna Allegrova is a Russian singer. She is a People's Artist of Russia (2010).
46. Polad Bulbuloghlu
1945-. (aged 81)
singer
politician
diplomat
composer
actor
Polad Bulbuloghlu is a Soviet and Azerbaijani singer, actor, politician, and diplomat. Bulbuloghlu became famous in the Soviet Union with composing jazz-influenced songs with heavy Azerbaijani folk influences in Azerbaijani and Russian languages. He also sang his own songs. Three of his songs became Songs of the Year and he received numerous prestigious awards in the Soviet Union. Bulbuloghlu is...
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47. Fikret Amirov
1922-1984 (aged 62)
composer
Fikret Mashadi Jamil oghlu Amirov was a prominent Soviet and Azerbaijani composer.
48. Niyazi
1912-1984 (aged 72)
composer
conductor
film score composer
politician
Niyazi Zulfugar oghlu Taghizade Hajibeyov was a Soviet and Azerbaijani conductor and composer. People's Artist of the USSR (1959) and Hero of Socialist Labour (1982).
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49. Emin Sabitoglu
1937-2000 (aged 63)
composer
Emin Sabitoglu was a Soviet Azerbaijani composer, author of a lot of well-known Azerbaijani songs and music for films. People's Artist of Azerbaijan.
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50. Tofig Guliyev
1917-2000 (aged 83)
composer
pianist
conductor
film score composer
Tofig Alakbar oglu Guliyev was a Soviet and Azerbaijani composer, pianist, and conductor.
51. Gara Garayev
1918-1982 (aged 64)
music educator
film score composer
composer
university teacher
pianist
Gara Abulfaz oghlu Garayev was a prominent Soviet Azerbaijani composer. Garayev wrote nearly 110 musical pieces, including ballets, operas, symphonic and chamber pieces, solos for piano, cantatas, songs, and marches, and rose to prominence not only in the Azerbaijan SSR, but also in the rest of the Soviet Union and worldwide.
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52. Vladimir Shainsky
1925-2017 (aged 92)
composer
pianist
actor
songwriter
public figure
Vladimir Yakovlevich Shainsky was a Soviet and Russian composer. He was a recipient of the People's Artist of the RSFSR (1986).