In 1934 A. K. Zhubanov organized the first in Kazakhstan orchestra of Kazakh folk instruments named after Kurmangazy. At the beginning of 1933, the students of the Almaty Music and Drama College joined together in a small house ensemble (11 people). Active assistants A.K. Zhubanov were L. Mukhitov, N. and M. Bukeykhanov, K. Medetov, then a musical experimental workshop arose, where composer E. Brusilovsky, music masters Kamar Kasymov (native of Pavlodar), brothers Boris and Emmanuil Romanenko worked.
Ahmet Zhubanov, from his youth, actively collected and studied Kazakh musical folklore. In the process of studying folklore, Zhubanov published several articles in print, among them "On the genres of kyu in Kazakh music", "On the youth song", "On the ways of development of the Kazakh song", "Music cadres of Kazakhstan", "Kazakh puppet dance" Orteke " . In 1936 a research pamphlet by A. Zhubanov "Kazakh People's Composer Kurmangazy" was published.
After A.K. Zhubanov for about forty years the collective was headed by the People's Artist of the USSR, Laureate of the State Prize of Kazakhstan, the Chevalier of the Order "Parasat", Professor Kazhgaliev Shamgon Sagitdinovich. At various times, the orchestra was conducted by composers M. Tulebaev, N. Tlendiev, S. Kazhgaliev, F. Mansurov, T. Abdrashev, A. Zhaiymov, J. Begendikov, D.Ukybai.
The orchestra is a participant of many international and republican forums, festivals, contests, decades, festivals, tribunes, conferences. He is the owner of the first prize and the title of laureate of the IV World Festival of Youth and Students in Bucharest (1953). He was awarded the honorary titles "Honored Collective of the Republic" (1967), "Academic" (1978), and November 29, 1984 he was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples.
Broadka concert tour. He represented an individual performing school not only in his own country and the CIS, but also in far abroad countries – Poland, Romania, Hungary, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France, Sweden, Portugal, Denmark, India, China, Afghanistan.
Many outstanding soloists have performed with him: S. Lemeshev, K. Bayseitova, R. Baglanov, L. Zykina, S. Kizbayev, B. Tulegenov, R. Jamanov, R. and M. Abdullina, A. Dnishev, G. Yesimov, N. Usenbaeva, J. Baspakova, Sh. Abilov and others.
In the repertoire of about 4000 works by domestic and foreign composers–classics: Kurmangazy, Dauletkereya, Tattimbet, D. Nurpeysova, L. Hamidi, G. Zhubanova, E. Brusilovsky, F. Schubert, P. Chaikovsky, M. Glinka, I. Glazunov, V. Brahms and many others.
The orchestra has a soft harmonious sound, a rich nuance, ease in the performance of works and kyu.
In his greeting the President of Kazakhstan N. A. Nazarbayev spoke about the great importance of the Kurmangazy Orchestra for contemporary Kazakh culture.