nuilkham
2 days ago
Letters / Motivation Letter for the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship in Creative Arts and Musicology [2]
# 1#
My journey as a musician and cultural guardian began in a shepherd's yurt in the Mongolian Altai, where the sound of my dombra, and the wonder it sparked in a group of travelers, ignited a lifelong purpose. That moment revealed to me the universal power of our national art to connect across cultures. It set me on a path of self-driven discovery, from painstakingly teaching myself the demanding technique of Tuvan-Mongolian throat singing to earning a place in the prestigious "Kültegin" Ethno-Folk Ensemble Academy. These experiences forged in me not only artistic skill but a profound sense of responsibility. I belong to a small Kazakh community nestled among other nomadic peoples in a remote region. In an age of globalization, our traditions-our melodies, instruments, and oral heritage-face the very real risk of fading into silence. My core motivation is to become a bridge: to master these unique art forms, to equip them with the universal language of global musicology, and to ensure their preservation and resonance for future generations.
This is precisely why I have chosen to apply for the Creativity, Arts, and Musicology programme in Hungary. My research into Hungarian origins revealed a fascinating narrative of cultural identity and shared steppe heritage. While scholarly consensus points to Finno-Ugric roots, the enduring national tradition and undeniable similarities in nomadic art and folklore with Altaic peoples speak of a deep, historic cultural dialogue. This makes Hungary a uniquely insightful place to study how music functions as a vessel for historical memory and ethnic identity. Your programme offers the perfect academic framework to explore this. I seek more than performance skills; I need the theoretical foundation in ethnomusicology, the critical understanding of music as a social force, and the scholarly tools to analyze, contextualize, and safeguard intangible heritage. This degree will provide the rigorous academic discipline to complement my practical knowledge, allowing me to transition from a performer into a researcher and educator capable of documenting and revitalizing endangered traditions.
My background makes me a uniquely suitable candidate because I embody the very synthesis I wish to achieve. I am not an outsider studying a culture; I am a living repository of its practices, having grown up within the Kazakh nomadic tradition and diligently expanded my mastery to include the throat-singing arts of our Tuvan and Mongol brothers. Yet, I am also deeply aware of the limitations faced by tradition-bearers who lack access to global academic discourse and modern musical technologies. I have felt the physical strain of learning without a master and understand the gaps in formal pedagogical structures for these arts. This insider perspective, combined with a relentless drive for self-education and a proven ability to excel in a competitive ensemble environment, means I will bring both authentic embodied knowledge and urgent, personal questions to the classroom. I am not coming to study a distant subject, but to find the tools to save a part of myself and my community.
The programme will directly help me achieve my goal by equipping me to address a critical development challenge: the erosion of cultural diversity and the loss of intangible cultural heritage among the world's small, nomadic populations. At the local and national level, the Altai communities are at a crossroads. This programme will empower me to return not just as an artist, but as a trained professional capable of establishing structured educational initiatives, creating detailed audiovisual archives of our repertoire, and developing innovative methods to teach complex techniques like throat singing sustainably. Globally, I aim to use my skills to introduce these rich artistic traditions to wider audiences through informed performance, academic publication, and digital media, framing them not as exotic curiosities but as vital components of humanity's shared cultural patrimony.
I am fully aware that studying in a foreign country presents challenges, from language barriers to cultural adjustment. My own journey of learning a physically and technically demanding art form through trial and error has taught me resilience, patience, and the value of seeking guidance. I would prepare by intensifying my English language studies beforehand and approaching Hungary with an open and observant mind, eager to learn from both the academic curriculum and the everyday cultural exchange. I view these challenges not as obstacles, but as essential parts of the transformative educational experience.
The Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship is more than financial support; it is an investment in a specific mission. You would be investing in a candidate who is already on the path, whose goals are born from direct experience and urgent need. I carry the melodies of my ancestors with me, and I seek the knowledge to ensure they are heard for generations to come. By supporting my studies, you will enable the preservation of unique cultural arts and help forge a guardian equipped to give them a lasting, scholarly, and vibrant future.
