Alash Throat Singers to Perform at Scc-beatrice, Lincoln High

Alash, a Tuvan throat-singing ensemble, will be performing at Southeast Community College’s Beatrice Campus on April 18 and at Lincoln High School on April 19.

Both performances are intended to be informal demonstrations, primarily for music students. The music departments at both schools are partnering to sponsor the events, which are free.

“I’m happy that we’re able to provide such an interesting opportunity like this for our students,” said Dr. Ken Hoppmann, SCC music director. “We continue to expose students to the larger music world.”

The demonstration on the SCC Beatrice Campus will be held at 11 a.m. April 18 in Room 207 inside the Truman Center. The campus is located at 4771 W. Scott Road.

Tuesday’s performance at Lincoln High School will take place in the morning, Hoppmann said.

“This is a rare opportunity for our music students to witness throat singing in an up-close and personal manner,” Hoppmann said. “I’m really excited for our students.”

Tuvan throat singing is a variant of overtone singing practiced by the Tuva people of southern Siberia. The art of Tuvan throat singing is a style in which two or more pitches sound simultaneously over a fundamental pitch, producing a mesmerizing, even entrancing, sound. The history of Tuvan throat singing reaches very far back. Many of the male herders can throat sing, but women are beginning to practice the technique as well. The popularity of throat singing among Tuvans seems to have arisen as a result of geographic location and culture.

Persons wanting more information about either performance or SCC’s Music Department are asked to contact Hoppmann at 402-228-8256 or khoppmann@southeast.edu.