Building bridges through music

Building bridges through music
Artist selection 2014
Sola Akingbola
Gaurav Mazumdar
Sardor Mirzakhojaev
Mattia Zappa
Nigeria / UK
India
Uzbekistan
Switzerland
Percussion
Sitar
Rubab, Dutar, Tanbur
Cello
Sola Akingbola: self-taught and with over 24 years of experience, he describes his percussive 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, Aswad, 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 knowledge of Raag & Taal and a keen sensitivity. His jugalbandis (duets) with some of the bestknown musicians of India from both the North-Indian (Hindustani) and South-Indian (Carnatic) 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 studies 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, Lucerne 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 section of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
First meeting in London, April 2013
Gaurav Mazumdar
Sola Akingbola
Mattia Zappa
Sardor Mirzakhojaev