Uragsha
Musicians
Buryat Republic, Ulan Ude, Siberia

As part of the Sâkêwêwak Storytelling Festival in March, 2004 guest musicians Uragsha performed traditional Buryat music. Uragsha means "forward" in Buryat.

They have performed at the World Music Institute in New York City, the American Museum of Natural History, the Mongolian Embassy in Washington, D.C., Columbia University, Wesleyan University, La MaMa Gallery, St. Marks Poetry Project, Knitting Factory, the Center for Cultural Exchange in Portland, Caffe Lena in Sarasota Springs and Joe's Pub at the Public Theatre.

Uragsha have recorded numerous cassettes in Buryatia, two traditional CDs with Global Village Music in New York City. The group has also produced an album of contemporary music influenced by tradition in Beijing.

Sayan and Erzhena Zhambalov are the premier artists of their generation in Ulan Ude, Siberia and have been recognized as Honored Artists of the Republic for their achievements. They perform both traditional and original contemporary music in Buryatia. Ms. Zhambalov is a composer and singer named as the first runner-up for the Best Composer of Buryatia of the 20th century. Mr. Zhambalov writes the lyrics, plays khun khur and is an accomplished throat-singer. He received third prize at the International Contest of Throat Singers. In 1995 they were awarded the prize at the International Contest of Singers in Ulan Bator, Mongolia. In the last eight years they have collaborated on international projects and workshops with the Yara Arts Group from New York's La MaMa ETC in Ulan Ude, Ulaan Baatar and Kiev.

Victor Zhalsanov started throat singing in 1997 and is considered the best khomee singer of the youngest generation. He has also immersed himself in the art of the Buryat uliger, or epic tradition and performs several of these ancient oral texts. In 1998 he collaborated with Yara on Tsagaan Shubunnay Dunn and was recently featured as the wolf in Yara's Circle in Ulaan Baatar. He also performed at the Riddu Riddu Festival of Indigenous Art in Norway.

Bayarto Endonov has been throat singing since 1998 when he collaborated with Yara on Tsagaan Shubunnay Dunn. He performed the leading part of the groom in Yara's Circle in Ulaan Baatar. He also performed at the Riddu Riddu Festival of Indigenous Art in Norway.