Echoes of the Steppe: A Journey Through Mongolian Music, Dance and Living Heritage
Leeds City Library - 1st floor - Music Library, Leeds, LS1 3AB
Thursday 12th November 2026 1:05PM
Community music hour - Leeds Languages Festival Special
1. Echoes of the Steppe: A Journey Through Mongolian Music, Dance and Living Heritage
Leeds Central Library | 12 November 2026 | 1–2 pm
Join us for an afternoon celebrating Mongolian music, dance and living cultural heritage!
Presented in four chapters — Origins, Home, Celebration and Friendship — this special event takes audiences on a journey through the stories, sounds and traditions of Mongolian communities.
Experience the distinctive sounds of the morin khuur (horse-head fiddle), traditional Mongolian folk songs, expressive folk dance and cross-cultural musical collaborations featuring guzheng and piano.
Alongside live performances, discover aspects of Mongolian language and writing, the legendary Jangar epic, traditional customs and everyday cultural practices. There will also be opportunities for audience participation and cultural exchange.
Come for the lunchtime music, stay for the cultural exchange, or enjoy the whole afternoon. Everyone is welcome!
No prior knowledge needed – just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm for discovering new languages and cultures!
"This event is part of Leeds City of Languages Festival and is delivered in collaboration with Leeds Libraries."
Meet the Artists
1. Tong Gulong (ᠲᠤᠩᠭᠠᠯᠠᠭ)Lead Cultural Presenter | Mongolian Heritage & Storytelling
Tong Gulong is a Mongolian cultural practitioner from Xinjiang, China, and the founder of Xinjiang Jangar Culture and Tourism Centre. With ten years of experience in intangible cultural heritage and international cultural exchange, she is dedicated to preserving and sharing the Mongolian heroic epic Jangar and traditional Mongolian culture.
2. Samuel (Ulziibayar · ᠥᠯᠵᠡᠢᠪᠠᠭᠠᠲᠤᠷ)Lead Cultural Presenter | Morin Khuur
Samuel is a professional Mongolian morin khuur player, composer and University of Leeds graduate. An award-winning musician and prizewinner at the Baotou Morin Khuur Competition, he has performed internationally and composed original works inspired by Mongolian musical heritage.
3. Lijun (Mio) ZhangGuzheng | Event Coordinator
Lijun (Mio) Zhang is a PhD researcher at the University of Leeds with a background in music psychology. A guzheng player and community music facilitator, Mio brings people together through traditional music, performances and cross-cultural community projects.
4. Deedee ZhangPercussion
Deedee Zhang is the founder of Bandroom3 and a graduate of the China Conservatory of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music. Her work spans music performance, teaching, event production and cross-cultural musical collaboration.
5. Boya XieDance
Boya Xie is a cross-cultural dance artist and graduate of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Blending Chinese classical and contemporary dance, she creates performances and participatory movement experiences that connect people across cultures.
6. HaoPiano
Hao is a music producer with an MA in Music Production and a background in classical piano. His work explores the connections between classical performance, contemporary music production and diverse musical traditions.
7. Vince ChinGuitar
Vince Chin is a Leeds-based fine artist and musician with a background in Fine Art. Through collaborative performances, he explores the connections between music, memory and creative expression.
1. Echoes of the Steppe: A Journey Through Mongolian Music, Dance and Living Heritage
Leeds Central Library | 12 November 2026 | 1–2 pm
Join us for an afternoon celebrating Mongolian music, dance and living cultural heritage!
Presented in four chapters — Origins, Home, Celebration and Friendship — this special event takes audiences on a journey through the stories, sounds and traditions of Mongolian communities.
Experience the distinctive sounds of the morin khuur (horse-head fiddle), traditional Mongolian folk songs, expressive folk dance and cross-cultural musical collaborations featuring guzheng and piano.
Alongside live performances, discover aspects of Mongolian language and writing, the legendary Jangar epic, traditional customs and everyday cultural practices. There will also be opportunities for audience participation and cultural exchange.
Come for the lunchtime music, stay for the cultural exchange, or enjoy the whole afternoon. Everyone is welcome!
No prior knowledge needed – just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm for discovering new languages and cultures!
"This event is part of Leeds City of Languages Festival and is delivered in collaboration with Leeds Libraries."
Meet the Artists
1. Tong Gulong (ᠲᠤᠩᠭᠠᠯᠠᠭ)Lead Cultural Presenter | Mongolian Heritage & Storytelling
Tong Gulong is a Mongolian cultural practitioner from Xinjiang, China, and the founder of Xinjiang Jangar Culture and Tourism Centre. With ten years of experience in intangible cultural heritage and international cultural exchange, she is dedicated to preserving and sharing the Mongolian heroic epic Jangar and traditional Mongolian culture.
2. Samuel (Ulziibayar · ᠥᠯᠵᠡᠢᠪᠠᠭᠠᠲᠤᠷ)Lead Cultural Presenter | Morin Khuur
Samuel is a professional Mongolian morin khuur player, composer and University of Leeds graduate. An award-winning musician and prizewinner at the Baotou Morin Khuur Competition, he has performed internationally and composed original works inspired by Mongolian musical heritage.
3. Lijun (Mio) ZhangGuzheng | Event Coordinator
Lijun (Mio) Zhang is a PhD researcher at the University of Leeds with a background in music psychology. A guzheng player and community music facilitator, Mio brings people together through traditional music, performances and cross-cultural community projects.
4. Deedee ZhangPercussion
Deedee Zhang is the founder of Bandroom3 and a graduate of the China Conservatory of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music. Her work spans music performance, teaching, event production and cross-cultural musical collaboration.
5. Boya XieDance
Boya Xie is a cross-cultural dance artist and graduate of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Blending Chinese classical and contemporary dance, she creates performances and participatory movement experiences that connect people across cultures.
6. HaoPiano
Hao is a music producer with an MA in Music Production and a background in classical piano. His work explores the connections between classical performance, contemporary music production and diverse musical traditions.
7. Vince ChinGuitar
Vince Chin is a Leeds-based fine artist and musician with a background in Fine Art. Through collaborative performances, he explores the connections between music, memory and creative expression.
Event Details
Doors Open at 12:45AM
From 1:05PM to 2:00PM
