At Emory University

April 2011

Hello everyone,

I hope you all are enjoying the nice spring weather. I am in Atlanta Georgia at the University of Emory. I am here for a month and a half for an Artist-in-Residency program. What I do here is teach Damnyen (Tibetan long-neck lute) and lecture on Tibetan music. I will also be doing a couple of concerts in March and April. This is a wonderful program and I am honored to be part of it.

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While I write this, my heart and my deep prayers are with the victims of the recent earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. Any disaster in the world is a huge suffering for the people who experience it.

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Sometimes being so far from where it happens, it is hard to feel the enormity of the situation. But at the same time, I feel we need to help in our own small ways. I know there are many organizations to send your donations. But I would like to ask all my readers, if you haven't sent a relief donation, please consider doing it through Ray-Light-Japan (RLJ). The organization has helped Tibetan culture in Japan in several ways. I was invited to perform there a couple of times. I know Ms.

Tomoko Amon la and Kunchok Sithar la who are the directors of Ray-Light-Japan. They have set up an emergency fund for the earthquake relief. Amon la and Kunchok la are very compassionate human beings I have met, and your donation will be given to benefit the victims. To donate please visit Ray-Light.net.

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Emory University is a private school based here in Atlanta, in the state of Georgia. The school has initiated programs that help to encourage dialogue between Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and modern science. Currently under the Emory Tibet Partnership program, student exchanges and cultural activities are undertaken. I find all this very helpful in bringing great understanding and cultural exchange between Tibetan and American students. Currently my role here is to introduce and teach Tibetan music. I have started teaching to a small ensemble, who will learn a complete song with dance and instrument. Then I will also teach and lecture some graduate students.

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The highlight of my residency here is going to be a concert on April 2nd. I am also looking forward to several forthcoming children's concerts which are expected to draw huge crowds. These unique programs are made possible by the generous funding provided by the Shelly and Donald Rubin Foundation in New York. I am very grateful to Dr. Tara Doyle and Dr. Sara L McClintock from the religious department, Ms. Elizabeth Horner from the Carlos Museum, and Mr. Tong Soon Lee from the Music department for arranging this program for the students here. They have made me feel really comfortable, and inspired me to tap into my own artistic creativities while in residency. I shall probably also finish a recording of Thoshae, traditional Tibetan songs from Lhasa, that I have been working on for the past three years. This is without a doubt one of the most interesting programs to be a part of, and I am sure it will help in the promotion of Tibetan music in exile.

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And always, please check my music and download them at CDBaby.com

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Techung