Musical, poetic and spiritual maestro Tenzin Choegyal weaves an evolving soundscape that celebrates the joy of living and the inevitability of dying. Fusing structured and spontaneous elements, Whispering Sky, enmeshes sound and spirit with the courage to blend disparate musical traditions, inviting audiences into a rich tapestry of sound that transcends cultural boundaries. This captivating show will feature the dynamic, thundering sounds of Kaya Tominaga and her Taiko Ensemble and the blend of lush orchestrations and deep listening of Topology’s Robert Davidson and the Sketch Ensemble. Alongside music from Tenzin Choegyal’s latest album, the performance will also include new music composed in collaboration with Robert Davidson, and original pieces by Kaya Tominaga.
Exiled from his birthplace in Tibet, Tenzin Choegyal is a singer-songwriter, activist, cultural ambassador, and Grammy nominee. Known for his performances at major festivals and venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, Tenzin’s innovative artistic approach includes collaborations with string ensembles and diverse genres, such as his Grammy-nominated album Songs from the Bardo with Laurie Anderson and Jesse Paris Smith, The Last Dalai Lama with Philip Glass, and Yeshi Dolma with Camerata. His latest album. Whispering Sky continues his exploration of Tibetan musical traditions while pushing creative boundaries.
Kaya Tominaga is a multi-instrumentalist who explores the idea of bi-cultural identity and “home” through taiko performance, and the power it has in bringing people from different backgrounds together through the energy, expression and vulnerability shared through performance.
Robert Davidson is a prolific composer, bassist, lecturer and founder and artistic director of Topology, the ensemble-in-residence at the Brisbane Powerhouse. His compositions are regularly performed, recorded and broadcast around the world. All of Australia’s professional orchestras and many leading soloists and ensembles have commissioned and performed his works. He has received many commissions for major works from festivals and venues including the Barbican Centre, Lincoln Center, Qld Music Festival, Brisbane Festival, Sydney Festival, Olympics Arts Festival, Canberra International Music Festival and many others.
Established in 2021, Sketch Ensemble focuses on creating new compositions by its members, and has premiered numerous original compositions and fresh arrangements, featuring music from Japanese animation and video games. They have also introduced innovative works by Marike van Dijk, which utilised dynamic and animated notation, and have also focused on music that responds to and interprets specific natural environments.
7:00pm, Saturday 4 October, 2025
Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm
Underground Theatre
Tickets $49.90 (Full) / $39.90 (Concession)
Tickets on Sale September 1
Presented by BEMAC and Brisbane Powerhouse
Whispering Sky is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body.
Parking is limited at Brisbane Powerhouse. We encourage you to consider transport alternatives such as public transport, taxi, rideshare, shuttle bus, cycling, scooter, walking or river vessel. You can find more info about how to get there at
https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/journey-planner
Cover photo by Ange Costes
Also check out other Festivals in New Farm, Arts events in New Farm, Music events in New Farm.
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