Merits: the people’s artist of SSU, honoree of the State award named after M.I.Glinka, honoree of the State award of Republic Bashkortostan named after Salavat Yulaev.

Creative biography:

He was born on December 26, 1916 (January 8, 1917) in the Verhne-Smirnovo village (nowadays Beloresky district of Bashkortostan) in the family of woodcutter. From his childhood the future composer was fond of national music, played kurai.

He began to study in Ufa Wood Technical School but soon the Bashkir drama actor A.Mubaryakov offered him to work in Drama Theatre of Ufa, where he performed as a player of kurai in the evenings. In day time he studied in the musical studio which has opened in Ufa.

During the Great Patriotic War he has been working in Ufa, taking a part in concerts of frontal brigades and  writing the patriotic songs.

In 1936 year he educated from the studio at the Bashkir Drama Theater and continued the education in the Bashkir National Studio at the Moscow Conservatory.

Ismagilov has devoted all his life to development of musical creativity and education in Bashkortostan. For the achievements in a creative and educational field he was awarded the title  of National actor BASSR in 1963, and in 1982 was recognized the National actor of the USSR. Before it, in 1955 year, he got the rank of the Honored arts worker of RSFSR. Also he was rewarded with  Lenin's awards (1971), the Labour Red Banner (1967), Friendship of the people (1977), «Order of Badge of  Honor» (1949) and medals.

He was composer of the following operas: «Salavat Yulaev» (1955), "Shaura" (1963), "Gulzifa" (1967), «Waves of Agidel’» (1972), «Ambassadors of Ural Mountains» (1982), "Akmulla" (1988); operettas "Sister - in-law" (1959), "Almakay" (1990); the set of romances, songs, symphonic and chamber instrumental compositions, music for drama performances.

Z.G.Ismagilov's House museum in village Sermenevo works. The collection of its works recorded on a compact disc has been released.