Näcip Cihanov

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Näcip Cihanov (also Nazib Gayazovich Zhiganov) was a Soviet and Tatar composer, teacher and statesman. He was born on January 15, 1911, in Uralsk (now Oral, Kazakhstan) and died on June 2, 1988, in Ufa, Russia.

Music and works
- Wrote eight operas, including Altınçäç and Cälil, three ballets, and 15 symphonies, along with many other pieces such as Qırlay, Suite on Tatars’ Themes, Näfisä, symphonic novellas, and symphonic songs.
- Composed a cantata, Republic of Mine (1960), as well as camera-instrumental works, romances and songs.

Roles, influence and honors
- One of the founders of the State Symphony Orchestra of Tatarstan.
- Artistic leader of the Tatar Opera and Ballet (1941–1943).
- Chairman of Tatarstan’s Composers Union (1939–1977).
- Rector of Kazan Conservatory (1945–1988); he was named a professor in 1953. The Kazan Conservatory was renamed in his honor in 2000.
- Served as a deputy in the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR (1951–1959), the Tatar ASSR (1963–1967, 1977–1988), and the Soviet Union (1966–1970).

Awards
- People’s Artist of the USSR (1957) and Hero of Socialist Labour (1981).