About Ani Choying Drolma

Choying Drolma was born in Kathmandu, Nepal to Tibetan refugee parents in 1971. From the age of five, she did not have a day went by without beating to her mother and herself by her father. Seeing lots of sufferings and pains in life, in order to get rid of the tragic destiny of a women in male dominated society which she saw vividly in her own family, the 13 years old Ani Choying Drolma decided to leave home alone to join a Tibetan Buddhist monastery named Nagi Gompa on Shivapuri Mountain on the northern slope of the Kathmandu valley which was lead by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. The fate of her life, since then is rewrote. Her education and spiritual training were supervised by the renowned meditation master, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche.  She was educated in Buddhist meditation, chants, rituals and ceremonies and quickly advanced to the position of the chanting master in the nunnery. Embraced the guidance and so much love from her teacher Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, she was not only able to change the perspective of life but also was able to see the suffering of her father and many others. Her anger and frustration was transformed as compassion.

Ani Choying Drolma served Tulku Urgen Rinpoche until his parinirvana (passing away) in February 1996. From seeing Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche’s altruistic life-style, always giving to others, without considering his own welfare, she developed a sincere desire to use whatever capacities she has to benefit beings as much as possible.  Because Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche himself held nuns in the same regard as monks, Ani Choying Drolma believes that creating more opportunities for nuns to study and to develop their own capacities for skillful and compassionate action is the best way she can dedicate herself to her teacher’s vision throughout her life.  She is committed to do whatever she can to promote the advancement of nuns, not only for their own benefit but because they will then be better prepared to serve and benefit others.

Her singing talent was first discovered by the famous American guitarist Steve Tibbetts, during his visit to Nagi Gompa. Even though she has never received any formal musical or vocal training, she loves to sing since childhood. When she sings, her voice sounds like an echo from the deepest part of a soul. Thanks to Steve Tibbett’s effort, Ani Choying Drolma’s first ever album “Cho” was launched in 1997. Since then, she has became a well-known name in international world music scene.  She toured in America and Europe and successfully presented Buddhist mantra and ritual chanting music to the world. Up to date, she has launched 16 albums, and performed for hundreds of events around world. It is said that Ani Choying Drolma’s music is like a beam of light that cut through the darkness and is filled with compassion and purity. Her voice is also named as “the heavenly voice” with healing power.

Ani Choying Drolma is not only a world renown singer but also a humanitarian. She is appointed as the first UNICEF National ambassador Nepal.  She described her singing ability as her magic wand that manifests numerous successful projects, including education, health, children’s right and women empowerment projects.

She first founded Arya Tara School in 2000 to provide education opportunities to young girls. Now more then 150 children have been benefited.  In 2010, she started Aarogya Foundation & Kidney Hospital to provide high-quality yet low-cost dialysis services, and  established the first HLA lab in Nepal which allows kidney patient to get accurate test result in the very next day. Up to date, Aarogya Foundation has been able to achieve the goal in improving medical facilities in Nepal and has successfully persuaded the legalization of 3rd party organ donation through lobbying. On 2013, in order to facilitate working single mothers, she started Arya Tara Pre-school (ATPS) which is operated by NWF nuns and well-trained Montessori teachers.  After the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal badly in 2015, Ani Choying started Stars of Hope Schooling Programme (SOH). SOH program was especially initiated to reach out to the children who lost their parents during the earthquake and also to the kids who never has the opportunity to attend school due to extreme poverty. 125 kids are being sponsored by this program so far.

All the project initiated by Ani Choying Drolma are financially supported by the proceeds from her concerts tours, CD sales and donation.

