Rx Rhapsody Presents: Echoes of Hope

Vital Stats

Ashley S

Stony Brook, NY

people helped1000
People Doing It 20

The Problem

Though Rx Rhapsody thrives on the ability to play music in the medium and expressive means of our choosing, such is not the case for the nation of Tibet and its native inhabitants. The Tibetan people have become unwilling playing cards in China's unjust desire to nationalize Tibetan culture. Among the most ancient musical cultures in existence, Tibetan songs and musical performing arts are the target of China's attempt to instill Chinese culture unto the minds of future generations of Tibetans, that they may forget their ancient and diverse musical heritage. As evidenced in director Ngwang Choepel's haunting documentary "Tibet in Song" (www.tibetinsong.com), China is prepared to use violent force to effectively erase native Tibetan music from historical record of the world. But there is hope: the Tibetan exiles that manage to escape to northern India may be the last willing--or, indeed, living--practitioners of ancient Tibetan music and performing arts as handed down through the generations. It is out mission to preserve their story and precious musical culture before it is too late.

Plan of Action

We will establish our base of operations in the town of Dharmasala or nearby McLeod Ganj. Our plan is to lease or purchase an recreational space or (if such real estate cannot be found) a plot of land on which to construct a music/performing arts recording studio, complete with the the latest technology required for the distribution and sales of CDs and online (electronic) sales of music. One of our members has personally visited and surveyed the area and determined that the steady tourist influx, combined with the high population of Tibetan exiles and the fact that it is the current home of the Dalai Lama, make it a perfect location to capture and spread awareness regarding the near-eradicated native Tibetan music. We plan to take a team of ten or so Rx Rhapsody club members to the Dharmsala-McLeod Ganj area in order to both build this studio, promote our activity, and train local musicians on how to sustainably manage the studio for years to come. It is important to note that our team will be composed of such expert musicians and music technicians (of which Rx Rhapsody has many) as to considerably reduce the overhead in actually constructing the studio, as compared with hiring laborers or paying specialists to construct the studio for us. We plan to also turn the production profits directly to the music education of the decrepit Tibetan public schools in the area, providing funding for both instructors and renovated musical facilities. Also, we will invest in native Tibetan musical instruments for the schoolchildren. In order to expand the profits of the productions that would be made in the studio, we plan to partner with Sony Music--renown for its support of cultural music endeavors--and broaden the distribution of the music to the United States and beyond, a key incentive for the purchase of records being that a large part--if not all--of the profits will go directly to saving Tibetan musical culture. Currently, we have been in talks with the head of the Tibetan democratic party, various lobby groups located within the US who specialize in the celebration of Tibetan culture, and local Tibetan (located in Tibet) music groups who have shown a pronounced support for an interest in our plans. With their support and with the necessary funding, we hope to create a lasting imprint on the Tibetan community at large--both within and without Tibet.