South Asian Arts-uk

http://www.saa-uk.org/artist/Roopa-Panesar Rupinder Kaur Panesar (ROOPA) is a student of renowned UK sitarist and educator, Ustad Dharambir Singh MBE (disciple of the late Ustad Vilayat Khan). She made her stage debut at just 11 years old, since which she has flourished into a well respected musician and continues to build her reputation with audiences and musicians alike for her outstanding performances and ability. She has recently recorded music for the soundtrack of the critically acclaim film, 'West Is West', performed as a guest artist for the John Lennon Tribute Concert at the Liverpool Echo Arena and, off the back of a successful national UK tour, released her first solo CD entitled "Khoj". www.roopapanesar.com www.Saa-uk.org Twitter: @Southasianartuk

SAA UK PRESENTS: Alcazaba. Alcazaba is a Flamenco fusion band that has managed to successfully incorporate elements of Middle Eastern and Indian music into flamenco to create a vibrant and unique sound. Spellbinding melodies and dazzling displays of virtuosity played to the electrifying beats and heart-wrenching vocals of flamenco have given the band a dedicated following in both the flamenco and world music scenes in the UK. Be sure to check out their Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/alcazabamusic Here are some links to some of the Artists websites: Alex Teymour Housego: http://www.teymourhousego.com/ Attab Haddad: http://www.attabhaddad.com/ For more information visit www.saa-uk.org

The Veena is one of India's oldest and most beautiful instruments, dating back 3,000 years and said to be the predecessor of the Sitar. Hari has performed with Ravi Shankar as a young Teenager, he played and sang on Ravi Ji's Chants of India album produced by former Beatle "George Harrison". He is accompanied by Pirashana Thevrajah on Mridangam. Date: Thursday 31st May 2012 @ Seven Arts in Leeds, Chapel Allerton. www.saa-uk.org Edited by Dilrani Kaur

SAA-uk presents Shringar - Ornamental Beauty of South Asia at Leeds Museum from 19th April - 15th July 2012. The exhibition is supported by this short film describing the nature of Bharatanatyam Dance and Indian classical music performances in the UK. Interviews are delivered by Smt Devika Rao, Keranjeet Kaur Virdee, Ustad Harbhajan Singh and Ustad Harjinderpal Singh

In conjunction with SAA-uk's new exhibition at Leeds Museum entitled Shringar 'Ornamental Beauty of South Asia', we produced a Community showreel where parents, tutors and participants of our music and dance academies describe their artform, tutors, and performance experiences.

Unfurl performed as part of the SAA-uk Concert series on the 24th November 2011. This was the final piece of their performance and is entitled 'Fire'.

The Unravelling of a romantic evening Rāg Alap, Alap Jod Jhalla, Vilambat Composition and Drut Composition in Teental ending with Jhalla. The movement within the rag is complex and shows many aspects of romance through the marriage of different phrases. There is also a serenity which is often experienced through this rag. Rupinder Kaur Panesar is a rising star of the UK music scene and SAA-uk is delighted to welcome her back to Leeds after two years and a string of performances across the UK. She will be taking a Rāg or two, delicately weaving the notes, framed in the rhythmic patterns on the Tabla by fellow musician Bhupinder Singh Chaggar and young talented Jasdeep Degun on Tanpura.

Anjan Saha - Sitar Sri Kousic Sen - Tabla

This evening took audiences down memory lane enjoying the songs and poetry of the yesteryears. Filmi Songs by Lata ji and Noor Jehan; Ghazals of Ghalib, Faiz and Nasir Kazmi and Punjabi Songs by vocalist Shaheen Khan. Shaheen is a highly trained vocalist with a sweet melodious voice, who has accompanied the likes of Ustād Ghulam Ali, Rahat & Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Shin of DCS Singing from the tender age of fourteen to audiences all over the world, Shaheen Khan's career has been varied and diverse. Being fluent in several Indian dialects enables her to render Urdu ghazals, Bollywood Hindi pop songs, Bhangra, Punjabi Folk songs and Sufi Mystical song with equal ease. Her versatility and repertoire are unparalleled.

A short performance by three Yorkshire young musicians of Leeds (UK) Jeevan Singh is undergoing tabla training from Bhupinder Singh Chaggar, Simran Kaur receives vocal training from Dr. Vijay Rajput and Eeshar Singh is under the guidance of Ustad Harjinderpal Singh.

