# Amina Shafikova

Amina Ivnievna Shafikova (born March 24, 1974) is a prominent state figure of the Republic of Bashkortostan, a pianist, educator, professor at the Ufa State Institute of Arts, and Minister of Culture of the Republic of Bashkortostan. She is an Honored Artist of the Republic of Bashkortostan (2002), People's Artist of the Republic of Bashkortostan (2024), and a laureate of state awards of Russia and Bashkortostan.

## Biography

Amina Shafikova was born on March 24, 1974, in the village of Irgizly, Burzyan District, Bashkir ASSR.
In 1997, she graduated from the Ufa State Institute of Arts under Nailya Galievna Khamidullina.
From 1997 to 1999, she pursued postgraduate studies at the Kazan State Conservatory under Professor I. S. Dubinina.
Since 1997, she has been a teacher, senior lecturer, associate professor, and professor at the Department of Special Piano at the Ufa State Institute of Arts named after Zagir Ismagilov.
From September 2004 to October 2008, she served as chief consultant for culture, sports, media, and youth policy at the Apparatus of the Government of Bashkortostan.
From 2008 to 2010, she was the Vice-Rector for Continuing and Postgraduate Education at the Ufa State Academy of Arts named after Zagir Ismagilov.
From 2010 to 2012, she was the Rector of the Ufa State Academy of Arts.
Since October 5, 2012, Amina Shafikova has served as the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Bashkortostan.
Shafikova is a laureate of numerous international, all-Russian, and regional competitions, including: - First laureate of the N. Sabitov Republican Competition (Ufa, 1995). - Laureate of the International Competition "Musicale de France" (France, 1996). - Laureate of the International Competition "Hopes, Talents, Masters" (Bulgaria, 2003). - Diploma winner of the International Piano Competition "Pianello Val Tidone" (Italy, 2004).
She actively participated in the International Courses of Higher Artistic Skill for Pianists named after S. V. Rachmaninoff in Tambov, representing the Ufa piano school. She is a Presidential Scholar of the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, and the "New Names" charitable programs.
She is listed in the "Golden Book of the Republic of Bashkortostan: New Names – From the 20th to the 21st Century." In 2002, she was awarded the honorary title of Honored Artist of the Republic of Bashkortostan. In 2006, she became a laureate of the State Republican Youth Prize named after Sh. Babich, and in 2024, she was awarded the honorary title of People’s Artist of the Republic of Bashkortostan.
At the invitation of the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the State of Kuwait, A. R. Kulmukhametov, in April 2005, Amina Shafikova performed concerts as the head of a group of musicians in Kuwait City, showcasing Russian academic art with great success.
To preserve the legacy of the Bashkir school of composition, Amina Ivnievna has performed and recorded numerous works by composers such as N. Sabitov, Z. Ismagilov, A. Karimov, L. Ismagilova, A. Aznagulov, I. Khisamutdinov, and L. Valitova. These recordings are stored in the archives of republican radio and television.
Amina Shafikova has served as a jury member for republican, national, and international competitions. In 2008, she initiated and organized the Interregional Competition for Performers of Piano Works by Bashkir Composers named after S. Khamidullina, where she continues to serve as the permanent chairperson of the jury.
She is the author of numerous scholarly works on pedagogy and the methodology of piano performance. Amina Ivnievna successfully combines public service with teaching, remaining a professor at the Department of Special Piano at the Ufa Institute of Arts. Her students have become laureates of all-Russian and international festivals and competitions. She actively participates in concerts of faculty members of the Ufa State Academy of Arts named after Z. Ismagilov and annually presents solo performances at the F. Shalyapin Concert Hall. Amina Ivnievna regularly performs with the State Orchestra of the Republic of Bashkortostan.
A significant event for the republic in 2015 was the presentation of a Steinway piano, during which the Minister of Culture performed Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the orchestra at the State Concert Hall "Bashkortostan." Her concert repertoire includes piano works of the highest difficulty, requiring excellent form and technique, including compositions by W. A. Mozart, J. Haydn, L. van Beethoven, F. Chopin, R. Schumann, F. Mendelssohn, F. Liszt, P. I. Tchaikovsky, C. Debussy, S. Rachmaninoff, I. Stravinsky, and others.
As the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Amina Shafikova has successfully elevated the region to a leading position in Russia in terms of cultural development indicators. She has firmly established the region as one of the key centers for hosting major all-Russian and international projects.

## Awards and titles

* Medal "For Contributions to Culture and Art" (October 19, 2022) — for significant contributions to the development of domestic culture and art, and many years of fruitful work.
* People's Artist of the Republic of Bashkortostan (2024).
* Honored Artist of the Republic of Bashkortostan (2002).
* Presidential Commendation of the Russian Federation (December 16, 2015) — for outstanding labor achievements, active social activity, and many years of dedicated work.
* Russian Government Prize in the Field of Culture (December 26, 2023) — for hosting the VI World Folklore Festival (VI World Folkloriada).
* State Republican Youth Award named after Sh. Babich (2005).
* Laureate of the N. Sabitov Competition (Ufa, 1995).
* Laureate of the International Competition "Musicale de France" (Paris, 1996).
* Laureate of the International Competition "Hopes. Talents. Masters" (Dobrich, Bulgaria, 2003).
* Diploma recipient of the International Competition "Pianello Val Tidone" (Italy, 2004).