Kiva featured at International Symposium of Throat Singing, Tuva, Russia, /95

Kiva was the only female foreigner invited to perform at the International Symposium of Throat Singing held in Kyzyl, Tuva, Russia in June /95. She was a member of the jury in the competition amongst about one hundred Tuvan teenage boys. The rest of the fourteen member jury was comprised of ethnomusicologists, shamans, elder 'khoomei' singers, scientists, etc. Originally, it was the intention of the Tuvan authorities to have the foreigners compete. They all declined, preferring to simply perform periodically throughout the program. Kiva would have been in the 'sygyt' competition, as they felt her style most closely resembled this category.

The grand prize winner was given a horse and a national costume. It is also worth noting, that the Oscar nominated documentary, Genghis Blues, was filmed during the event. It is about the blind blues musician from Los Angeles, Paul Pena, who fulfilled his dream of coming to Tuva to introduce his deep 'kargyra' style.