Vocalist

East meets West as The Orchestral Qawwali Project joins the CBSO and London Voices for a spellbinding performance.

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The Orchestral Qawwali Project

Barbican Centre

Experience the mesmerizing fusion of Sufi poetry, Indian Classical dance, and symphonic music with "The CBSO & the Orchestral Qawwali Project" on Saturday, 19 July 2025, at 7:30 pm, in the prestigious Symphony Hall, Birmingham. This extraordinary event marks the return of a glorious collaboration between the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) and the innovative Orchestral Qawwali Project, following a sold-out performance in 2023.

Under the baton of conductor Melvin Tay, and featuring the critically acclaimed composer Rushil Ranjan, this concert promises an evening of spiritual rapture. The project showcases the breathtaking vocals of lead vocalist Abi Sampa, whose talent in blending traditional qawwali with orchestral arrangements has captivated audiences worldwide. This year, the performance is further enriched by the addition of the CBSO Chorus and the University of Birmingham Voices, bringing new compositions and arrangements to life.

Tickets are priced between £26 and £62, with a per-ticket commission of £3.50 for tickets over £15. The concert also offers a range of discounts for students, 18-30s, under-18s, and benefit recipients, making it accessible to a wider audience. The event will last approximately 2 hours, including a 20-minute interval, offering a perfect evening of cultural immersion and musical excellence.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to witness the fusion of qawwali's spiritual essence with the grandeur of symphonic music in the heart of Birmingham.

The Cbso & The Orchestral Qawwali Project

The International Convention Centre

Following their hugely successful Orchestral Qawwali Project, composer Rushil Ranjan and vocalist Abi Sampa now join forces with Manchester Camerata for a new collaboration which brings together the sounds of Western classical music with Carnatic song from South India. With its roots in deeply spiritual and Vedic traditions, Carnatic music's soaring melodies and rhythmic complexity combine to beautifully illustrate tales from Hindu mythology. Expect an evening of spellbinding new music borne out of Rushil Ranjan's deep understanding of contemporary and classical traditions which has earned him a reputation as one of the most distinctive and extraordinary musical voices of today.

Manchester Camerata: Māyā

Bute Park

Critically acclaimed composer, Rushil Ranjan partners with veena and vocal virtuoso, Abi Sampa and the pioneering Manchester Camerata for an orchestral exploration of Carnatic Music.

माया (Māyā)

The Grand Theatre & Opera House Leeds

Carnatic music is widely considered to be the most ancient and pure form of music from the Indian subcontinent. With roots in deeply spiritual and Vedic traditions, it incorporates mathematical, rhythmic complexity, and raga to beautifully illustrate tales from Hindu mythology.#

Rushil Ranjan is a multidisciplinary artist. His work in contemporary, Sufi, and classical music has earned him a reputation as one of the most distinctive and extraordinary musical voices around today. With his Orchestral Qawwali Project, Rushil has played at the Albert Hall and toured to great critical acclaim.

Manchester Camerata: माया Māyā (An Orchestral Exploration of Carnatic Music)

The Stoller Hall

The Orchestral Qawwali Project joins the musicians of the RSNO and RSNO Chorus for a special one-off show. Created and led by critically acclaimed composer Rushil Ranjan and renowned singer Abi Sampa, the project breathes new life into centuries-old traditions, reframing the spiritual rapture of Sufi music through Rushil’s rich orchestral scores, blending Western classical with South Asian music and Indian classical dance. Within just three years of its founding, the ensemble has performed several sell-out shows, including the Royal Albert Hall in 2024, following which the RAH appointed Rushil and Abi as its new Associate Artists.

Vocalist

Abi Sampa

Events

Upcoming events

Apr 30, 2026

Orchestral Qawwali Project · Royal Scottish National Orchestra

Past events

Jul 20, 2025

The Orchestral Qawwali Project · Barbican Centre

Jul 19, 2025

The Cbso & The Orchestral Qawwali Project · City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

About

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