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Discography

• CHO in 1997 for Worldwide release by an American CD Company, Rykodisc.
• DANCING DAKINI in 1999.
• CHOYING in 2000
• SELWA worldwide released in United States American in 2004. Manufactured by Six Degrees Records Ltd.San Francisco, CA
• MOMENT OF BLISS in the year 2004, produced by Music Nepal (P) Ltd.   Anamnagar, Kathmandu, Nepal.
• SMILE  released in 2005 by Music Nepal (P) Ltd. Anamnagar, Kathmandu, Nepal.
• INNER PEACE I in 2006 and Manufactured & Marketed by SAC Music International, Kathmandu, Nepal.
• TIME album released in the year 2007 and produced by Music Nepal (P) Ltd. Anamnagar, Kathmandu, Nepal.
• AMA in 2009 and produced, marketed and distributed by Ani Choying Dolma, Kathmandu, Nepal.
• MATAKALA in 2009 and produced, marketed and distributed by Ani Choying Dolma, Kathmandu, Nepal.
• ˜INNER PEACE II  is the second part of INNER PEACE I, released in 2010, Manufactured & Marketed by SAC Music International, Kathmandu, Nepal.
• MANGAL VANI in October 12^th, 2011, Manufactured & Marketed by SAC Music International, Kathmandu, Nepal. 
• “KARMAPA KHYENNO” in 2011
• “LAMA KHYENNO” in 2012
• “HEART SUTRA”  in 2016
• “NAMO BENZI” (Chinese compilation) in 2016

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Performance Highlights & Festivals

1998	Tour in 14 cities in USA
1999	Tour in 14 cities in USATour in France, Germany, and Switzerland Ravinia Festival, Illinois, US
2000	Tour in 14 cities in USATour in Scotland, United Kingdom, Germany US Smithsonian Folk Life Festival, Washington, D.C. Scotland Millennium Festival, Glen Lyon, Scotland
2001	Tour in 19 European citiesConcert in Singapore Sixth World Music Festival (2001), Barcelona, Spain
2002	Tour in 16 European citiesTour in 5 cities in USA Concert in Singapore Donohue Festival, Austria
2003	Tour in 25 European citiesTour in France, Germany, and Switzerland Concert in Mirik, Darjeeling Concert in Hotel Yak & Yeti, Kathmandu Concert in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, and Pokharebung, India
2004	Tour in Denmark & SwitzerlandTour in USA Concert in Bluestar Hotel, Kathmandu Concert in Italy on World Human Rights Day Concert in Barcelona for Forum 2004 Concert in the Garden Of Dreams, Kathmandu Concert in Hong Kong Weitsicht Festival
2005	Tour in USAConcerts in Switzerland, Italy Tour in Germany Concert in Hong Kong Stimmen Festival/Voices Festival in Switzerland Festival Musicale Del Mediterraneo, Genua, Italy
2006	Tour in GermanyTour in Japan Tour in Switzerland Enjoy Jazz Festival in Heidelberg The New York Festival
2007	Concert in ParisConcert in Nepal
2008	Tour in London, Barcelona in DecemberConcert in Toronto Norway Festival
2009	Tour in Switzerland, Poland and GermanyEuropean Spiritual Film Festival in Paris
2010	Concert in Moscow, RussiaPerformed at the H.H.Kyabje Dilgo Khenyentse Rinpoche’s 100 years Centenary Celebration Performed at the Religious and Cultural Program in Lumbini Performed at Buddha’s Birthday Celebration in Hong Kong
2011	Concert at Primitive in Chicago, IllinoisConcert tour in Germany and Switzerland Performed at His Eminence Tenga Rinpoche 80th Birthday Celebration Tour in Canada, New York, Washington DC and Chicago Performed at the 4th New Music Week in Shanghai, China Performed at the Buddhist Hymns and Culture in Singapore Performed at the Celestial Songs in Hong Kong Performed at the 3rd International Festival of Sacred Arts in India on March 2011 Attended the Weitsicht Festival in Darmstadt,Germany on April 2011 Performed at the Wesak Film Festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Performed at the Maitreya Cultural Festival in Zhejiang Fenhua, China Performed at the India Folk Music Festival in Rajasthan, India
2012	Concert tour in Jakarta and Surabaya, IndonesiaPerformed at Sangha Lunch offering in Malaysia Performed in Ahmadabad, India Concert tour in Poland Performed at World Buddhist Assembly Bangkok, Thailand Concert tour in Switzerland and Germany Performed at Hymns Singing in Kaula Lumpur Concert tour in Australia
2013	Concert tour in EuropeConcert tour in Ahmadabad and New Delhi, India Performed at The Third Tibetan Culture Week at Spain Performed at The DSC Jaipur Literature Festival, India Performed at World Tour Exhibition of Jade Buddha for Universal Peace in Malaysia Concert in Bhutan Performed for MTV Coke Studio with A.R. Rahman in Mumbai, India Concert tour in Mumbai, India Performed at Quanzhou Buddhist Soul Music Concert in Fujian, China Performed at International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in New Delhi, India Performed at International Festival of Buddhist Heritage of Ladakh, India Performed at the Navdanya‟s Annual Bhoomi festival (Earth Day Celebration) in Delhi, India Performed at Shanghai World Music Festival in Shanghai, China Performed at Buddhist Art and Culture Festival in Indonesia
2014	Performed at Wuji Ensemble‟s Concerts in Hong KongPerformed at Moment of Inner Journey in Bilbao, Spain Concert Tour in Germany and Netherland Performed at Sounds of Contemplation in Singapore
2015	Charity performance for “Support Mila’s Tower” in Hong Kong.Concert in Taiwan Performed in Hong Kong Love for Nepal Concert in Singapore
2016	Performed for the charity concert in Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaPerformed for United Nation for International Day of Happiness in New York Concert tour in USA Concert in Hong Kong Performed at Meredith Monk Concert in New York Performed at Governing Council Meeting, Thailand Performed for UNICEF fund raising Gala event in Germany Concert in Koln Concert in Taiwan Concert in Yushu, Qinghai Tibetan Autonomous Administrative Region, China
2017	Tour in USATour in Europe BuddhaFest in LA, USA Concert in Taiwan Concert in Yushu, Qinghai Tibetan Autonomous Administrative Region, China Performed in “Voice of Thousand Years” charity concert in Singapore Performed in Jahan-e-khusrau Concert in Delhi, India Performed in Freedom Award Ceremony in the Atlantic Council, Warsaw, Poland

