Tashi Dorje

Tashi Dorje (also known as Yuan Qu) (born 29 November 1966) is a Tibetan tenor trained in Italian opera. He performs as a soloist with Shen Yun Performing Arts under his Chinese name, Yuan Qu. Dorje was born in Chamdo, Eastern Tibet.

After getting a medical degree and practicing as a doctor in rural Tibet, he auditioned to join a performing arts group. He studied singing in Beijing, and became a soloist with the Chinese National Orchestra. Dorje subsequently went to Europe, training with famed operatic singers including Eduardo Giménez and Carlo Bergonzi.

In 2005, Dorje placed in international singing competitions in Barcelona and Florence, and won gold prize in Florence.

In 2008, while studying at South Cheshire College in Britain, Dorje beat out 7,000 other contestants to reach the final auditions for the British talent search programme, The X Factor.