Alash Ensemble of Tuva To Play at Richards School March 22

WHITEFISH BAY – March 8, 2013  -- The Alash Ensemble of the Siberian Republic of Tuva will return to its American “hometown” for a performance March 22 at 7 p.m. at Richards School, 5812 N. Santa Monica Blvd in Whitefish Bay. The show is open to the public and free, though donations are welcome.

Alash, based in the Republic of Tuva in the Russian Federation, has won numerous international awards in Tuvan throat singing, a technique which allows vocalists to sing multiple pitches at one time.  Ensemble members also play a variety of Tuvan traditional instruments, contributing to an overall musical experience that a Washington Post review described as “absolutely stunning.” 

The group’s translator/manager, Sean Quirk, grew up in Whitefish Bay so the Alash’s Tuvan musicians – Ayan-ool Sam, Ayan Shirizhik and Bady Dorzhu-Ondar-- have adopted Milwaukee as their American hometown. As they have for the past six years, while in town, the group will take part in a week-long series of school workshops on world music sponsored by the Milwaukee’ Symphony’s Arts in Classroom Education (ACE) program.

The Whitefish Bay concert gives him the chance to share his adopted Tuvan culture with his American friends in the area, says Quirk, who has lived in Tuva for the last ten years. In 2008, the Tuvan government honored him as a Distinguished Artist of Tuva for his efforts in promoting Tuvan music and culture.