Unravelling mysteries of Tibet

MOST of us know a little about the mysterious and intriguing land of Tibet, but we rarely have the chance to get up close to the culture and its people.
All that is about to change, thanks to a visit to Emerald by a group of Tibetan artists for the Performing And Visual arts in Emerald -PAVE Festival.
Tenzin Choegyal, an internationally acclaimed Tibetan musician, along with two Tibetan monks will take part in this year’s festival, with a program of cultural activities and special performances open to people of all ages.
Over five days, Tenzin and the monks will offer a program of traditional Tibetan arts, including creation of an exquisite sand mandala, hands-on workshops and a concert of traditional music.
The concert, on Friday 10 April, will feature the extraordinary voice and sounds of Australia’s most acclaimed Tibetan singer-songwriter, Tenzin Choegyal, and will be presented at Emerald Performing Arts Centre at Emerald Secondary College.
He plays the Dranyen (Tibetan lute) and Lingbu (transverse bamboo flute).
But perhaps his most outstanding instrument is his voice.
Tenzin has received rave reviews for his performances.
In 1997, Tenzin came to Australia with little more than a bag 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 at such prestigious events as the WOMAD festivals as well as several Concerts for Tibet at Carnegie Hall, New York.
And yes, he is coming to Emerald.
The two monks taking part in the PAVE Festival are Geshe Jamyang and Ven.
After many years of training at Sera Monastery in southern India, they moved to New Zealand to take up residence at the Jam Tse Dhargyey Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre.
Both are masters in creating sand mandalas and delight in sharing their culture with Australian audiences.
Step into this fascinating world for a little while or a long time across five amazing days of the PAVE Festival.
All workshops are priced at just $5 while concert tickets are $20/$15 and, because tickets are limited, bookings are essential.
Check the dates for workshops and book your tickets for the concert on Friday 10 April, at www.pave.org.au/events.
For enquiries, contact info@pave.org.au.
The PAVE Festival is celebrating its 10th year.
Tenzin and the Monks of Tibet is just one of the delights offered on a jam packed program.
For a full program, go to www.pave.org.au or call 5968 3881.