Silk Way Star finale showcases regional talent as Mongolia’s Michelle Joseph wins in Astana

Astana turned into a regional cultural hub as Silk Way Star held its grand finale, bringing months of competition to a close and gathering artists from across Asia on one stage. Mongolia’s Michelle Joseph won the first season, marking the end of a project that drew viewers from around the world.

The evening opened with a message from Kazakhstan’s President Kassym Jomart Tokayev, delivered by State Counselor Erlan Karin. The statement highlighted the project’s mission to strengthen cultural dialogue across Asia and celebrate diverse musical traditions.

The finalists arrived from Malaysia, Georgia, China, Armenia, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Each performed in their native language, combining vocal skill with original staging, detailed lighting design and costumes crafted by Kazakh artists specifically for the project. Backstage, choreographers, stylists and technical teams worked continuously to keep the production precise.

The finale was broadcast live on Jibek Joly TV, with additional national broadcasts in Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia. Across the season, the combined audience for all episodes surpassed one billion viewers.

One moment stood out during the jury scoring. Azerbaijani jury member Samira Efendi awarded twelve points to Armenian contestant Saro Gevorgyan, prompting a brief exchange of thanks on stage. It was a simple artistic gesture, met with applause from the audience, and reflected the spirit of the evening rather than overshadowing it.

As the show reached its peak, People’s Artist of Kazakhstan Dimash Qudaibergen announced the winner. The award was presented by representatives of the Television and Radio Complex of the President of Kazakhstan and China Media Group, the project’s production partners.

Silk Way Star concluded its debut season as a platform where cultures, vocal styles and personal stories converged, bringing Asia’s musical diversity to a global audience.

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