Zunduin Khangal: “Variations for Piano on the theme of a Mongolian Folk Song”

Byambasuren Sharav “The Character of Four Times”
i. White Capped
ii. I want to go to the Bright Horizon
iii. Dance of the Sun
iv. Fog

Mongolian classical pianist Mandakhtuya Dorj started playing the piano at the age of five. She later attended Music and Dance College in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia before arriving in the UK to continue her studies at the Junior Academy of the Royal Academy of Music, London with Patsy Toh with full scholarship.

She has won numerous prizes in Mongolia, France and in the UK including the RNCM’s prestigious Musicales award and in the Beethoven Society of Europe competition. As a soloist, she performs regularly around UK at venues including Ripon Cathedral, Bristol Cathedral and St James Piccadilly, St Martins- in-thefields, St Sulpichre and Regent Hall in London. She has also performed for Mikhail Gorbachev as part of his visit to London. Mandakhtuya also performs regularly in Mongolia, where she was invited to perform for the former president of Mongolia.

Mandakhtuya completed her Bachelor of Music at the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of Helen Krizos, which was kindly supported by a full scholarship from the RNCM. During this time she performed extensively in the college’s Scarlatti, Haydn, American Contemporary, Messiaen Festivals.

She has also received lessons and coaching from Philippe Cassard, Stephen Osbourne, Carole Presland and cellist Karine Georgian. She continues her couching from Carole Presland at the Guildhall School Music and Drama.

Mandakhtuya maintains a keen interest in contemporary and twentieth century music. She is passionate about music such as George Crumb and John Adams, British composers Franck Bridge and Arnold Bax. She was selected to perform the “Water Music” by John Cage at the Water Festival in Manchester.

Mandakhtuya is under the tutelage of Charles Owen and Ronan O’Hora at the Guildhall School of Music from September 2015 and gratefully acknowledges the generous support of The Jessie Wakefield Award.