On July 25, in Kyzyl, will be the official opening of the Fifth International Symposium "Khoomei: Cultural Phenomenon of the Peoples of Central Asia". This is the key event of the Year of Khoomei in Tuva. The most intriguing part of the program of the symposium is the throat singers' competition. Together with Tuvan performers there will be throat singing participants from Mongolia, Bashkortostan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Altay, Khakassia, Buryatia, Kalmykia, Yakutia, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Japan, America, France, the Netherlands, Austria, and Denmark.
The Grand Prize for the winner of the competition is set at 2000 USD.
Special prizes will be awarded to the best performer of each of the following styles: sygyt, kargyraa, khoomei, bobannadyr, and ezengiler.
In addition to solo performers, three first places will be determined among ensembles of throat singers; another three, for the best khoomei yurt.
The symposium program includes: a scientific portion, an international competition of khoomei and solo two-voiced singing, master classes on all styles of Tuvan khoomei, sales exhibitions of Tuvan folk instrument, sales exhibitions of the works of masters of Tuvan crafts, demonstrations, sales of traditional Tuvan clothes and accessories by local designers, presentations of cultural and mass spectacles, and round-table discussions on the problems of khoomei.