A ce composer and performer, Pandit Shubhendra Rao brings together

1. S T R I N G S U nA T T A C H E D • Ace composer and performer, Pandit Shubhendra Rao brings together an array of brilliant international musicians to India to perform with him • Indian Classical Sitar meets Chinese Pipa, Jazz Guitar and the Cello • The meeting point is Shubhendra’s composition in which he respects each artists unique background and bring in their expertise to create new music • A cross-cultural soundscape is intelligently created in which each artist is challenged to new heights by the others

2. PT.S H U B H E N D R A R A O “ Here is not just a master at the sitar, but a thinking musician taking his instrument beyond convention, He has become a musical bridge to many cultures ” Gateway Magazine, March 2007

3. PT. S H U B H E N D R A R A O • Hailed by critics & connoisseurs as a worthy successor to his Guru, Pandit Ravi Shankar’s tradition • Shubhendra Rao creates an experience for his audience that ranges from the introspective to the resounding • He was awarded the “Youth Icon for Classical Music” in 2007, by the popular Zee Television Network. • He has released many music albums to critical acclaim .

4. PT. S H U B H E N D R A R A O • Some venues he performed at : • BROADWAY in New York, The Carnegie Hall , Sydney Opera House, • Theatre de la ville in Paris, the WOMAD festival in Guernsey England, • National Arts Festival in South Africa, Walker Arts Centre in Minneapolis, • Des Moines Arts Centre, Esplanade in Singapore amongst others • At major music festivals in India including the DOVERLANE Conference , • the ITC Music Conference in Kolkata, Baba Harvallabh Sangeet • Mahasabha in Jalandhar, Shankarlal Festival and the Gunidas Sammelan in • New Delhi, the SAPTAK Festival in Ahmedabad, the Vasantahabba Festival • in Bangalore • International tours have taken him to the USA, Canada, South Africa, Mexico, • Australia, England, Ireland, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, • Portugal, Hungary, Belgium and many Asian countries like Japan, South • Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Dubai

5. PT. S H U B H E N D R A R A O • Well-known as a composer, Shubhendra distinguishes himself by working with • musicians across cultures • One of the few Indian musicians to compose and perform on BROADWAY, • New York. He achieved this distinction when he was • commissioned to compose and perform for Ragamala Music and • Dance Theatre, Minneapolis in 2007 • The new musical language that he has created with his Cellist wife, • Saskia Rao- de Haas titled “East Marries West” is both avant garde • and traditional at once. Gateway Magazine has described this duet as • ‘taking Indian music to a brave new era’ in 2007 • His innovative work with Jazz Guitarist Freddie Bryant stands out for its originality • and innovative music • He has composed for and collaborated with Japanese legendary • singer Ms.Ryoko Moriyama, Jazz Flautist James Newton, Chinese • Pipa master Gao Hong amongst others

6. G A O H O N G • A Chinese musical prodigy, master of a pear-shaped lute, the Pipa. • Graduated from China's premier music school, the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing • Her teacher : a great Pipa master , • Lin Shicheng • She is the first traditional musician to be awarded the prestigious Bush Artist Fellowship (2005) • Only musician to win three McKnight Artist Fellowships for Performing Musicians (2008)

7. G A O H O N G • Performed in solo concerts, symphony orchestras, with jazz • musicians, and musicians from other cultures • Performances at the Lincoln Center Festival; Carnegie Hall; • the San Francisco Jazz festival; the Next Wave Festival; • Festival d'Automne Paris and Caen, France; the International • Festival of Perth,Australia; and the Festival deTeatro d'Europa • in Milan, Italy amongst others

8. G A O H O N G • “Butterfly” -2008,by Gao Hong, pipa, Biplab Bhattacharya, • tabla, Nirmala Rajasekar, veena and vocals, and Michelle • Kinney, cello. • “Celebration” – 2008, multicultural ensemble by Gao Hong, • Pipa, Pt Shubhendra Rao ,Kenny Endo, taiko, David Hagedorn, • percussion, Biplab Bhattacharya, tabla, Nirmala Rajasekar, • Veena and vocals, Michelle Kinney, cello . • “Quiet Forest, Flowing Stream” – by Gao Hong and Shubhendra • Rao • Flying Dragon, Pipa mixed very effectively with sitarist • Shubhendra Rao, flutist James Newton and shakuhachi player • Yoshio Kurahashi in a rainbow coalition of musicians.