A snapshot of SAA-uk's Summer School 2010. This short film gives a flavour of the different instruments and activities that went on at the Summer School and also people's thoughts and feelings about the week. If you're interested in taking part in the SAA-Uk summer school, register your details to: E education@saa-uk.org.uk T (+44) 0113 244 5523

MAESTROS OF SITAR 'Unplugged' at The Yoga Space Friday 21st May 2010 After 30 years, two 'Guru Bhais', Ustaad Dharambir Singh and Ustaad Siraj Khan meet, ready to share their individual musical journeys through a Sitar conversation, punctuated by the skillful play of Tabla by Yorkshire's very own Kousic Sen. In conjunction with The Yoga Space

MAESTROS OF SITAR 'Unplugged' at The Yoga Space Friday 21st May 2010 After 30 years, two 'Guru Bhais', Ustaad Dharambir Singh and Ustaad Siraj Khan meet, ready to share their individual musical journeys through a Sitar conversation, punctuated by the skillful play of Tabla by Yorkshire's very own Kousic Sen. In conjunction with The Yoga Space

STRINGS OF KASHMIR Twilight Concert at Howard Assembly Room - Opera North 22nd May 2010 Raag Hamsadhwani Harjinder Pal Singh - Santoor - Harjinder Pal Singh is a Namdhari Sikh who was born in Jabalpur, India in 1953. He is a senior disciple of the Santoor Maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. His interest in music since his childhood initiated his father to send him to learn Tabla, from Bhai Labh Singh Ji of the Punjab Gharanaat the age of 14. While learning Tabla, Harjinder continued his studies and obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Science. Later on he became the disciple of Ustad Nihal Singh Ji to learn Pakhawaj style of tabla. Recognising his talent, His Holiness Shri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji, the Spiritual Head of the Namdhari Sect, took Harjinder to Bombay and made him the disciple of the Santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma to learn to play the beautiful, hundred-stringed instrument from the valleys of Kashmir. Bhupinder Singh Chaggar - Tabla - Bhupinder Singh is a highly skilled and sensitive young Tabla player based in Leeds, U.K. He is one of the leading disciples of the renowned Tabla maestro and Gharanadar of the Benares gharana, Pandit Sharda Sahai Ji, who is the direct descendant of Pandit Ram Sahai Ji, the founder of this Gharana.

Wednesday 25th November 2009 Clothworkers Centenary Concert Hall - University of Leeds 'AAKRISHT' - An evening of Indian Classical Music & Dance Shri Sanju Sahai - Tabla Sanju Sahai is an outstanding tabla player who has accompanied many senior artists, including acclaimed vocalist Pandit Rajan Sajan Mishra, sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, kathak dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj and guitarist Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. He comes from a very eminent percussion lineage. He is a direct descendent of Pandit Ram Sahai, the founder of the Benares Gharana. Sanju was trained by his guru, Pandit Sharda Sahai, the virtuoso player. He began playing at the age of four, demonstrating his prodigious skills and at the age of nine, he gave his first public performance at the Sankat Mochan Temple in Benares. Beyond his classical tradition, he has gone on to work within genres as diverse as Egyptian, Spanish, Jazz, Folk and Blues Music. He is based in London and promotes concerts and musical education with Parampara Arts Network. Currently, he teaches tabla at the London University and in many schools throughout London. Rupinder Kaur Panesar - Sitar Roopa Panesar is one of the most up and coming Sitarists to have emerged in England. She has been learning Sitar from the renowned and most prominent tutor and performer of the UK, Dharambir Singh ji. More recently, she has also been learning from the Maestro Ustad Shahid Parvez as well as having been privileged to be guided by other great musicians such as Pt. Arvind Parikh, Pt Ajoy Chakroborty, Pt. Budhyadev Das Gupta, Pt. Budhaditya Mukherjee, Pt. Rajan and Sajan Mishra and Prof. Yash Paul. Roopa started learning Sitar at the tender age of seven. Roopa, is now Leicester based and teaches and performs widely in the UK. She has also worked in collaboration with Western/ Jazz musicians. She has performed in venues like the Royal Festival Hall, House of Commons, NEC Birmingham, BBC TV and in Germany. She also was a first prizewinner, at the Sampoorna Sangit Mela Competition in 1995.

SAA-uk's first concert of the new Spring-Summer 2010 Concert Season which celebrates the beginning of the New Year in India... referred to as 'Ugadi' in Karnataka, 'Boisakhi' in Bengal and 'Vaisakhi' in Punjab. The evening was also a platform for professional and community dancers based in Yorkshire and their students. Supradha (Bharatanatyam) - Bhavika Sethi, Megha Vijh, Kshitija Purandare, Dilrani Kaur, Seetal Gahir Yakshagana - Devika Rao, Dr. Benaka Karanth Bengali Folk Dance - Kim, Raka, Hema, Sudeshna, Saboti, Saminti, Chanrika, Disha, Salma, Rushia Uzmi Dola Tohr Panjabian Di (Bhangra) - Bobby Singh, Ranjeet Singh Sahota, Rohit Gangar, Jagit Jagdev, Gugz Bhogal - Concert at Seven Arts, organised by South Asian Arts UK