Throat Singers from Tuva, Southern Siberia, Captivate Groningen

At the end of August and the beginning of September, four master throat singers from Tuva performed not only in Switzerland, but also came to Groningen. Here, in our own province, they gave concerts and workshops — a unique chance to experience this centuries-old vocal art and culture up close!

On August 29 and 30, the very first edition of the Echoes of the Steppe Festival took place in Romainmôtier, Switzerland — the first festival in Europe fully dedicated to throat singing. The event was organized by the cultural center Henosis, led by Lucas Vertesi, Loïc Rego, and Léa, in close collaboration with myself, Rowan Hartsuiker from Wedde (Altai).

For me, this was a dream come true. For more than twenty years I have been involved with throat singing and traditional music from Mongolia and Tuva (Southern Siberia, just above Mongolia). It all began with a recording of Igor Koshkendey, a master throat singer from Tuva, which inspired me to follow a path that not only led me to Mongolia, but also to meeting my wife Saran. From that moment on, throat singing has not just been music to me, but a lifelong passion that has shaped both my work and my family.

The First Throat Singing Competition in Europe

During the festival, a historic moment took place: the very first European throat singing competition, with participants from no fewer than 13 countries. From the Netherlands and France to the United States, Mongolia, and Tuva itself. The jury consisted of three experienced experts: Igor Koshkendey from Tuva, Baatarsuren Chadraabal from Western Mongolia, and myself. I prepared and organized the entire competition.

Together we witnessed an astonishing diversity of participants. Some sang in purely traditional Mongolian or Tuvan styles, while others brought modern, creative, or personal interpretations. The competition showed that throat singing is not only living heritage, but also an art form that inspires new generations and cultures.

Four Masters from Tuva

For the festival, we also managed to invite four exceptional musicians from Tuva: Igor Koshkendey, his son Choldug Koshkendey, and the talented singers Dalai Damdyn and Naidan Dongak. For three of them, it was their very first time in Europe. Their contribution to the festival was not only artistically impressive, but also historic: they brought the centuries-old vocal traditions of their homeland to a new continent.

From Switzerland to the Netherlands

After the festival, the musicians traveled with my family to the Netherlands, where we organized a series of special performances and workshops. (See a video impression here)

On September 4, a sold-out concert took place in the church of Ruigoord (Amsterdam). The audience was enchanted by the intensity of the singing and the sounds of the traditional instruments. My wife Saran added another dimension: she prepared traditional Mongolian milk tea, handmade noodles, and dumplings, allowing visitors to experience not only the music, but also the flavors of Central Asia. The reactions were so enthusiastic that a follow-up in Ruigoord seems almost inevitable.

The following day, September 5, we organized a living room concert at our farm in Wedde, where we run Altai: our small-scale cultural center with guesthouse and yurt. In this intimate setting, the audience listened in awe to the songs and vocal techniques. For many, it was their first time hearing throat singing live, and words like “unforgettable” were often heard afterwards.

One special moment was when a journalist who had interviewed us for a regional newspaper confessed to me beforehand that throat singing did nothing for her — she just didn’t understand it. So I invited her to attend the living room concert with her husband and two friends. Afterwards, she came up to me and said she was more than impressed — she found it beautiful and remarkable. Moments like this show how powerful this music can be, especially when experienced live.

The weekend of September 6 and 7 was all about learning (see a video impression here). Eleven participants from the Netherlands, Belgium, and even Italy took part in an intensive two-day workshop. Under the guidance of the four Tuvans, they learned the basics of throat singing techniques, discovered traditional songs, and were introduced to the role of various traditional instruments. One participant from Belgium said: “It was wonderful and almost unbelievable to be able to learn so intensively and intimately from four world-class masters.”

On September 7, we concluded this journey with an open-air concert at Dinopark & Landgoed Tenaxx, a beautiful estate right next to our farm in Wedde. The evening was perfect: gorgeous late summer weather, a unique location by the swimming pond, and even a lunar eclipse that made the magic complete. The audience reacted with amazement. One visitor said: “It was an extraordinarily beautiful musical experience.” Another highlight for me was the visit of a woman, born in Tuva but living in Groningen, who said: “Thank you for the opportunity to finally hear the sound of my homeland again.”

More Than Music

Throat singing is an impressive vocal technique, but it is also much more than that. It is interwoven with a culture in which nature, animals, and people live in harmony. It is deeply connected with the nomadic life of the Central Asian steppe and with shamanism — a worldview in which earth, cosmos, and human are inseparably connected. This deep connection resonates in the songs, and that is exactly what makes them so powerful and universal.

Some people thought beforehand that throat singing might not be for them, but once they heard it live, their opinion changed completely. Because when this music is heard in the right context — with stories, instruments, and song — you discover that it is simply a beautiful genre, deeply rooted in a culture that inspires and connects. And that is exactly our mission and vision at Altai in Wedde: to share something special here in Groningen. A culture and music that you don’t normally encounter in the Netherlands, but that brings people together and teaches you something new along the way.

The Beginning of Much More

The success of the festival and the concerts in the Netherlands proved that throat singing can touch hearts in Europe. It showed that people, regardless of their background, are open to this extraordinary tradition. For us, this is just the beginning. As I said myself: “This was simply too special to leave at just one time.”

What We Learned

Looking back, we ourselves also learned a great deal. Organizing this festival and tour meant preparing countless documents, arranging flights and visas, programming and scheduling the competition, designing and producing awards, guiding musicians, planning travel and transport, and providing three meals a day for two weeks. There was also communication with technicians and venues, photography, video, and managing social media.

There were many hours on the road: thousands of kilometers driven, short nights, hard work. But above all, there was joy: shared meals, making music together, special conversations, and sharing a unique, rich culture and musical tradition with an audience that was either already familiar with throat singing or completely surprised by something new.

Thank you everyone!

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Video impressions of the concerts and workshop below: