Pushpa Palanchoke is a charismatic vocalist and ethnomusicologist from Nepal who exhibits a dedication to community work, scholarship, history and revival. She grew up in a home in which music was part of a spiritual practice. In addition to her strong musicianship as a singer, Pushpa runs a community program called Folk Lok, where she creates collaborative modules which breathe new life into community music traditions. An applied ethnomusicologist, she uses her work to educate, support, and uplift other women within indigenous and traditional music spaces. Very few women are in her field and she is a standout as an activist and artist. Grounded in social awareness and community empowerment, Pushpa stands out as an activist and artist in fields with very few women leaders. Reviewers, including the Embassy reviewer, were impressed by Pushpa’s dedication to promoting women in indigenous music, her depth of knowledge about traditional music, the way she draws inspiration from personal experiences and culture to compose new music, and her strong work with youth through Folk Lok.
Pushpa Palanchoke
