1.  A ce 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 S T R I N G S U n A T T A C H E D

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. 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 PT. S H U B H E N D R A R A O

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. 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 F R E D D I E B R Y A N T

11. 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." F R E D D I E B R Y A N T

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

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

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

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)