One of the most interesting aspects of the film project was collaborating with so many people - directors, filmmakers, and writers - over a five-year period. I learned that there are two components to this.

People will ask, 'Are you famous?' And I always answer, 'My mother thinks so.'

But an innovation, to grow organically from within, has to be based on an intact tradition, so our idea is to bring together musicians who represent all these traditions, in workshops, festivals, and concerts, to see how we can connect with each other in music.

Our cultural strength has always been derived from our diversity of understanding and experience.

Passion is one great force that unleashes creativity, because if you're passionate about something, then you're more willing to take risks.

Many of the Central Asians know Russian, and Ted Levin speaks it fluently. I speak Chinese, but Mongolian is completely different, so we had to have translators.

Music is one of the ways we can achieve a kind of shorthand to understand each other.