--- url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-gb/place/reading' title: 'Indian Classical Music in Reading' author: name: Anonymous updated: '2026-10-05T02:26:48+00:00' type: website summary: "Slide guitar, sarangi and tabla at the University of Reading's Great Hall: KalaSudha's Indian classical concerts in Reading since September 2025." image: 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg' published: true og: site_name: KalaSudha 'image:url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg' 'image:secure_url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg' 'image:type': image/svg+xml 'image:alt': KalaSudha --- Ragas in the University's Great Hall One ticket for both concerts Parking and access # KalaSudha in Reading [ Explore concerts ](/en-gb/events?time_filter=all&cities%5B0%5D=reading) [ Bring a concert to Reading ](/en-gb/form/city-concert-request?city=Reading&country=India) ## Our reach in Reading A growing community built through live music, trusted partnerships and shared cultural experiences. [ 3 Concerts presented ](/en-gb/events?time_filter=all&cities%5B0%5D=reading) [ 8 Artists featured ](/en-gb/artists?cities%5B0%5D=Reading) [ 1 Venue partners ](/en-gb/venues?city=reading) What's next in Reading ## New concerts are being planned Register for Reading updates to hear first, or talk to us about bringing a KalaSudha concert to your venue. [ Register for updates ](/en-gb/interest/register/taxonomy_term/54) ### Be part of what comes next Would you like a KalaSudha concert in Reading? Request a performance and tell us how you could help. Every idea is welcome. [ Bring a concert to Reading ](/en-gb/form/city-concert-request?city=Reading&country=India) [ Register for updates ](/en-gb/interest/register/taxonomy_term/54) Audience reviews ## What audiences in Reading said Attendee reviews and short videos from our previous concerts in Reading. 5.0 out of 5 From 10 reviews across 1 concert in Reading Most recent concert reviewed: 14 September 2025 ### Hear it from the audience Short video reviews recorded at our concerts in Reading. [ Register for updates ](/en-gb/interest/register/taxonomy_term/54) [ Read all reviews ](/en-gb/reviews) - Reading Raga Resonance: Slide Guitar, Piano & Tabla Solo Splendour - Reading Raga Resonance: Slide Guitar, Piano & Tabla Solo Splendour - Reading Raga Resonance: Slide Guitar, Piano & Tabla Solo Splendour - Reading Raga Resonance: Slide Guitar, Piano & Tabla Solo Splendour - Reading Raga Resonance: Slide Guitar, Piano & Tabla Solo Splendour - Reading Raga Resonance: Slide Guitar, Piano & Tabla Solo Splendour > “I came to know about this program at the last minute and I was really looking forward to it. I am a music person and the program was amazing. We really enjoyed it, and I was also talking to the organiser. From next time, we plan to bring more crowd here because there is a big community in this area. We will definitely make it more successful. This program was really amazing — all the artists were unbelievable, really rich and very good. I think this is positive feedback for people to join our events. I was also discussing that social media and networking are very important to build awareness because there is a big community in this area. There is another separate program going on currently, so not many people could attend this time. But we will plan better, spread the word, and when a new event comes in, we will definitely have a more successful event next time. Thank you so much.” Event Attendee · Reading Attended [Reading Raga Resonance: Slide Guitar, Piano & Tabla Solo Splendour](/en-gb/event/reading-raga-resonance-slide-guitar-piano-tabla-solo-splendour) · 14 September 2025 · The Great Hall, Reading - > Hello, everybody. This was a beautiful event. From start to finish, I enjoyed every bit of it. The music was good; the blurbers were good. Obviously, I needed to know one of the instruments I couldn't recognise, which is the Sarangi. And it was very, very positive for me. It has been my special day. So this fitted in with the bell, Beautiful. I enjoyed it. Thank you. Image Event Attendee · Reading Attended [Reading Raga