Tuvan National Orchestra

Formed in 2003, the Tuvan National Orchestra combines traditional Tuvan instruments, "modified" Tuvan instruments from Soviet times, Russian traditional instruments, and Western classical instruments such as the flute, contrabass, and trumpet. Ayana Samiyaevna Mongush, perhaps the only person in the world who can arrange and score music for all of these instruments, is the Orchestra's conductor and artistic director. With its unusual mix of instruments and inspired arrangements by Mongush, the Orchestra can play music that is more traditionally Tuvan in style, or more Western, and their renditions of traditional Tuvan songs are quite popular.

Orchestra members include Alash, members of Chirgilchin, members of Tyva Kyzy, Andrei Mongush, Nachyn Choodu, Ai-Xaan Oorzhak, Kang-Xuler Saaya, and Nikolai Damba, among others.

In September 2006, the Orchestra won the overall grand prize, as well as a special prize for the most original program in the All-Russia Competition of National Orchestras and Ensembles held in Ulan-Ude, capital of the Republic of Buryatia, Russia. That year, for the first time, the competition was for "national" instruments, instead of "folk" or Russian instruments. The Orchestra's preformance qualifies them to compete in the finals in Moscow in 2008.

In September 2005, the Orchestra won one of the first prizes in the All-Russia Competition of Folk Orchestras and Ensembles held in Saratov, Russia.