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Humanitarian Projects

Year	Projects
1999	Founded Nuns’ Welfare Foundation (NWF) of Nepal to promote education and welfare of Buddhist nuns and raise awareness of gender inequality in society.
2000	Founded Arya Tara School (ATS) to provide quality education including academic curriculum, practical skills, Buddhist philosophy, music, thank painting, computer, and languages for over 80 nuns from Nepal, India and Tibet who are aged 7-22.
2006	Completed building of water reservoir to provide clean water to villagers living in the Seti Devi Village, Kathmandu.
2007	Established the first thangka painting school (in attachment with ATS) for nuns in Nepal to promote equal opportunity of learning for both genders in the monastic tradition.
2010	Founded Aarogya Foundation and established a Kidney Hospital (Aarogya Foundation Kidney Hospital) together with Dr. Pukar Shrestha, an organ transplant surgeon who returned from the UK, aiming at improving medical facilities for kidney patients in Nepal.
2010	Founded Red Tara Travels & Tours as a subsidiary of NWF. It is independently operated by nuns graduated from Arya Tara School, aiming at providing sustainable income for on-going NWF projects and infusing a genuine spiritual touch to travelers.
2012	Founded Arya Taya Pre-school (ATPS) with Ms. Astrid Beseler. This school is dedicated to helping single mothers in Nepal who need care-taking service for their children while working for bread and butter. Over 25 kids are educated and nourished by NWF nuns who are certified as professional Montessori teachers. NWF also provide financial assistance to single mothers for improving their livelihood.
2014	Aarogya Foundation purchased the first HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) organ matching equipment in Nepal. It brought a big step forward for the country’s provision of proper kidney and organ transplant service.
2015	Started the Star of Hope Schooling Program to provide education opportunity for children who are orphans or living in extreme poverty, with initial funding from Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple. The main objective of this program is to help the kids to develop their potential in fullest so that they will learn to pay it forwards to the community in future. The program sponsored full-boarding school expenses which cover basic living, tuition, stationary, uniform and transportation fee for 125 kids so far.
2015	Initiated the 1st Women Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development Seminar in Nepal and financed the start-up of organic business running by women.

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Conferences

2000

World Women’s Conference, Beijing Plus Five,
U.N. Headquarters, New York
Sakyadita 6th International Conference of Buddhist Women, Lumbini, Nepal

2001

Women of Peace Conference,
Torrino, Italy

2003

Harvard University Bridge Builders Conference,
Cambridge, Mass., US.

2004

World Social Forum, Mumbai, India
Conference in USA

2005

The second global NRN conference held in BICC,
Kathmandu, Nepal

2006

NRN Regional Conference
Germany

2007

Attended and performed on the occasion of Nepal Day
Hamburg, Germany

2011

Attended and performed in the 6^th NRN Regional Conference Russia

NRN Global Conference held in Nepal

2012

7^th NRN Regional Conference
Sydney, Australia

2013

The 3^rd International Theravada Buddhist Universities Conference on ‘Buddhist Education & Life Education’ in Thailand

Performed at 1^st Funding Members’ Conclave International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in New Delhi, India.

