Michael Ormiston

Male

London

United Kingdom

Profile Information:

About me:
Michael Ormiston has been composing, performing, teaching and writing about music for many years. He is a multi-instrumentalist and is currently involved as a solo performer, in a duo with Candida Valentino and a member of Miraca, Boundless, Hyperyak, Mysterious Tremendum, Praying for the Rain music groups. His original compositions have been used on TV (BBC and Channel 4), Theatre (Theatre de Complicite), Dance (Ballet Frankfurt, Spiral Dance) and performance (London Jazz Festival). His throat singing has been used on Hollywood Films (The Golden Compass, We Were Soldiers), and TV (BBC’s acclaimed series Planet Earth, Last of the Medicine Men). He has performed globally including for His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Michael is also a radio programme researcher, writer and presenter, a traditional music reviewer (Songlines magazine), a workshop leader, teacher and researcher in Mongolian music. He is one of the principal workshop leaders and performers of Eye-Music’s Colourscape.

Michael specializes in Mongolian Khöömii (overtone) singing, being one of the only non-Mongolians able to sing Khöömii. He has been studying Khöömii since 1988, attending lectures by Dr Carole Pegg (Cambridge University), Tran Quang Hai (Muse de l’homme, Paris) and Dr Alan Dejaques (Lille University). He has travelled to Mongolia six times (1993/94/97/2000/05/6) where he studied Khöömii with Tserendavaa, Gereltsogt, Ganbold, Sengedorj, Tsogtbaatar, the “Cream” of Mongolia’s Khöömii singers. In 1994 Michael was given the blessing by Gereltsogt to teach the basic practices of Khöömii Singing. Since then he has given workshops, lectures and individual lessons worldwide and in the summer of 2002 Candida and Michael toured Europe with Tserendavaa who gave both of them his blessing to teach the basics of Mongolian Khöömii. In 2006 Michael was invited to perform in Mongolia with Mongolian throat singers as part of the 800th anniversary of the declaration of the Mongolian Empire.

Michael has facilitated Khöömii and Overtone singing workshops in the U.S and Europe including at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London, Greenwich University, London, The Giving Voice Festival (Wales), Gaunts House, Dorset, The New Life Centre, New York, Ballet Frankfurt, Germany, The Centre of Intercultural Harmony, Ascona, Switzerland, Trinity College Dublin with the Temenos Project, Alternatives, St James Church, London, The Eden Project, Cornwall, England

For the past thirteen years Michael has led workshops, evenings and therapy sessions in Relaxation, Meditation and Deep Listening using Tibetan Singing Bowls, ever since Khamba Lam Choijampts, the head Abbot of Ganden Monastery, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia heard Michael playing them.

Michael has recorded many acclaimed CD’s please click for more information
Or visit myspace pages

http://www.myspace.com/michaelormiston23
http://www.myspace.com/radiantvoyages

Michael has a rare collection of Mongolian instruments including the Morin Khuur, Tobshuur, Tömör Khuur, Khulsan Khuur, Limbe, Yatag, Tsuur. Among the other instruments he plays are, Tibetan Singing Bowls, Symphonic Gongs, Saz (Turkish long necked lute), Flat backed Bouzouki, Ney (Turkish end blown flute), Jew’s harps, Live electronics……
Instruments:
Morin Khuur, Tobshuur, Khalsun Khuur, Flat backed bouzouki,Nay, Tibetan Singing Bowls, Tomor Khuur, Symphonic Gongs, zither, Shawmand ....
Influences:
Tserendavaa, Sundui, Sengedorj, Ganbold, Gereltsogt, Yavgan, Davaajoe, Zulsar, Khosbayar, Amartuvshiin...Huun Hurr Tu, Chirgilchin, Gannadi tummat... Sainkho Namchylak, Maggie Nicols, Lis Fraizer, Diamanda Galas, Julie Tippetts, Meredith Monk, Joan La Barbara, Michael Vetter, Phil Minton, Roberto Laneiri, Demetrio Stratos, david Hykes, Tran Quang Hai, yat-Kha, etc etc
Homepage:
http://www.soundtransformations.co.uk

Comment Wall:

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  • Patrik Niels

    Hi Michael,
    All is well here. Just moved to larger premises last September. We have our own concert room now. Fancy coming back to Belgium for a concert & workshop?
    Love to both of you from

    Patrik & Myriam
    www.merlyn.be

    Dec 6, 2010

  • Sarah Hopkins

    Hi Michael,
    Good to be connected with you now via the OMN .... Many apologies for my delay in responding ..... Thanks for your beautiful music . I look forward to meeting you in person one day soon !
    Meanwhile, Sonic Blessings & all good wishes, Sarah Hopkins

    Mar 13, 2011

  • Moisés Pérez Miguélez

    Hi from Spain!

    I sing with "MuOM, Barcelona Overtone Singing Choir" & we visit London & Wales at the end of this month! It'd be a genuine blessing for the group if you are able to attend an event or share the info with some of your contacts, if you feel inspired to do so.

    Thank you & enjoy your week!
    Moises

    "MuOM, Barcelona Overtone Singing Choir" in concert:

    Friday July 25th - 8:30pm
    St. Peter’s Vauxhall Church
    (amazing acoustics!)
    Vauxhall Station
    £10 online now / £13 door:
    www.muom-london.eventbrite.co.uk

    Saturday July 26th - 8:00pm
    St. Ethelburga’s Centre for Peace & Reconciliation
    ("Listen to the World Concert Series")
    Liverpool Street Station
    £12 - please book online:
    www.stethelburgas.org/events/performance

    Sunday, July 27th - doors open 7:30pm
    Llangollen Fringe Festival, Wales (closing concert)
    (in the ruins of a spectacular abbey)
    £7.50 - please book online:
    www.llangollenfringe.co.uk/index.php/en/festival-2014/41-valle-cruc...

    Facebook event page for all 3 concerts:
    www.facebook.com/events/1437020716570919
    (your click on "going" genuinely helps :)

    video clips:
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avykxc9n1WY
    (new, short clip) www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=691106300984279

    Jul 2, 2014