This December Newstead Live will present a special event featuring two acclaimed Tibetan performers, Tenzin Choegyal (Australia) and Tenzin Kunsang (Japan). They come together to present Whispering Sky, an evening of music and dance that transcends cultural boundaries and conjures up images of Tibet’s high plains and mountain peaks.
Drawing on their common heritage, Tenzin Kunsang and Tenzin Choegyal have formed a special artistic and personal connection. Kunsang is a gifted multi-instrumentalist, composer, dancer and classically trained performer of traditional Tibetan opera, while Cheogyal’s talent as a singer-songwriter has established him as one of the most significant Tibetan performers on the international stage.
A son of Tibetan nomads, Tenzin Choegyal has been on a life-long musical pilgrimage since his early years in Dharamsala, a refugee village in India. Now based in Brisbane, he draws on his nomadic roots to perform original compositions and spoken word, accompanied by his dranyen (Tibetan lute) and lingbu (bamboo flute). At the same time, he delves into diverse musical styles, pushing the boundaries both in the studio and on stage, along with an international cast of collaborators including Philip Glass and Laurie Anderson.
Tenzin Kunsang is a classically trained singer and dancer with a broad repertoire ranging from Tibetan opera and folk music to his own original compositions. Now living in Nagano, Japan, Kunsang studied traditional music, dance and opera at the prestigious Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts in Dharamsala, India. A talented multi-instrumentalist, he plays dranyen, erhu, bansuri and other traditional instruments.
Kunsang’s performances also include the elaborate costumes and complex choreography of traditional Tibetan dance. Such colourful folk dances and operatic performances are a feature of many Tibetan festivals, while the centuries-old ritual Cham (religious) dance is performed in the monasteries and seen as a practice for purification and a form of meditation in action.
Choegyal and Kunsang share a belief in music as a universal form of communication and a powerful medium for cultural exchange. Through their music and warm explanations, they delight new audiences and loyal fans alike, taking them on a musical journey to the Himalayas, while also bringing Tibetan music firmly into the contemporary world. The result is a joyful celebration of dance, music, song and spirit.
A Tibetan Dance Workshop will be held in Newstead as part of their visit.
Choegyal and Kunsang are both looking forward to sharing their music and stories with audiences around Australia.
Date: Thursday December 12
Dance Workshop Time: 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Concert Time: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Venue: Newstead Community Centre, 9 Lyons Street, Newstead
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/CXAWS
