Alash Ensemble - Upcoming, current, and past performances

Shagaa

February 8, 2008
Tuva

Alash performed at festivities in celebration of Shagaa, Tuvan New Year (based on the Lunar Calendar).

US Tour

January 11 - February 2, 2008

In a whirlwind tour of the northeastern United States, Alash gave a concert or conducted a workshop (sometimes both) every day for 21 days straight. They played to packed houses in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, New Haven, Ithaca, New York, and Ellsworth, Maine. At the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Alash collaborated with a string quartet, playing music arranged by Ayana Samiyaevna Mongush, director of the Tuvan National Orchestra (read more). In Philadelphia, they once again joined forces with their old friends, the Extra Special Terrestrial Guests (read more). At the New England Conservatory, they visited music theory classes and presented a superb lecture/performance. At Yale University, they were overwhelmed by the number of students who wanted to try throat singing. In Vermont, Maine, and New York, they shared their music and culture with elementary, middle and high school students. All in all, it was an extremely busy three weeks for Alash, who delighted an ever growing base of returning fans as well as newcomers to Tuvan music.

Concert for Putin

August 13, 2007
Por-Bazhyn, Tuva

Alash, Chirgilchin, and Oktai were the featured performers at a private concert for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prince Albert II of Monaco. The two leaders, who were in Por-Bazhyn to see the archaeological excavation of the fortress, were treated to an evening of traditional Tuvan music, and Putin was quite amazed by the throat singing. Sean Quirk performed with Alash and even sang a solo in the kargyraa style! Afterwards, he chatted with the President. [Read more at NewsLab. See the report on www.1TV.ru (in Russian, click top right picture).]

Üstüü-Khüree Festival

July 24 - July 29, 2007
Chadaan, Tuva

The 9th Ustuu-Khuree Festival of Live Music gets ready to receive musicians and public from all over Siberia and abroad. Ustuu-Khuree website: English Russian [Read more at TuvaOnline.]

US Tour

April - June, 2007

Enthusiastic American fans were once again mesmorized by Alash's music. See and hear highlights on our media page. Alash traveled extensively, performing on the East Coast, in the Mid-West, South, and Texas. Along the way, Alash conducted workshops for schools and colleges - one principal in Texas reports that the children are trying to throat sing while walking through the halls. Alash also performed at charity events, and participated in music festivals. The image at left was made at the Make Music New York Festival.

The Russian Cultural Attaché, Nataly Batova, attended the performance in Washington, DC, which the Washington Post review describes as "utterly stunning." In DC, and at several other venues, Alash shared the stage with the American jazz band Extra Special Terrestrial Guests. The jam sessions with igil, doshpuluur, byzaanchy, kengirge, saxaphone, flute, trombone, bass, drums, and throat singing were absolutely amazing. During the tour, Alash also released their second CD, which, as Steve Sklar says in his review, "makes for a fine listening experience, indeed!"

Kyzyl-Moscow Festival

November 15, 2006
Eurasian cultural center "Legenda", Moscow, Russia

Mai-ool Sedip performed as a soloist on November 15. The festival took place on November 14 and 15. (Read more at The Moscow Times, Tuva Online (1), Tuva Online (2) and Tuva Online (3)).

All-Russia Competition of National Orchestras and Ensembles

September, 2006
Ulan-Ude, capital of the Republic of Buryatia, Russia

Alash musicians competed as members of the Tuvan National Orchestra. The Orchestra won the overall grand prize, as well as a special prize for the most original program. This 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.

Workshops and Festival

September, 2006
Poland

Alash traveled to Poland for a series of workshops organzied by Polish musician Maria Pomianowska.

Mongolian Festival

July - August, 2006
Taiwan

Alash participated in a Mongolian Festival celebrating the 800th anniversary of the beginning of the reign of Genghis Khan. (Read more at Tuva Online or The China Post)

Üstüü-Hüree Festival

June 28 - July 4, 2006
Chadan, Tuva

Alash joined Huun Hur Tu, Chirgilchin, GenDos, Tyva, the Tuvan National Orchestra and others at this summer's Üstüü-Hüree Festival in Chadan, Tuva.

Xoomei Festival

May 13, 2006
Iyme, Tuva

Kongar-ool Ondar hosted a xoomei festival in his home town of Iyme in the Dzun-Khem district of Tuva. The festival honored the famed singer and composer Maxim Dakpai, on what would have been his 85th birthday. (Read more at Tuva Online)

US Tour

February and March, 2006

Alash played to sell-out crowds of enthusiastic fans when they toured the United States in February and March, 2006. Their visit was sponsored by the Open World Leadership Center (press release) at the Library of Congress with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, and was initially scheduled for three weeks of performances in New York, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. The group extended their stay and traveled half-way across the country giving concerts and workshops in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Illinois in addition to the original venues. CEC ArtsLink (press release) hosted the musicians during their stay in the U.S.

All-Russia Competition of Folk Orchestras and Ensembles

September, 2005

Saratov, Russia

Alash musicians competed as members of the Tuvan National Orchestra. The Orchestra won one of the first prizes. In addition, Bady-Dorzhu Ondar received a special award for his unique vocal performance. (Read more at Tuva Online)