Tuva.Asia / The New Research of Tuva

The National Khoomeizhi of Tuva Mongun-ool Ondar was the Grand Prix winner of the VI International Ethnomusicological Symposium “Khoomei -  a Cultural Phenomenon  of the Peoples  of the Inner Asia”.  It is the second highest award he has received, the first prize came 20 years ago as a 16 year old at the First International Throat-Singing Forum. The laureates of individual khoomei performance are Ayan-ool  Sonam (1^st), Igor Koshkendei (2^nd), Bady-Dorzhu Ondar (3^rd). The last two artists were awarded with Grand Prizes in solo throat singing in 1998 and 2008 correspondingly, and they are members of the “Alash” Ensemble, which has become a winner of the Grand Prix in the Bands category this year. The Awards were presented to the winners by the Head of the Republic of Tuva, Sholban Kara-ool. He expressed gratitude to the participants of the Symposium for their constant interest to the ancient art of Tuva. “Khoomei is an impenetrable mystery of the Tuvan people’s soul and it is our mighty heritage. Our ancestors used to say: “I will never leave my khoomei, I will always carry it with me”.