PMC 2017-14th annual festival goes younger attracting wider audiences

KARACHI: All Pakistan Music Conference, rooted in the centuries old traditions of classical arts of music, for its 14th edition of the highly anticipated annual event takes a refreshingly surprising turn towards a much younger upcoming talent stepping up to the aspirations of attracting a wider audience.

Coming into existence to give a much needed boost to the classical traditions of music and dance specifically in the city of Karachi, the yearly festival since its inception in 2004 despite its many ups and downs has come a long way, says the general secretary Ayla Raza as the three-day music conference holds its 14th annual festival at the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), Hindu Gymkhana, commencing around 9pm on March 3rd this year.

Integrating various subtle genres and gharanas, in its annual celebration of classical music through its free and open 'baithaks' and 'mehfils', the festival impressive as it is with the performances of great maestros each year, is surely the most exciting to date with a whole lot of new and emerging names gracing the stage at the latest edition, adds Raza who is also one of the founding members of the APMC, Karachi.

In keeping with its aim of producing 'supply' and creating 'demand' of the traditional music and reflecting its vision of attracting wider audience apart from the hard-core loyalists, the latest edition saw relatively younger and newer solo acts like Imran Ilyas and Urooj Saami opening the sessions of day 1.

The two vocalists were followed by Ustaad Sajid Hussain of Senia Gharana that traces its roots to Mian Tansen. Hailing from a family of musical virtuosos, the sitar maestro was joined by his son on stage in a captivating performance.

Visually impaired classical singer Aliya Rasheed's Jugalbandhi with Italian musician/flutist Virginia was another highlight of the opening night of the music conference. Both trained in the classical tradition of Dhrupad from India, impressed the audience with their collaboration on stage for the first time.

Closing the inaugural night with Ustaad Naseeruddin Saami's vocal performance who has featured on most of its editions previously, the three-day 14th annual music conference will conclude on Sunday March 5th, 2017.