Building bridges through music Artist selection 2014

Sola Akingbola Nigeria / UK Percussion Gaurav Mazumdar India Sitar Sardor Mirzakhojaev Uzbekistan Rubab, Dutar, Tanbur Mattia Zappa Switzerland Cello

Sola Akingbola : self-taught and with over 24 years of experience, he describes his percus- sive style as ‘a synthesis of the subtle grooves of Yoruba drumming with a progressive and experimental sonic twist’. Sola has played for a long list of celebrated musicians around the world, including: David Bowie, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Will Young, Art Blakey, As- wad, Gregory Isaacs, Damon Albarn, Newton Faulkner, Axelle Red, Lokua Kanza, Ayo, Larkin Poe, Fatoumata Diawara, Francis Lalane and Gasper Lawal.

Gaurav Mazumdar is renowned for his solo recitals, sparked by passion, thorough knowl- edge of Raag & Taal and a keen sensitivity. His jugalbandis (duets) with some of the best- known musicians of India from both the North-Indian (Hindustani) and South-Indian (Car- natic) traditions are a real treat for the listeners. He has had numerous collaborations with Western musicians such as Daniel Hope, Philip Glass and Kenny Werner, and composed for and performed with the English Chamber Orchestra.

Sardor Mirzakhojaev is an accomplished performer on Uzbek folk instruments (dutar, rubab, tanbur), training from an early age and graduating recently from the Tashkent State Musical College and Uzbek State Conservatory. Sardor has a vast experience in different professional environments, including performances in ethno-pop music, performance in the Uzbek National Instruments Orchestra and as a teacher of traditional Uzbek instruments.

Mattia Zappa , a Swiss cellist, followed his BA from Lugano Conservatory with musical stud- ies in the soloists’ class of Harvey Shapiro and Thomas Demenga. As a soloist, Mattia Zappa has been engaged by the Orchestra Della Svizzera Italiana, Basel Symphony Orchestra, Lu- cerne Festival Strings (where he also worked from 2000 until 2002 as a solo cellist), the Akademischen Orchester Zürich, Swiss Chamber Philharmonic, Orchestre de Chambre de Genève and the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra in South Africa. As member of the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, Mattia Zappa played in 2007 (as a substitute) in the cello sec- tion of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

First meeting in London, April 2013

Gaurav Mazumdar

Sola Akingbola

Mattia Zappa

Sardor Mirzakhojaev