Surtal Arts in partnership with DEDA are delighted to present an unique evening of Indian classical music by two of UK’s renowned sitar maestros, Ustad Dharambir Singh and Roopa Panesar perform first time together in Derby, in an intimate environment of 'baithak' style concert, offering specially composed ‘Season of Light’ musical ragas celebrating 75th anniversary of India’s independence.  Accompanied on the table, Ustad Shahbaz Hussain, one of the UK’s finest percussionist, the concert not only pays tribute to beautiful relationship between guru (teacher) shisha (student) parampara (tradition) as they perform melodious jugalbandhi (exchange) musical ragas in Hindustani tradition of North India, the performance also sends an unifying message of love and friendship as artists from both nations, Indian and Pakistani origin unifies in the spirit of freedom and peace.

This concert will be live streamed to offer people who are unable to attend in person a chance to experience it online.

 

Sitar: Ustad Dharambir Singh (MBE) & Roopa Panesar

Table: Ustad Shabaz Hussain

Tanpura: Gunwant Kaur

Live streaming: Fuze Media

 

#DerbySeasonofLight      #DSOL2022         #75thanniversaryIndia         #Indian music

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ABOUT THE ARTISTS

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Dharambir Singh MBE 

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Ustad Dharambir Singh is one of the most prominent North Indian Classical musicians based in the U.K. A student of the legendary Ustad Vilayat Khan, he also studied for his MA at the School Of Oriental and African studies at the University of London and is a fellow of NESTA (National Endowment for Science Technology and Arts) and FTCL (Fellow Trinity College London). He has been awarded an MBE award by the Queen in 2011 and received the Guru Ratna, a life time achievement award by MilapFest in 2018.

 

Aside from his extensive performance career, Dharambir’s reputation as an educator is unparalleled in the UK. He worked as a tutor with Leicester Music Service, lecturer at Leeds College of Music and an adviser at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan on their BMus Degree in Indian Music in collaboration with Trinity College Of Music. He founded South Asian Arts-uk in Leeds. He was the founder and the artistic director of SAMYo the first national south Asian music youth orchestra and artistic adviser for Tarang, UK’s first South Asian senior ensemble. He was a trustee with Darbar Heritage.

 

As part of his fellowship he has been involved in pioneering work in creating technology solutions in different areas of North Indian Musical training.

 

He works as a freelance performer, tutor and consultant and has recently founded Sitar Music Society, a non-profit organisation based in Leicester, UK.

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Check out this beautiful performance of Dharambir Singh at a live event at The Music Room-Friend's Hearth on 12 June 20121 where he was being accompanied by his son Upneet Singh Dhadyalla.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iaa4Em9Nv5Q 

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Roopa Panesar

 

Roopa Panesar is considered one of the finest sitar players to emerge on the Indian Classical Music scene from the UK. She is a disciple of the renowned educationalist and leading musician of the UK, Ustad Dharambir Singh ji MBE (a disciple of the late Ustad Vilayat Khan), and was recognized as a talent for the future. She began her training at the age of seven, under her Guru until present day. She also learnt from the senior most disciple of the late Ustad Vilayat Khan, Pandit Arvind Parikh ji. Her musical vision has been enriched while receiving guidance from other outstanding musicians visiting the UK including Ustad Shahid Parvez, Pt Buddhaditya Mukherjee and Ustad Bahauddin Dagar.

 

Roopa has toured extensively in the UK, Europe and USA performing at prestigious venues and festivals and released her debut album “Khoj” in 2011. She performed in her debut tour of India in 2014 where she played to vibrant audiences in Delhi, Mumbai and SRA Kolkatta. She had a highly successful tour in USA in 2017 and has played in major festivals like Darbar Festival and Womad.

 

Aside from touring Europe, US and India she has made numerous BBC appearances, collaborated with Mercury Prize winner Talvin Singh and the. She released her debut album, Khoj (‘discovery’) in 2011. Roopa also played at the VJ75 memorial, in the presence of HRH Prince Charles, which was broadcast on BBC 1 and performed with Sir Simon Rattle for the CBSO 100 programme. Also qualified as a Chemical Engineer, Roopa made her choice to follow her musical passion and pursue her dreams of becoming a professional Sitarist. She is among a very small number of Indian females, worldwide, who have launched their careers as full-time touring Sitar players.

 

Here is taste of Roopa's amazing live performance at the Darbar Festival 2021 with Shabaz Hussain.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtVmpXk5ir4 

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Shahbaz Hussain

 

An international artist, Ustad Shahbaz Hussain is regarded as one of the leading tabla virtuosos of his generation. He has received numerous accolades for his captivating performances, including receiving the prestigious “Son of Lahore” Award from the Government of Pakistan in 2008 and ‘Pride of Rochdale’ in 2015. 

Shahbaz began his grooming in the art of tabla at age five with his father, the late Ustad Mumtaz Hussain – a prominent vocalist. He later went on to study with tabla legends Ustad Faiyaz Khan from the Delhi Gharana (school), the late Ustad Shaukat Hussain Khan from the Punjab Gharana and finally the late Ustad Allah Rakha Khan. 

Shahbaz is an extremely versatile tabla player. He has mastered all the imperative traditional skills as well as the ability to project those skills to more contemporary styles. His solo performances have gained great recognition all over the world. He is also much sought after for his accompaniment skills by many of the great masters musicians of India & Pakistan - including Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez, Ustad Rais Khan, Ustad Nishat Khan, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia and ghazal legend Ghulam Ali, Mehdi Hasan to name but a few. 

Shahbaz regularly travels across the world to present performances, including throughout Europe, North America & the Asian subcontinent. He has performed in many prestigious venues, including the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., Lincoln Center in New York and London's Royal Albert & Queen Elizabeth Halls. His band, Indus, has received critical acclaim for their debut album Firefly and they continue to tour the UK & internationally.

Shahbaz is also passionate about passing on the knowledge of Tabla to others. He is a dedicated teacher and regularly teaches across the country, including at the University of Newcastle and the University of Huddersfield.