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Yungchen Lhamo Receives 2026 Distinguished Artist Award
Yungchen Lhamo recently received another prestigious award - the 2026 Distinguished Artist Award presented by the City of Kingston in New York State, USA.
In a ceremony at Kingston’s City Hall on 25th June 2026, Yungchen was presented with the 2026 Distinguished Artist Award and a Certificate of Honor by Mayor Steven Noble (who wore a Tibetan shirt for the occasion), the Kingston Arts Commission, and the Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs. She also received a Certificate of Recognition from New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey, and a Citation from New York State Assembly Member Sarahana Shrestha.
Over 200 people attended the ceremony, including members of the Tibetan Community of New York & New Jersey - who presented khatas and offered momos. Yungchen will keep the perpetual trophy for two years, during which time she will undertake two public community projects in Kingston.
Mayor Noble said: “We are pleased to award the Distinguished Artist Award to Yungchen Lhamo. We are humbled by her service and commitment to the Kingston community. I would like to thank the Award’s fiscal sponsor Midtown Kingston Arts District, the committee and selection panel, and the Radio Kingston Tech Team for their support. I welcome all to join us at the awards!”
Lisa Kelley, Chair, Kingston Arts Commission, said: “We on the Commission are proud to present this award to Yungchen. Her name aptly translates as ‘Goddess of Melody’. She has performed benefit concerts at Old Dutch Church in Kingston over the years, participated in the annual Dream Festival, and contributed her kindness to our Kingston community in other quiet ways. Congratulations to Yungchen on her distinguished career and great care for our community.”
Tibetan Medicine Consultations in Kingston
In September 2025, at the Old Dutch Church in Kingston, New York, the Foundation arranged for the well-known contemporary traditional Tibetan physician and pharmacist, Doctor Dawa Ridak, to offer health consultations and remedies.
Tibetan medicine is an ancient holistic healing system focused on balancing the mind, body, and spirit, emphasizing diet, lifestyle, and medicinal plants to prevent and treat illness. Diagnosis includes twelve pulse readings, using three fingers on each wrist.
Following a 12-concert tour in the USA during January/February 2024, Yungchen undertook a European tour in July/August that included performances at four festivals: Galway International Arts Festival in Ireland, WOMAD UK in England, Sziget in Hungary, and the ESTAM World Music Festival in Serbia. She is currently working on her eighth album and writing her autobiography.
Yungchen Lhamo at WOMAD Australia on March 11-13, 2023
Yungchen Lhamo, founder of the One Drop of Kindness foundation, will perform and give workshops at WOMADelaide on Saturday March 11th, Sunday March 12th, and Monday March 13th. Held on the traditional lands of the Kaurna People, WOMADelaide – World Of Music Arts & Dance - is an iconic open-air festival celebrating cultural discovery in the heart of Adelaide’s stunning Botanic Park / Tainmuntilla. The Worlds Festival, since 1992, is a truly unique part of the Australian festival landscape, showcasing the best, the essential – and the surprising – in music, arts, dance and ideas from around the world.
It’s been 30 years since WOMADelaide, ‘the World’s Festival’ made its debut as an independent major event in 1993, and it is now established as an internationally acclaimed event and pilgrimage for artists and audiences from around the world, hosting over 30+ countries.
WOMADelaide offers a rich variety of programming initiatives, including the popular discussion forum of thinkers, scientists, activists, writers, environmentalists, journalists, economists, and communicators The Planet Talks.
For the foodie Taste the World is a wonderful way to get to know many of the festival’s artists in a relaxed setting, as they share their stories while cooking favourite dishes from home.
The fun and family-friendly KidZone is a dedicated space for children, with nature-play activities, stories, singing, dancing and educational entertainment. Or add to the richness of your WOMADelaide experience by taking part in one of the artist-led workshops.
One Drop of Kindness – Spain
In November 2022 Yungchen visited Madrid in Spain, where she was pleased to become an Honorary Member of the new One Drop of Kindness – Spain cultural association at its official launch at the Sala de Exposiciones CMA Cristo del Buen Consejo in Becerril de la Sierra. Sale proceeds from an exhibition of paintings by Armando Sáez (‘Aryl’) – who painted the cover of Yungchen's album, ‘Awakening’ – and his artist friends helped to kick-start funding for the new association.
While in Madrid, Yungchen also met many elderly people on a number of visits to the Residencia para Mayores en Alcobendas retirement home and to the palliative care centre in the Residencia Asistida San Camilo old people’s home in Tres Cantos.
Healing and Sacred Music
In May 2022 Yungchen Lhamo presented a Zoom webinar on "Healing and Sacred Music' for the World Music Institute. Her interviewer was producer and keyboard musician Jamshied Sharifi, whom she had known and performed with for many years and who produced her fourth album, 'Ama'.
