Page 67 - RPS Awards 2024 Coverage Book

03 February 2024

INTERNATIONAL

POT POURRI

By:Agencies
Date:
February 3, 2024

Two British Indian musicians in Royal Philharmonic Society Awards shortlist
London, Feb 2: A British Indian conductor and a sitarist are among 19 individual
performers and composers shortlisted for this year’s prestigious Royal Philharmonic
Society (RPS) Awards, celebrating classical music and musicians across the UK.Billed
by The Sunday Times as the “biggest night in UK classical music”, the awards shine a
light on brilliant musical individuals, groups, and initiatives inspiring communities
nationwide.

Alpesh Chauhan OBE, Music Director of the Birmingham Opera Company, has been
nominated in the Conductor category, and sitarist and composer Jasdeep Singh Degun
is in the Instrumentalist Award and the Large-Scale Composition Award categories. “Of
the 19 individual performers and composers shortlisted, 42 per cent represent the global
majority, including cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Music Director of the Birmingham
Opera Company Alpesh Chauhan, and sitar player Jasdeep Singh Degun,” a press note
by RPS read.

In a post shared on X, Leeds-born Degun thanked his teacher for supporting him in his
musical journey.

“Very surreal to announce that I’ve been nominated for two @RoyalPhilSoc Awards! For
‘Best Instrumentalist’ and ‘Large Scale Composition’. I am very thankful to my teacher
Ustad Dharambir Singh and to the numerous individuals and organisations that have
supported me over the years,” Degun said.

His work as a composer, co-music director, and soloist in the highly praised opera
‘Orpheus’, commissioned by Opera North in partnership with South Asian Arts-UK,