Resonance: Slide Guitar, Piano & Tabla Solo Splendour](/en-gb/event/reading-raga-resonance-slide-guitar-piano-tabla-solo-splendour) · 14 September 2025 · The Great Hall, Reading - > Listen to piano, tabla and guitar together in a jugalbandi, and then to listen to slide guitar and tabla in a jugalbandi. Amazing, Amazing. limited audience, perfect venue, perfect, perfectly organized. It was really, really wonderful. Even in today’s generation, there are children who are connected to classical music. They have their own likings, but they should also see this side of classical music, because watching live shows and watching live performances like this. I think they will understand it. The roots are here only. From this, it has come and moved to what they hear, what they watch, and what they go for. So, definitely they should, if they come and listen to this classical music. They can enjoy, They will enjoy, they will understand where it is coming from. Image Event Attendee · Reading Attended [Reading Raga Resonance: Slide Guitar, Piano & Tabla Solo Splendour](/en-gb/event/reading-raga-resonance-slide-guitar-piano-tabla-solo-splendour) · 14 September 2025 · The Great Hall, Reading - > The greatest, greatest evening it was and honestly, everybody enjoyed it. All the practice really showed, everything was there. Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. Another wonderful day, amazing, truly an amazing evening. You are wonderful. Please make sure you arrange more events like this. Feedback is five-star for this. It was a great, great evening, honestly. You guys have done a lot of good for everybody. Everyone was entertained here. Well done, man. Well done. Thanks, more and more events like this. Thank you so much. Image Event Attendee · Reading Attended [Reading Raga Resonance: Slide Guitar, Piano & Tabla Solo Splendour](/en-gb/event/reading-raga-resonance-slide-guitar-piano-tabla-solo-splendour) · 14 September 2025 · The Great Hall, Reading Why Reading ## What sets KalaSudha apart in Reading - ### One ticket for both concerts In 2026 a Full Day ticket covered both Great Hall concerts: Bow, Beat and Breath at midday and Slide & Strum at 6pm. - ### Parking and access Book wheelchair spaces in advance. Park at White Gates Car Park, RG1 5AG; campus spaces are first come, first served. - ### Taught by Pandit Ram Narayan Satwinder Pal Singh studied under Padma Vibhushan Pandit Ram Narayan Ji and Padma Bhushan Ustad Sabri Khan Saheb. - ### Raga form, then fusion The 2026 evening opened with alap and jod, then pieces in Rupak and Jhaptal, cycles of 7 and 10 beats. ## Our venue reach in Reading The halls and cultural spaces where KalaSudha has brought artists and audiences together—and where our network continues to grow. [ ](/en-gb/venue/the-great-hall-reading) 340 [### The Great Hall, Reading ](/en-gb/venue/the-great-hall-reading) Reading The Great Hall, University of Reading, London Road Campus, Reading, RG15AQ The Great Hall at the University of Reading is located on the historic London Road campus, the University's original home in the heart of Reading, a p... [ See our work here ](/en-gb/events?venues%5B0%5D=97) [ Venue details ](/en-gb/venue/the-great-hall-reading) ## Artists we’ve presented in Reading Meet the musicians whose performances have shaped KalaSudha’s story and community in the city. ### [Akram Khan](/en-gb/artist/akram-khan) Ustad of Ajrada Gharana Tabla Ustad Mohammad Akram Khan is a respected Indian classical tabla player from the Ajrada Gharana. A seventh-generation artist, he has performed around the world for over forty years. He is renowned for his exceptional skill, tradition, and dedication to preserving the Ajrada style of tabla. New Delhi, India [ View Shows ](/en-gb/artist/akram-khan) ### [Debasis Chakroborty](/en-gb/artist/debasis-chakroborty) Pandit of Senia-Maihar Gharana Indian Slide Guitar Debasis Chakroborty is a well-known Indian classical Slide guitar virtuoso of India. He has performed extensively throughout South East Asia, Australia, the USA and Europe in major international music festivals. Agra, India [ View Shows ](/en-gb/artist/debasis-chakroborty) ### [Deepak