< Back to Calendar

The Open Music Ensemble returns to lead a series of evening meditations with improvised music.

The evening begins with a guided meditation, awakening the senses. Next, the musicians introduce their instruments to the ears of the meditators, followed by a second meditation on the skill of listening. Then the musicians play as an ensemble, weaving a colorful carpet of sound through improvisation, deepening the experience of being in the present. All participants are are welcome to meditate, move or dance, write in a journal or draw while the music continues. After the music, we sit briefly in silence, and then the participants are invited to share their experiences with all present, ask questions or make comments on the evening.

An excerpt from a video of the Ensemble’s “Tsunami Healing Meditation” may be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG8ObM6LusI.

Prior participant comments: "A space of awareness is created by the musicians around the room, allowing participants to engage in a sense exploration, and achieve greater access to their own insight."; "I . . . am deeply moved by your music, and had . . . phenomenal experiences meditating to it."; “ It was a very focused and deeply engaged meditative experience; I know many would enjoy the experience."; "For the first time I experienced the suchness of things.”.


Open to all levels of interest.

Friday, February 10, 7-9PM

General Admission: $15; Members $13
Click here to register and pay online for General or Member admission.

Seniors and Student Admission: $13
Call Tibet House at  212-807-0563 to register or pay by credit card for Student and Senior admission.

The Open Music Ensemble, established in 2006, is a cooperative of versatile, skilled musical improvisers and a pioneer in the development and performance of "Open Music". Members are Blaise Siwula, on saxophone; Ken ya Kawaguchi on shakuhachi; Joshua Morris on upright bass; Nicole DeVault on Paraguayan harp; and Philip Foster on shruti; gong and ta’ arija, and Associates include Roland P. Young on clarinet and Andy Salcius on cello. The notes, rhythms, and sounds are intuitively created by the Ensemble members during the performance as they listen to each other and permit themselves to respond spontaneously to what they hear, and by listening and standing out of the way, the Ensemble's sounds and rhythms move to a deeper level and offer the audience a more profound musical experience. The Ensemble musicians allow the music they create to come through them rather than try to create the music they play. We call this way of performing "Open Music". The Ensemble has presented its Music and Meditation programs monthly at Tibet House since 2009 and elsewhere in the New York City area.