Community Celebration to Premiere "Tibet" at Loring Theater Concert

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA April 4, 2011 — Community Celebration of Place will hold the world premiere of the video interpretation of Larry Long’s new song “Tibet” at a concert on April 9, 2011 at the Loring Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “Tibet” is one of a larger collection of Larry Long’s original works on his new CD entitled “Don’t Stand Still” which will be highlighted at the concert.

The song was written in honor of the late Gyatsho Tshering, a prominent member of the Tibetan community in Minnesota who died in Minneapolis in June 2009.

The goal of the video project was to highlight Gyatsho Tshering’s dream that Tibet one day will be free. His unique perspective as a diplomat for the Tibetan government before and after the occupation of his homeland by China as well as his more recent experience as part of the Tibetan diaspora in Minnesota, is vividly presented in this ten minute video.

Independent video producer David McDonald of DMcD Productions based in Grand Rapids, Minnesota oversaw the video production. McDonald, who has visited Tibet twice, brought his international experience into the project as well as contributed his photographs from his visits to Tibet.

Minnesota photographer Keri Pickett who has documented the Tibetan refugees since their arrival in the twin cities in the 1990s provided numerous stunning images of the Tibetan community in Minnesota.

As for the telling of Gyatsho Tshering life story, that started in 2008 with 3rd grade students at Valley View Elementary School in Columbia Heights, Minnesota through Larry Long’s Elders’ Wisdom, Children’s Song program in partnership with his nonprofit organization, Community Celebration of Place. Mr. Tshering’s interview served as the primary source material for the song “Tibet” which was performed at a large community celebration at the Valley View Elementary School gymnasium on February 12, 2008.

Later that year with Gyatsho Tshering’s blessing Larry Long began recording a professional rendition of the song “Tibet” with artists and community members including Tibetan Monks Venerable Gendun Kelsang, Venerable Jampa Thupten, and Venerable Lobsang Jungnes from the Gyuto Tantric and Gyuto Wheel of Dharma Monastery chanted prayers; Namgyal Dolma and Yiga Lhamo with family and friends from the Tibetan community of Minnesota sang choral vocals and prayer, Marc Anderson played world percussion, Dirk Freymuth played the electric guitar, Billy Peterson played the bass guitar, Ricky Peterson played keyboards, JD Steele sang harmony; and Larry Long did lead vocals and played the 12 string guitar.

Proceeds from Larry Long’s concert on April 9th and the “Tibet” video will be donated to the Tibetan community of Minnesota and to Community Celebration of Place It is hoped that this song and this video will serve in some small way as a warm welcome to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama when he comes to visit Minnesota in May 2011.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

Larry Long, Community Celebration of Place
3357 36th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612-722-9775
www.communitycelebration.org
larrylong@communitycelebration.org