Shah](/en-gb/artist/deepak-shah) Raga Pianist Piano Deepak Shah is an Indian pianist and composer who plays Indian classical ragas on the grand piano. His music blends Indian and Western styles in a smooth, natural way. For over twenty-five years, he has been performing in India and abroad, sharing music that feels personal, pure, and deeply connected to both cultures. Mumbai, India [ View Shows ](/en-gb/artist/deepak-shah) ### [Hanif Khan](/en-gb/artist/hanif-khan) Tabla Hanif Khan’s musical journey began under the tutelage of his father, Ustad Hidayat Khan, who was a well-respected tabla player in India. Hanif Khan is an expert in Delhi kayda tabla playing. Hanif Khan is renowned for sharing classical Indian forms of music and for creating new forms by lending his talent to the genre of 'fusion'. Hanif Khan's musical career has taken an international route. An accomplished, classically trained Indian percussionist, he is versatile. He has accompanied acclaimed artists such as Hari Prashad Chaurasia, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, Ghulam Ali, Ghulam Mustafa, Pandit Debasis Chakroborty, Pandit Ajay Prasanna, and El Massry Hussein, and Rajan Sajan, among others. London, United Kingdom [ View Shows ](/en-gb/artist/hanif-khan) ### [Satwinder Pal Singh](/en-gb/artist/satwinder-pal-singh) Sarangi Satwinder Pal Singh is a London-based sarangi player from Moga, Punjab. He and his father are the first father-son Top Grade sarangi players in the Sikh Panth. London, United Kingdom [ View Shows ](/en-gb/artist/satwinder-pal-singh) ### [Giuliano Modarelli](/en-gb/artist/giuliano-modarelli) Guitar Giuliano Modarelli is an internationally acclaimed Italian guitarist and composer, celebrated for his distinctive blend of Indian classical, jazz, and contemporary world music. Based in London, he has developed a unique voice on the guitar, drawing deeply from Indian rhythmic and melodic traditions while maintaining the freedom and improvisational spirit of jazz. A long-time collaborator with some of the finest Indian classical artists, including Pandit Debasis Chakroborty, Shahbaz Hussain, RN Prakash, and Pandit Ajay Prasanna, Giuliano’s music bridges cultures with fluid virtuosity and emotional depth. He is also a founding member of the award-winning fusion ensemble Kefaya and the Quest Ensemble. He continues to perform and teach worldwide, inspiring audiences with his cross-cultural artistry. London, United Kingdom [ View Shows ](/en-gb/artist/giuliano-modarelli) Milestones ## Our Reading story The performances, partnerships and shared moments that continue to shape our work in the city. 1. Concerts ### 3 concerts presented KalaSudha has built a stage for Indian classical music in Reading with 1 venue partner. 2. Artists ### 8 artists featured Musicians from different lineages have met our Reading audience through performances and conversations. ## Past KalaSudha concerts in Reading Explore the performances, artists and venue partnerships that have grown our community across the city. [ View all past concerts ](/en-gb/events?time_filter=past&cities%5B0%5D=reading) City Reading Date SAT 12 SEP ### [ Reading Raga Resonance: Slide & Strum on The Mystic Frets ](/en-gb/event/reading-raga-resonance-slide-strum-on-the-mystic-frets) DC [Debasis Chakroborty](/en-gb/artist/debasis-chakroborty) +2 more **The Great Hall, Reading** Early Bird [ View concert ](/en-gb/event/reading-raga-resonance-slide-strum-on-the-mystic-frets) City Reading Date SAT 12 SEP ### [ Reading Raga Resonance: Bow, Beat, and Breath ](/en-gb/event/reading-raga-resonance-bow-beat-and-breath) SP [Satwinder Pal Singh](/en-gb/artist/satwinder-pal-singh) +1 more **The Great Hall, Reading** Early Bird [ View concert ](/en-gb/event/reading-raga-resonance-bow-beat-and-breath) City Reading Date SUN 14 SEP ### [ Reading Raga Resonance: Slide Guitar, Piano & Tabla Solo Splendour ](/en-gb/event/reading-raga-resonance-slide-guitar-piano-tabla-solo-splendour) AK [Akram Khan](/en-gb/artist/akram-khan) +4 more **The Great Hall, Reading** Early Bird [ View concert ](/en-gb/event/reading-raga-resonance-slide-guitar-piano-tabla-solo-splendour) ## FAQs