# 1#
My journey as a musician and cultural guardian began in a shepherd's yurt in the Mongolian Altai, where the sound of my dombra, and the wonder it sparked in a group of travelers, ignited a lifelong purpose. That moment revealed to me the universal power of our national art to connect across cultures. It set me on a path of self-driven discovery, from painstakingly teaching myself the demanding technique of Tuvan-Mongolian throat singing to earning a place in the prestigious "Kültegin" Ethno-Folk Ensemble Academy. These experiences forged in me not only artistic skill but a profound sense of responsibility. I belong to a small Kazakh community nestled among other nomadic peoples in a remote region. In an age of globalization, our traditions-our melodies, instruments, and oral heritage-face the very real risk of fading into silence. My core motivation is to become a bridge: to master these unique art forms, to equip them with the universal language of global musicology, and to ensure their preservation and resonance for future generations.
This is precisely why I have chosen to apply for the Creativity, Arts, and Musicology programme in Hungary. My research into Hungarian origins revealed a fascinating narrative of cultural identity and shared steppe heritage. While scholarly consensus points to Finno-Ugric roots, the enduring national tradition and undeniable similarities in nomadic art and folklore with Altaic peoples speak of a deep, historic cultural dialogue. This makes Hungary a uniquely insightful place to study how music functions as a vessel for historical memory and ethnic identity. Your programme offers the perfect academic framework to explore this. I seek more than performance skills; I need the theoretical foundation in ethnomusicology, the critical understanding of music as a social force, and the scholarly tools to analyze, contextualize, and safeguard intangible heritage. This degree will provide the rigorous academic discipline to complement my practical knowledge, allowing me to transition from a performer into a researcher and educator capable of documenting and revitalizing endangered traditions.
My background makes me a uniquely suitable candidate because I embody the very synthesis I wish to achieve. I am not an outsider studying a culture; I am a living repository of its practices, having grown up within the Kazakh nomadic tradition and diligently expanded my mastery to include the throat-singing arts of our Tuvan and Mongol brothers. Yet, I am also deeply aware of the limitations faced by tradition-bearers who lack access to global academic discourse and modern musical technologies. I have felt the physical strain of learning without a master and understand the gaps in formal pedagogical structures for these arts. This insider perspective, combined with a relentless drive for self-education and a proven ability to excel in a competitive ensemble environment, means I will bring both authentic embodied knowledge and urgent, personal questions to the classroom. I am not coming to study a distant subject, but to find the tools to save a part of myself and my community.
The programme will directly help me achieve my goal by equipping me to address a critical development challenge: the erosion of cultural diversity and the loss of intangible cultural heritage among the world's small, nomadic populations. At the local and national level, the Altai communities are at a crossroads. This programme will empower me to return not just as an artist, but as a trained professional capable of establishing structured educational initiatives, creating detailed audiovisual archives of our repertoire, and developing innovative methods to teach complex techniques like throat singing sustainably. Globally, I aim to use my skills to introduce these rich artistic traditions to wider audiences through informed performance, academic publication, and digital media, framing them not as exotic curiosities but as vital components of humanity's shared cultural patrimony.
I am fully aware that studying in a foreign country presents challenges, from language barriers to cultural adjustment. My own journey of learning a physically and technically demanding art form through trial and error has taught me resilience, patience, and the value of seeking guidance. I would prepare by intensifying my English language studies beforehand and approaching Hungary with an open and observant mind, eager to learn from both the academic curriculum and the everyday cultural exchange. I view these challenges not as obstacles, but as essential parts of the transformative educational experience.
The Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship is more than financial support; it is an investment in a specific mission. You would be investing in a candidate who is already on the path, whose goals are born from direct experience and urgent need. I carry the melodies of my ancestors with me, and I seek the knowledge to ensure they are heard for generations to come. By supporting my studies, you will enable the preservation of unique cultural arts and help forge a guardian equipped to give them a lasting, scholarly, and vibrant future.
