About Chirgilchin

Chirgilchi, meaning "dance of the air in the heat of the day" or "miracle", is a group of musicians from Tuva, Russian Federation, performing traditional Tuvan music, throat singing accompanied by handmade instruments. The group was established in 1996. Members include lead singer Igor Koshkendey, instrument maker Aldar Tamdyn, Mongoun-ool Ondar, and female vocalist and Igor's wife Aidysmaa Koshkendey (aka Aidysmaa Kandan). Igor Koshkendey won the Grand Prix of the International Throat Singing Competition in 1998, 2000, and 2002. He is an expert in the Oidupaa style, a type of kargyraa unique to the singer Vladimir Oidupaa. Mongun-ool Ondar won the Grand Prix in the 1992 International Throat Singing Competition at age 16. He is recognized as having mastered six different throat-singing styles and is working on inventing his own. Mongun-ool is a student of Oleg Kuular. Aldar Tamdyn is a renowned instrument maker and makes all the instruments the band uses. Aldar won Best Instrumentalist at the International Folk Music Festival in Tuva. He is the current director of the National Tuvan Orchestra of Traditional Instruments. Aidysmaa is the only female member of Chirgilchin and has won many different vocal competitions in Tuva. Their manager is Alexander Bapa, former member of another Tuvan music group, Huun-Huur-Tu, and brother of sayan bapa of this group.