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Mongolian Melody Gala concert
DENVER (March 18, 2026) — The powerful sounds of Mongolia’s iconic horsehead fiddle will
take stage in Denver during the 4th Morin Khuur Festival at the University of Denver between
May 8–10, 2026.
Presented by the Morin Khuur Center in North America in partnership with Colorado’s Ajnai
Horsehead Fiddle Center, the three-day international festival celebrates the Morin Khuur, a
Mongolian horsehead fiddle, through concerts, workshops, master classes, scholarly panels,
and an amateur performance competition.
Hosted at the University of Denver’s Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts,
the event will bring together internationally recognized performers, educators, scholars, and
musicians to showcase Mongolia’s musical tradition to the public.
“This festival is about more than Mongolian music,” said Jukov, President of Mongolian
Community of Colorado. “It’s about cultural connection, storytelling, and sharing a living
tradition with diverse audiences including the young Americans with Mongolian heritage”. The
morin khuur (horsehead fiddle), inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, is a
powerful symbol of Mongolia’s nomadic heritage.
This year’s festival also marks key milestones: the 150th anniversary of Colorado, 35 years of
Colorado–Mongolia relations, and 25th anniversary of the Denver–Ulaanbaatar Sister City
partnership.
Events are designed for a wide range of audiences, from seasoned musicians and students to
families and first-time listeners curious about Mongolia’s music and culture. The festival will
feature two distinct concert formats:
Amateur Group Concerts are free and open to the public, welcoming audiences of all ages.
These performances showcase community ensembles, students, and emerging artists,
celebrating grassroots participation and cultural exchange.
In contrast, the Gala Concert is a premier event featuring internationally renowned musicians
and singers from Mongolia and around the world. This highlight performance offers audiences
a world-class artistic experience at the highest professional level. Tickets, schedules, and
registration information are available at www.ajnaicolorado.com and www.mkcna.com.
Festival Details
Location: Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts, University of Denver
FREE ADMISSION EVENTS
May 8, 2026
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Scholarly Presentations
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Morin Khuur Exhibition
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Amateur Group Concert
Ajnai Horsehead Fiddle Center (Denver, CO)
Bay Area (San Francisco, CA)
May 9, 2026
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Amateur Morin Khuur Competition- 2nd round
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Morin Khuur Exhibition (Wolf Conference room)
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM Masterclass by Ch.Batsaikhan, People’s Artist of Mongolia
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Amateur Group Concert
Giingoo (Chicago, IL)
Khuurchiinkhan (Seattle, WA)
Anura (Washington, DC)
May 10, 2026
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Amateur Morin Khuur Competition- 3rd round
10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Morin Khuur Exhibition
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Door opens/Award Ceremony (Gates hall)
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM GALA CONCERT (Gates Hall) featuring professional
internationally renowned Morin Khuurists of Mongolia, ticket price ranges
between 40$-60$ (https://newmancenter.evenue.net/events/ajnai)
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3601967-0
Facebook: https://go.evvnt.com/3601967-2
