Our first Mongolian music retreat

A look back at our very first Mongolian music retreat! What an adventure! From July 28th to August 1st, we hosted our very first 5-day Mongolian Music Retreat in Groningen. And what a special experience it was. Truly unforgettable — both for us as organizers and for all the participants.

Rowan has been giving workshops in traditional Mongolian throat singing and instruments for many years. Over the past two years, we’ve taken it to the next level, offering full weekend workshops with overnight stays, delicious food, and a deep dive into Mongolian (music) culture. These experiences inspired us to take a new step: a fully catered 5-day retreat where participants not only learn about throat singing and overtone singing, but also get to play Mongolia’s national instrument: the Morin Khuur, also known as the horsehead fiddle. A unique offering you won’t find anywhere else in Europe.

We found the perfect location close to home, at our neighbors from Romantische Rijksmonumenten, Landgoed Ter Wupping — a 19th-century farmhouse surrounded by the nature of Eastern Groningen. Perhaps one of the most beautiful spots in the Netherlands. What a stunning place! Authentic, atmospheric, and enveloped in peace and greenery. The original doors with classic handles, wooden beams, old ceilings, and historic wall paintings… everything breathes history and charm. The large barn turned out to be perfect for our workshops, especially in case of bad weather. The expansive garden also provided a wonderful setting for a few small, intimate outdoor music sessions, keeping in mind that the area around the farmhouse is a designated silence zone. Fortunately, we also found ample space further out in nature for extended vocal and sound exercises. This place fits the spirit of our retreat like a glove. What a gift to work here.

And it was a success. We welcomed 12 participants, who didn’t know each other at first but said goodbye as close friends. So beautiful to witness!

Guided by Rowan and Yesun, we dove deep together. Rowan has lived with Mongolian culture for over 20 years, with a special focus on traditional music. He and his wife Saran, who was born and raised in the Mongolian countryside, put the program together. Yesun, a good friend and professional musician, is not only a master of throat singing but also a gifted Morin Khuur player. His wife Khulan assisted Saran in the kitchen, where they treated all participants to delicious meals (always 100% plant-based and vegan — something that fits our lifestyle, mission and vision perfectly!). And we keep receiving such wonderful feedback about the food. Khulan is also a Morin Khuur teacher, and occasionally assisted Rowan and Yesun as well.

A retreat must strike a balance between learning and rest. While the program was full, we hope participants also found moments to unwind — in the wellness area of the farmhouse (including a pool, sauna, and jacuzzi), or simply by enjoying the silence of the surroundings. As Rowan said at the start: we can’t promise you’ll go home a master of throat singing or the Morin Khuur, but we can guarantee that you’ll learn, experience, and understand a lot about this unique musical tradition. Still, we see room for improvement — it was our first retreat, after all. At times, some days may have felt a bit too intense. Our passion for sharing Mongolian music and culture runs deep, but a multi-day retreat also needs quiet moments. Something we’ll certainly take with us for next time.

Fortunately, the feedback was heartwarming. Some participants immediately scheduled follow-up lessons, others bought their own Morin Khuur on the spot. Some realized the Morin Khuur might not be their instrument after all, but were eager to continue with throat singing. Others took the inspiration they found here and are now weaving it into their own work. Beautiful stories — the kind of impact we truly hope for.

As Rowan and Yesun said at the end of the week: what this group learned in just a few days equals almost six months of regular lessons. And we are incredibly proud of that.

Of course, not everything went perfectly. For example, we didn’t plan the check-out on the last day very well — the cleaning team arrived while we were still wrapping up. Understandably, the owner wasn’t entirely happy that the house wasn’t empty and spotless by the agreed time. A learning moment for us, and something we’ll improve next time. We underestimated quite a few things — behind the scenes we had short nights, juggling breakfast, lunch, dinner, and trying to keep everything on track according to the schedule. There were many valuable lessons here for the whole retreat team.

Luckily, we ended the week with a heartfelt round of applause. For everyone. For the participants. For the music. And for each other. And that moved me (Rowan) deeply — even if I didn’t show it right away. Because in the end, that is our mission: to inspire people with the beauty and depth of Mongolian culture and music.

A big thank you to this wonderful first group of participants. You’ve learned from us — but we have certainly learned from you too.

On to the next edition. Hopefully again at this location, because we feel at home here. It’s a place that suits us, and where our retreat can grow. But we’ve also planned a retreat in Switzerland. Keep an eye on our website for updates!

With warm regards,

‍Rowan & Saran — and of course Yesun and Khulan.