about Reading Where can I hear live Indian classical music in Reading, and how do I find out about the next KalaSudha concert there? KalaSudha presents Indian classical music in Reading and lists each concert on its [Reading page](/place/reading), with a link to book. To hear when the next Reading date is set, press **Register for updates** there or join the KalaSudha newsletter. KalaSudha has presented concerts at [The Great Hall](/venue/the-great-hall-reading) on the London Road Campus, the University of Reading's original home, as part of the [Kala Festival](/festival/kala-festival). How can I find out when KalaSudha announces its next Indian classical music concert in Reading? Press Register for updates on the [KalaSudha Reading page](/place/reading) to hear about new KalaSudha concerts in Reading. When KalaSudha announces a Reading concert, it lists the concert on that page with its booking link. Reading concerts have taken place at The Great Hall on the University of Reading's London Road Campus, RG1 5AQ. See [where KalaSudha has played in Reading so far](/faq/where-can-i-hear-indian-classical-music-in-reading). What kind of Indian classical music has KalaSudha performed in Reading, which artists played, and where? KalaSudha has brought raga music to Reading on Indian slide guitar, sarangi and tabla, plus an evening that moves from raga into fusion. In September 2025 the raga pianist Deepak Shah played with Hanif Khan on tabla, then Ustad Akram Khan gave a tabla solo. In September 2026 KalaSudha staged two concerts in one day at The Great Hall. At midday, in [Bow, Beat, and Breath](/event/reading-raga-resonance-bow-beat-and-breath), Satwinder Pal Singh played [sarangi](/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-a-sarangi), a bowed instrument, and Ustad Shahbaz Hussain played tabla, swapping the lead at the interval. That evening, in [Slide & Strum on The Mystic Frets](/event/reading-raga-resonance-slide-strum-on-the-mystic-frets), Pandit Debasis Chakroborty on Indian slide guitar, Giuliano Modarelli on Western guitar and Dr Sam Evans on tabla took a raga into fusion. Where can I park for The Great Hall in Reading, and is it accessible? Parking for The Great Hall in Reading is at the White Gates Car Park, postcode RG1 5AG. Campus spaces go first come, first served, and can be hard to find at peak times. The Great Hall is accessible, but you need to book wheelchair spaces in advance. The hall sits on the London Road Campus, near the centre of Reading. What have audiences said about KalaSudha's Indian classical concerts at The Great Hall in Reading? One listener at The Great Hall in Reading, in September 2025, called KalaSudha's concert "very unusual for Reading" and thanked KalaSudha "for bringing this to Reading". Another listener at the same Great Hall concert said that Ustad Akram Khan "played tabla non-stop for like one and a half hours, and it was amazing, out of this world." For the musicians on the bill, see [what has been played in Reading](/faq/what-kind-of-indian-classical-music-has-been-performed-in-reading). To hear about the next Reading date, see [how to get updates](/faq/how-do-i-hear-about-new-kalasudha-concerts-in-reading). Can I learn Indian classical music with KalaSudha in Reading, online and in person? Yes. KalaSudha's [online academy](/courses) offers classes in every discipline of Indian classical music, and keeps adding specialised courses and teachers. The courses are hybrid. When enough learners in Reading sign up, KalaSudha brings physical workshops and summer camps to Reading, so you can learn online and in person. For workshop levels, see [what level KalaSudha workshops suit](/faq/workshops-learning/what-level-is-this-pitched-at), and to catch new Reading dates, see [how to hear about new KalaSudha concerts in Reading](/faq/how-do-i-hear-about-new-kalasudha-concerts-in-reading). Stay close ## Keep KalaSudha close. Receive news of concerts, learning opportunities, recordings and the work taking shape at KalaSudha. - Concert news - ·Learning opportunities - ·Recordings and stories We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.