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Shovkat
Alakbarova was born to Azeri parents - Feyzulla and
Hokuma Alakbarov and was the third of the family's four
children. Her mother was a professional tar player and
her father, a labourer, was a folk music lover. Both
parents passed similar interests on to their
children.[1] As a child, Shovkat took up kamancha
lessons. In 1937, she became one of the finalists at a
contest held among amateur singers and judged by
prominent Azerbaijani composers and musicians, such as
Uzeyir Hajibeyov and Bul-bul. She performed Qarabagh
shikastasi at the State Opera and Ballet Theatre in Baku
(which was her first stage performance) and was chosen
by Hajibeyov to join the newly formed Azerbaijan State
Choir, where Alakbarova started her professional career
as a singer. As a teenager, she was vocally trained by a
mugham instructor (Aghalar Aliverdibeyov) and an opera
singer (Huseynqulu Sarabski). At the early stage of her
career, she mostly performed folk songs.
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