Techung and the Tibetan Ensemble will perform traditional & contemporary music from Tibet.
The event is free, open to the public, and in-person, with live streaming. Watch the Livestream.
Members: Tashi Sharzu (Techung), Lobsang Choephel, Passang Lhamo, Tenzin Norbu, and Tenzin Kalsang.
Techung is an accomplished Tibetan folk and freedom singer/songwriter, and a masterful multi-instrumentalist who hails from the vibrant town of Dharamshala, India and presently resides in upstate New York. He creates music that navigates and weaves both the secular and sacred aspects of Tibetan culture, while capturing the soundscapes of Tibet and the profound longings of Tibetans who have endured decades of exile living in India. Techung has more than twelve recorded albums of Tibetan folk and contemporary music to his name. He shared the stage with numerous popular artists, including the likes of Patti Smith, Philip Glass, U2 and the Beastie Boys. At the 2018 Tibet House benefit concert held at Carnegie Hall, Techung collaborated with composer Philip Glass, who commended him as "a man of such talent representing the culture of this exiled and oppressed community." Techung's traditional and modern performances not only aim to preserve the music of his ancestors but also strive to disseminate the rich Tibetan cultural heritage with global communities around the world. As an adjunct professor, Techung taught Tibetan music and dance at Emory University, and also shared his musical journey through speaking engagements and workshops at various prestigious institutions like Stanford University, Berkeley University, and St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY.
Passang Lhamo, a celebrated Tibetan singer, trained at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts. She toured internationally as a lead dancer and opera star, performing with Chaksampa Tibetan Dance and Opera Company San Francisco. With five albums to her name, Passang Lhamo's traditional and contemporary Tibetan music has won hearts in the global Tibetan community. She now lives in Canada.
Lobsang Choephel is a multifaceted Tibetan artist, skilled in music and dance. In 1981, he joined the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) to hone his craft as a court dancer and musician. As a member of TIPA, he embarked on international tours, showcasing Tibetan culture worldwide. Lobsang was also a key musician and arranger for Aa ka Ma, an innovative band born out of TIPA's initiative to create contemporary music rooted in Tibetan traditions. Now based in Toronto, Lobsang continues to perform with fellow TIPA alumni, sharing his rich cultural heritage with Canadian audiences.
Tenzin Norbu was born in Lhasa, Tibet in 1982. He came to India when he was 11 years old and enrolled in a Tibetan school in Mussoorie, northern India. In 2004, Tenzin was accepted to the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, where he specialized in Piwang and Erhu. He has toured with TIPA in Asia, North America and Canada. After emigrating to New York in 2014, Tenzin Norbu taught music to young Tibetans. Recently he established the first ever Tibetan children’s contemporary band called Ghantruk Rolsok or Son of the Snowlion. He is the Culture Secretary of Danang Foundation based in NYC.
Tenzin Kalsang was born and raised in Dharamsala, India. He entered the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) at a young age and became a senior male artist. Tenzin has toured India, North America, and Europe with TIPA and has made several recordings. He took the lead role in the Chaksampa Tibetan Dance and Opera Company’s performance of Sukyi Nima at Emory University in 2012. He also teaches traditional music to Tibetan children in New York and New Jersey.
Image by ChenYusheng