Sound Transformations

Sound Transformations consists of Candida Valentino and Michael Ormiston, who are the UK's leading teachers and practitioners of Mongolian Khöömii overtone singing.

Khöömii is an amazing style of overtone/undertone or harmonic/subharmonic voicing/singing where one person seems to sing two or more distinct pitches at the same time. It originates among the nomads of the central Asian plateau, particularly the Altai and Sayan mountain regions of Mongolia and Tyva.

Over this six week workshop series we will begin to learn aspects of Tagnain Khőőmii, which will aid in exploring and listening to the overtones in our own voices, and discovering unknown depths and heights in our singing. Learning materials and exercises will be provided for independent learning between the weekly sessions, enabling each participant to get the maximum benefit from the face to face tuition. The group will be limited to a maximum of ten, to ensure that each person is able to have one to one coaching to develop their technique and explore their voice.

The workshops will primarily be taught by Michael, although Candida may attend some to provide additional tuition. Michael Ormiston is the UK’s most experienced Mongolian Khöömiich (Overtone Singer). He travelled to west Mongolia in 1993 to study Khöömii with Herdsman and expert Khöömiich, Tserendavaa. During his six times in Mongolia he has also studied with leading Khöömiich, Tsengedorj, Ganbold, Gereltsolt and Tsogtbaatar and has the rare privilege of being blessed to teach Khöömii by Tserendavaa and Gereltsogt, which he has been doing internationally for over 25 years.

Michael and Candida have taught Khöömii on the SOAS World music summer school for over 15 years as well as individually teaching ethnomusicology students at SOAS, & Goldsmith College, University of London, ADEM- Ateliers d’ethnomusicologie Geneva, Keele University and the Royal Holloway University.

In 2011, Michael in conjunction with SOAS and The Embassy of Mongolia organised, lectured and performed at the Inaugural European Mongolian Khöömii Festival in London.

Candida Valentino travelled in 2000 to Mongolia where she was taught by Tserendavaa in his ger in Chandman’ Sum. She is one of the few western woman to learn melodic Khöömii as well as the Kharkhiraa undertone singing variant and was blessed to teach Mongolian Khöömii by Tserendaava. Candida has performed these styles in concert with Tserendavaa, for the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Tashi Lhunpo Monks, and on her and Michael’s many CDs.

'Very amazing and even spiritual. Helped me explore vocal possibilities and improved very fast.'
'It was fantabulous! Amazing, patient and expert teaching from two great teachers.'
'It was a very positive experience and learnt a lot in a short time.'
'I love exploring the voice in many ways and this was part of the journey.'
'A really inspiring, fascinating week of vocal training, history lessons, ethnomusicological exploration. I loved it!'

The workshops will take place over six consecutive Wednesday evenings, between 6 November and 11 December.

Tickets are being offered at three price levels, which reflect the very small class size and personal teaching being offered:

£225 - Supporter, £175 - Standard, £125 - Concessionary.

As a guide to which might be the right tier for you, we suggest the following:

• If you can pay all your bills without difficulty and afford more than one main holiday each year, consider being a Supporter.

• If you can pay all your bills, but would struggle to pay for more than one holiday a year, consider the Standard rate.

• If you are on a low income or sometimes struggle to pay bills, you can choose the Concessionary rate.

And, as always at Pitchblend events, if you are keen to attend but the concessionary rate would still be unaffordable for you, please message us directly, and we'll see what we can do. If there is space, we wouldn't ever want to turn anyone away on grounds of cost.