Khandarith Hay

Khandarith Hay came to the United States in the early 1980s after surviving the Khmer Rouge genocide. One of the few Cambodian classical singers in the U.S. at the time, Khandarith learned classical and popular song forms such as mohory from his brother-in-law Sam Ang Sam. Along with his wife, classical court dancer Somaly Hay, he was involved in building both both dance and accompanying music ensembles in Connecticut and Rhode Island through cultivation of community networks and young talent, along with instrumentalist Song Heng from Providence, Rhode Island. Khandarith taught Rhode Island resident Chamroeun Buth, who is a wedding singer, to learn the classical style of Cambodian music. Khandarith and a group of musicians including Somaly were recorded in the WNPR studio for CCHAP’s “Sounds Like Home” CD in 1998. Khandarith moved back to Cambodia in 2016.