Namgyal Lhamo

(Nepal, 1956), a.k.a. The Nightingale of Tibet, is regarded one of the best singers of Tibet although she has never lived in this mountain country. The first Tibetan songs she learned from her mother. As an infant she was noticed for her special voice and at age eight she was admitted to the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) in India, founded by the Dalai Lama. She specialised in classical song and folksong and soon became one of the most important opera singers of the institute. Namgyal Lhamo plays various traditional instruments, among them the dranyen (Tibetan lute) and the gumang (a Tibetan string instrument). She has recorded several cd's with compositions of her own. In 2008 Highland Supernova appeared, combining her unique voice with rock music. In 2007 she was chosen the best singer at a presentation of the Tibetan musical awards. Ms Lhamo has lived in the Netherlands since 1980.