Roopa Panesar

Roopa Panesar is considered one of the finest sitar players to emerge on the Indian classical music scene from the UK. Embracing Indian classical music as well as jazz and western classical, Roopa leaves audiences captivated and peers filled with respect.

Roopa was born in London and raised in Leicester, giving her the opportunity to learn sitar from an early age and by seven years old she was learning from Ustad Dharambir Singh MBE, a disciple of the late Ustad Vilayat Khan. She proudly joins the modest number of Indian women worldwide who have launched their careers as full-time touring and teaching sitar players.

Roopa has collaborated with Mercury Prize winner Talvin Singh and performed at high-profile international concerts including Southbank Centre, Lincoln Center in New York WOMAD, the Chicago World Music Festival and with the Budapest Orchestra in Brussels, Amsterdam and Budapest.

This performance is presented in partnership with Asian Arts Agency. 

Reviews:

‘One of the most important musicians to have emerged in the British Asian diaspora over the past few years. She expresses a profound sense of calmness laced with an inexplicable exhilaration.’
★★★★  Songlines

Gurdain Rayatt

Performing on tabla is Gurdain Rayatt. One of the UK’s most exciting players, who trained both in the UK and India, Gurdain’s performances range from traditional Indian classical music to cross-cultural and experimental music. Rayatt has performed with the world’s best Indian classical musicians, including Anoushka Shankar and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

Giuliano Modarelli

Also featured in this concert is a special performance by Giuliano Modarelli, who will collaborate with Roopa to create and perform a new music piece, commissioned as part of the International Guitar Festival.

The Italian guitarist, composer, producer, and educator‘s work transcends genres through deep cultural exchange and collaboration. Based in London, his music draws from the city’s diverse international community, integrating influences from new jazz, electronic music, dub, Indian Classical Music, and London’s vibrant cultural landscape.

‘A ridiculously good guitarist.’ The Washington Post