18th Pandit Siyaram Tiwari Music Festival

The 18th Pandit Siyaram Tiwari Music Festival will take place on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at 7 pm at The Theatre (Amaltas), India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The event, organised by the Pandit Siyaram Tiwari Memorial Sangeet Trust, will honour the legacy of the renowned Dhrupad exponent, Pandit Siyaram Tiwari.

Pandit Siyaram Tiwari was a key figure in the Darbhanga Dhrupad tradition, which has its roots in the era of Tansen. His contributions to preserving the Gauhar and Khandar styles of Dhrupad are widely recognised.

“This festival is our way of keeping Pandit Siyaram Tiwari’s legacy alive,” said Sumeet Anand Pandey, his maternal grandson and a Dhrupad vocalist. “Dhrupad is a timeless tradition, and through this event, we aim to share its beauty with a wider audience.”

The evening will feature a Pakhawaj solo recital by Shashi Kant Pathak, who will also receive the “Navodit Kalakar Samman” award. He will be accompanied by Rajesh Mishra on Sarangi, with Dr Pandey providing vocal support. Additionally, Pandit Biswajit Roy Chowdhury will perform a Sarod recital, presenting ragas from the Malhar family, accompanied by Pandit Durjay Bhaumik on Tabla.

“The trust has been organising events across India to showcase Indian classical music,” Pandey said. “We’ve launched a new series, ‘Naya Swar,’ to highlight young talent. We plan to expand this initiative to cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, and Bengaluru next year”.

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This year’s festival also marks the 10th anniversary of the Pandit Siyaram Tiwari Memorial Sangeet Trust. Over the past year, the trust organised 10 music festivals across India.

Pandey has also been invited for a residency at the University of California, Los Angeles, as a Fulbright visiting fellow for 2024-25. He recently completed a tour of seven European countries, where he showcased Dhrupad on prestigious stages.

When: 7 PM onwards; September 8

Where: The Theatre (Amaltas), India Habitat Centre, New Delhi