Roopa Panesar is considered one of the finest sitar players to emerge on the Indian classical music scene from the UK. Embracing Indian classical music as well as jazz and western classical, Roopa leaves audiences captivated and peers filled with respect.

Roopa was born in London and raised in Leicester, giving her the opportunity to learn sitar from an early age and by seven years old she was learning from Ustad Dharambir Singh MBE, a disciple of the late Ustad Vilayat Khan. She proudly joins the modest number of Indian women worldwide who have launched their careers as full-time touring and teaching sitar players.
Roopa has collaborated with Mercury Prize winner Talvin Singh and performed at high-profile international concerts including Southbank Centre, Lincoln Center in New York WOMAD, the Chicago World Music Festival and with the Budapest Orchestra in Brussels, Amsterdam and Budapest.

Giuliano Modarelli

Also featured in this concert is a special performance by Giuliano Modarelli, a guitarist, composer, producer and educator, whose work transcends genres through deep cultural exchange and collaboration. Based in London, his music draws from the city’s diverse international community, integrating influences from new jazz, electronic music, dub, Indian Classical Music, and London’s vibrant cultural landscape.

Multi-award winning guitarist, Martin Taylor MBE, returns to the stage with his brand-new solo show “Standards”, celebrating the golden age of jazz through new arrangements of classic tunes from the Great American Songbook. Audiences can expect an evening of breathtaking musicianship, rich harmonies, and stories that transport you behind the music—from smoky jazz clubs to concert halls around the world.

Described by Jeff Beck as “the best guitarist in the world” and by Pat Metheny as “one of the most awesome solo guitar players in history”, Martin Taylor is renowned internationally for his warm stage presence, dazzling fingerstyle technique, and unforgettable interpretations. He has enjoyed a remarkable career spanning six decades, including collaborations with Stéphane Grappelli, Tommy Emmanuel, Chet Atkins, and many of the world’s greatest jazz musicians.

Xuefei Yang is acclaimed as one of the world’s finest classical guitarists. Her fascinating journey began after the Cultural Revolution, a period when Western musical instruments and music were banned in China. At IGF London Guitar Festival, she presents a captivating solo guitar journey, from the fiery rhythms of Spain to the impressionistic elegance of Debussy.

Xuefei Yang was the first-ever guitarist in China to enter a music school and became the first recognised Chinese guitarist on the world stage. Her artistry connects with audiences far beyond the guitar fraternity, and she has performed in more than 50 countries at prestigious venues. She is frequently invited to perform with the world’s leading orchestras and collaborate with artists such as Ian Bostridge, Johannes Moser, Roberto Alagna and Sir James Galway.

Gramophone magazine praised her as ‘one of the leading innovators of her generation’ for continuing to build the guitar repertoire.

Her recent recordings include Songs from Our Ancestors with Ian Bostridge and the solo albums Summertime, Winter Songs (Apple Music), Sketches of China (Decca) and Magna Carta: The Complete Guitar Works of John Brunning with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (Apple Music).

Masterclass
Sunday 25 October 10am-5pm

Renowned internationally for her artistry, musicality, and extraordinary contribution to the classical guitar, Xuefei Yang is also an exceptional and inspiring teacher. With her wealth of experience and deep understanding of the instrument, she offers students a unique opportunity to gain insight into both the technical and musical aspects of guitar playing.

For aspiring guitarists and musicians of all levels, this is a rare chance to study directly with one of the foremost artists of our generation, to learn from her experience, and to discover new perspectives on the instrument and its repertoire.

Don’t miss this special opportunity to learn, be inspired, and develop your playing with Xuefei Yang.