9. F R E D D I E B R Y A N T • He has been playing the guitar since he • was 8 years old. His early training was in • classical guitar, but he soon started jazz • His musical family experience is perhaps the • most important aspect of his development as a • musician. Freddie made his debut with his • parents as page turner in New York's historic • Town Hall at the age of 6. • He has received a Masters Degree from the • Yale School of Music. • In 1996 he was honored to be featured in the • New Faces concert series at the Tilles Center • in Long Island.

10. F R E D D I E B R Y A N T • Over the last 15 years, Freddie has been active in New York's jazz • scene and has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Max Roach, • Lonnie Smith and guitar legend Kenny Burrell. • He has led groups under his own name and with pianist Jonny King • His groups have featured such saxophonists as Ralph Moore, David • Sanchez, Don Braden, Steve Wilson and Vincent Herring. • His groups have featured such saxophonists as Ralph Moore, • David Sanchez, Don Braden, Steve Wilson and Vincent Herring. • Other musicians include trumpeters Randy Brecker and Claudio • Roditi, pianists Kevin Hays and Renee Rosnes, among others

11. F R E D D I E B R Y A N T • In 1994, Freddie celebrated the release of his first CD in • Japan “Take Your Dance Into Battle. • His second CD, Brazilian Rosewood was the first time that • he used the classical guitar in a jazz setting . • He has played concerts in schools and churches around the • northeast as well as in the Frank Colleymore Hall in • Barbados and at the Summer Wind Arts Festival in • Oklahoma. • Four of his jazz compositions will be published in the • forthcoming book, "The Real New Standards."

12. S A S K I A R A O D E H A A S

13. S A S K I A R A O D E H A A S • A celebrated composer, bridging the Western and Indian • Classical music traditions. • Her recent path breaking composition was the introduction of • Indian Music in the Western string-quartet. She is the founder of • the Raga Mala String Quartet and composes music for this • ensemble that combines Indian Music with Western musical • concepts • Her varied experiences include collaborations with South Indian • musicians, Jazz musicians, Klezmer, Flamenco and other • European folk musicians • Saskia has recently recorded her first solo Classical music album • The Indian Cello • She has recorded with International record labels and has created • music for various ensembles, dance, film and theatre

14. S A S K I A R A O D E H A A S • Saskia has performed all over India in prestigious festivals for • Indian classical music such as the Legends of India in New • Delhi, Vasanta habbha in Bangalore, the Maihar festival, • Haridas sangeet samelan in Lucknow and many others • She has toured extensively through North America, Europe and • Asia and played in many of the Worlds leading theatre halls • and festivals, like the Concertgebouw and Tropical institute in • Amsterdam, National Arts Festival of South Africa, New • Directions cello festival in the US, Musee Guimet in Paris and • Esplanade in Singapore • Her recent performance with Pt Shubhendra Rao representing • ‘East marries West’ at the Edinburgh festival was described • as a ‘work of outstanding originality’ • Saskia has conducted workshops and lecture­-demonstrations at • universities, conservatories and festivals in Europe and North • America

15. C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N E-mail : sitar@shubhendrarao.com eastmarrieswest@gmail.com Web : www.shubhendrarao.com Address : B- 368 C.R. Park New Delhi-110019 INDIA Phone : + 91-(0)11.2627.1165 +91-98111.90983 (Shubhendra Rao)