MusicTibet.com

The Event and the Jury – Tibetan Music Awards 2005

The planning for the second Tibetan Music Awards was started a year in advance. All the plans made were realised as expected.

From 12 categories in 2003, four new categories were introduced this year. The nominees were voted through publications and online voting in June. From a total of 3000 plus votes published in Tibet Times and 1500 votes published in Tibetan World magazine, we received only 24 votes! The online voting was similarly scanty with about 150 in total.

The winners will receive a bronze cast trophy symbolising Lhamo Yangchen ma (Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, art and music), designed by Lobsang Dhonyoe.

The grand jury is composed of Lobsang Tsultrim Jeshong, Ugen Choedon and Tsering Topgyal.

• Lobsang Tsultrim Jeshong: Former cultural secretary of the Tibetan Youth Congress. Director and editor of numerous performances with experience in audiovisual media for over 20 years. Currently serving as additional secretary at the Department of Information and International Relations, Tibetan Government-in-Exile.
• Ugen Choedon: She started to be an artiste when she was 12 in 1959, trained by great masters in Lhasa. In 1960 she came into exile and joined the first group of Tibetan dance and music in Kalimpong. Later she served in Tipa. She is currently serving at the TCV school, Dharamshala as a dance and music teacher, and has been at the school for the last 33 years.
• Tsering Topgyal: A former Tipa alumni with over 30 years of experience in traditional Tibetan cultural performances. Has served as dance and music instructor in schools and institutions in Nepal. Has been serving as dance and music teacher in lower TCV school since 1984.