Alash: Music from Tuva - A Benefit Concert for the Bennington Multicultural Community Center

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC | Members of the Bennington-area community are invited to join the Bennington College community for an evening of traditional Tuvan music on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 7:30 pm. The concert is a collaboration between Bennington College’s Carriage Barn Music Series and Vermont Arts Exchange (VAE) and benefits Bennington County Multicultural Community Center (BCMCC), whose funding was recently halted by federal executive orders.

Alash are masters of Tuvan throat singing, a remarkable technique for singing multiple pitches at the same time. They are also masters of traditional Tuvan instruments. They are deeply committed to traditional Tuvan music and culture, and at the same time they are fans of western music. Believing that traditional music must constantly evolve, these talented musicians subtly infuse their songs with western elements, creating their own unique style that is fresh and new but still true to their Tuvan musical heritage.

What does throat singing sound like? “Imagine a human bagpipe—a person who could sing a sustained low note while humming an eerie, whistle-like melody. For good measure, toss in a thrumming rhythm similar to that of a jaw harp, but produced vocally-by the same person, at the same time.” — Newsweek

The Bennington County Multicultural Community Center is the local office of ECDC, a national refugee resettlement agency. The Community Center works directly with those who have recently arrived to the United States as refugees, helping them start their new lives. The center also runs community programs that promote cultural exchange, language learning, local resilience, and expanded opportunity for all residents of Bennington County.

Tickets for community members will be $20, with children admitted for free or a suggested $5 donation. The event is free to Bennington College students with ID. All proceeds will directly benefit the Bennington County Multicultural Community Center.

Food and specially prepared beverages will be provided by Shaam Kabul and Zakia’s Afghan Food for $5/plate. 

Doors open at 7pm.

Music IG: @benningtonmusic