The NRN Global Conference 2013 in Nepal

2014

The SHIFT Series
New Delhi, India

 

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Key Awards & Recognitions

 

• Certificate of Acknowledgement given to Ani Choying Dolma for the participation and valuable contribution to the Bridge-Builder Conference at Harvard University – February 2003.

• United Nations Women’s Organization of Nepal present certificate for recognition as Honourable Member of UNWO – September 2004.

• Token of appreciation on National Citizen Peace Recognition 2062 presented by Buddha Jayanti Celebration Community and  Peace Development Campaign Nepal, Putalisadak, Kathmandu – May 27^th, 2005.

• Awarded the Image Channel award for the Best Female Vocal performance for her song “Phoolko Aankhama” from her album, “Moments of Bliss”. The song was also awarded the best song of the year –  May 2005.

• Honorary guest in the Abraham Conservation Awards organized by WWF, Nepal –  June 2005.

• Awarded the “Chinnalata Githi Puruskar” in Kathmandu for best female vocal performance – August 2005.

• Awarded Best Devotional Album by the Tibetan Music Awards held in Mcleod Ganj(Delhi) – October 22 2005.
• Ani Choying was declared as the Ambassador of World Kidney Day in the first ever launched “World Kidney Day” celebrated in Nepal – 8th of March 2006.

• Nepal Appreciative Inquiry National Network (NAINN) presented Peace Award – 2007

• Executive Board Members for Lumbini Development Trust from-  From  2007  to 2009.

• Acknowledged on Peace for Development by Krishna Mohan- Nyudub Peace Prize – In the year 2010.

• Organizing and Selection Committee Member for “Gautam Buddha International Peace Award” – From 2010 to 2011.

• Token of appreciation presented by Ananta Nepal 2011 for the immense support towards the economic empowerment of Women Home Based Workers. – October 21, 2011

• Culture Ambassador of World View Nepal with the objective of playing a participatory role in sustainable development of Nepal  2011 – 2011

• Goodwill Ambassador for Nepal Tourism Year in 2011 – 2011

• Advisor for Nepal Buddhist Federation 2011 – 2011

• Good will Ambassador of N-Peace Network to support women peace and security – 2012

• The Freedom Award by the Atlantic Council – 2017

• Suprabal Jansewashree by Government of Nepal from Honorable President Shree Vidya Bhandari of Nepal – 2017

 

Throughout the decades, Ani Choying Drolma has received appreciation from numerous organizations for her supports and efforts to bring the positive changes to society via different means including financial donation. The followings highlighted some of the appreciations received.

Appreciation Received

• Everest Foundation Nepal – 2003
• Little Angels School –
• Krist Merchant Banking & Finance Ltd & Team Himalaya Media P. Ltd-
• Man Mohan Smiriti Community Hospital- 2005
• Metro FM 94.1, Kathmandu – 2005
• Eurasia Reiyukai – 2005
• Malpi International School, Panauti, Kavre, Nepal – 2006
• Stupa Community Hospital, Boudha – 2007
• Kantipur Television –
• Rotary Club of Kathmandu & Patan ( For offering the proceed of Ani Choying’s Time for our Soul concert to build National Kidney Center in Nepal ) – 2007
• Muktinath Orphanage Bhaktapur – 2008
• Children Liberty English B. School – 2008
• Madhurima Phool Kumari Mahato Youth Appreciation – 2008
• Manmohan Memorial Community Community Hospital, Pharping – 2009
• Shikharapur Community School – 2010
• Surya Daya Jyoti Aawasiya Lower Secondary School-2010
• Zen Swebeybar Terapath Kanya Mandal, Biratnagar- 2011
• Mahendra Kumar Molcha Smriti Pratistha, Biratnagar – 2011
• Boudha Multiple Campus, Boudha – 2012
• Chiniya Lama Boudha Foundation, Boudha – 2012
• Boudha Secondary English School – 2012
• Yogi Narharinath Drisht Aadhayamik Parisadh – 2012
• Shree Mahendra Boudha Higher Secondary School, Boudha – 2013