Aidos Sagat (born 1970): professional composer and pianist graduated Almaty State Conservatoire and wrote compositions for symphony orchestra, chamber music, piano etc. in academy style combining modern and folk elements. Aidos Sagat, the band leader, is a member of the Kazakhstan Association of Composers and a member of the Youth Association under the patronage of the President Nazarbayev.  

The band has received many recognition awards at international contests and has taken part in festivals of pop music in Germany , France , Turkey , and Russia . URKER is proud to be on the top of the national music charts for many years. 

URKER is one of the first groups to revive in their compositions traditional values to Kazakh people and to promote our national identity. Today, they belong to the best loved, respected and most successful music projects in Kazakhstan . Songs with patriotic sense like “Nauryz”, “My Kazakhstan”, "Tughan Elim" (“My people”),  "Än Meken" (“Land of songs”), and lyric songs such as “Janym" ("My soul”), “Saulemai”, “Perishte" ("Angel”),  “Mahabbat Äny" ("Love song”) created in collaboration with the famous song writers K. Myrzagaliev and I. Saparbayev, became the nations favourite songs and belong to the basis for the upbringing of the young generation in independent Kazakhstan. The video “Mahabbat Äny" was the first Kazakh clip to win a free prime time broadcast on MTV Russia Channel. URKER videos were shown by Link TV Channel, thus being the only Kazakh band ever broadcasted in US, and they are proud to say that they are the most visited Kazakh band on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Urker&search_type=&aq=f ). Their music is the most downloaded one from Kazakhstan .  

     In 2009, the group celebrated its 15^th anniversary. Until then, 5 albums were released, 17 video clips were shot, and URKER performed life all over the country including the presentation of Astana on a senior government level, as well as the “Millennium Party Astana”, "Days of Kazakhstan Culture" in Russia , and a tour through 15 Kazakhstan cities. URKER has participated in many song contests and festivals amongst which were "Voice of Asia", "Zhas Kanat" (2nd nomination), First International Pop Song Contest of Turkic Language Speaking Countries in Turkey in 1998 (the winner), "Silk Road Festival" in Crimea, “Cosmodrom” in Novosibirsk , and many more. The band’s songs were transmitted on Radio BBC, Radio France Internationale, Funkhouse Europe Germany, Nashe Radio Russia . Songs written by Aidos Sagat and performed by URKER appeared in compilations published in Germany (" Asia   Garden  "), Italy ("Inner Asia Pop"),and Russia ("Songs of other nations"). 

     The consolidation of the Kazakh community abroad is believed to be one of the missions of the band. With this purpose, the band gave several concerts in USA , UK , Hong-Kong , Turkey , Turkmenistan , and Russia with success.

     URKER has won “The best group of 2000” National Music Award, “Golden Disk” for “Nauryz” as the best song  of the decade,and has been registered in the “Visiting Arts” British Art Catalogue, and the international internet encyclopaedia Wikipedia. One of Almaty streets has been named after the group. 

    CD Albums:     

       "URKER", 2000

       "Made in Kazakhstan ", 2002

       "The Best of URKER", 2004 

       "Tolgau", 2008

        "I didn't forget........." 2009 

       International releases:  

       “ Asian Garden ” 2005, Germany

       “Children of other nations” 2005, Russia

       “Inner Asia Pop” 2006, Italy

       "Made in Russia" 2009  Germany