Alash

Bady-Dorzhu Ondar

Bady-Dorzhu Ondar

Bady-Dorzhu Ondar was born in 1984 in the small village of Iyme. At age four, he was discovered by Kongar-ool Ondar, who took him on as a student. A few years later, Kongar-ool brought along his young protégé when he toured the United States, where they appeared on the David Letterman and Chevy Chase Shows. Bady-Dorzhu has a B.A. in National Instruments from the Kyzyl Arts College and an M.A. in Conducting Folk Orchestras from the East Siberia State Academy of Culture and Art in Kyzyl. He has toured in Russia, Europe, Scandinavia, North America, and China. He won best soloist at the 2005 All-Russian Festival of traditional ensembles and orchestras, and best in competition at the Maxim Dakpai xöömei competition in 2006. In 2007, he was named a People's Xöömeizhi (throat singer) of the Republic of Tuva, the youngest person ever to receive this prestigious award. At the 2008 Xöömei Symposium, Bady-Dorzhu was awarded the grand prize for throat singing (video1, video2). In 2019, he was awarded the honorary title "Distinguished Artist of the Republic of Tuva." He specializes in the kargyraa style of throat singing, and is especially talented on the igil and the guitar, being a great fan of Jimi Hendrix. He is currently the Director of the International Khöömei Academy in Kyzyl.