The First Morin Khuur Festival in the USA took place in the city of Ann Arbor in Michigan, on 9-10 March. Initiated by ‘Khuurchiinkhan’ Morin Khuur Learning Centre, the festival was organized by the Mongolian Cultural Organization at the University of Michigan.

With aims of encouraging Mongolians to further study their culture and promoting Mongolian culture in the U.S through morin khuur, a conference on the topic of the instrument was held alongside a competition for amateur morin khuur players and performances by professionals as well as students.

Researchers and professionals attending the conference discussed the needs of modern morin khuur making, evolution of morin khuur playing and the vision for the future.

Originally an integral part of rituals and everyday activities of the Mongolian nomads, the traditional music of the morin khuur was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.