Tenzin Choegyal (Tibet)

Tenzin Choegyal was born to a nomadic family in Tibet, escaped the Chinese occupation with his family in the early 1970s and was raised in a Tibetan refugee community in Dharamsala, India. There, where His Holiness the Dalai Lama actively encourages his people to preserve their culture, Tenzin first began to explore his musical talents.

Tenzin feels a connection to the music of the nomadic people of his homeland. He recalls his father’s mastery of the lingbu (bamboo flute) and his mother’s singing, and attributes much of his musical passion to those early influences.

Tenzin plays the Dranyen (Tibetan lute) and Lingbu (transverse bamboo flute). His most outstanding instrument, however, is his voice. His music has been described as beautifully evocative, healing, and transcendent.

In 1997, Tenzin Choegyal came to Australia with little more than a bag, his Dranyen and a voice full of passion for Tibet. His raw talent soon caught the attention of the directors of that country’s largest folk festival, Woodford Folk Festival where he still plays to packed audiences each year.

Over the years, Tenzin has created a successful international career as a musician, playing WOMAD festivals as well as several Concerts for Tibet at Carnegie Hall, New York. Tenzin has been an avid collaborator with musicians from diverse cultures, including Philip Glass and the Patti Smith band.

Jonny Marks, front man of All Seeing Hand, is performing a solo throat singing set.