Gurdev Singh

Sarod Maestro

Gurdev Singh is one of the world’s foremost exponents of the sarod. He is the leading disciple of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and is now becoming well known internationally through his performances in the USA, Canada and the UK.

Gurdev Singh was born on 15 January 1948 and was brought up in a remote village in Haryana, North India. He began learning Music at the age of seven under Ustad Tara Singh and Piara Singh who taught him Dliruba, a bowed instrument of great antiquity, which Gurdev Singh still plays occasionally. He was also trained in vocal music under Pandit Mahadeo Prashad.

In 1967 Gurdev become a disciple of the world famous sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan in Delhi and was introduced to the sarod.

The sarod is an extremely demanding instrument to handle, partly because it is fretless. It is capable of an extraordinary range of sounds from haunting sweetness to dazzling speed and power. Gurdev Singh has now spent over twenty years learning to master it. His success can be measured by the popularity in India, in both live and radio concerts and by the increasing international demand for his performances, especially in the UK, which he has visited for five years running.

His UK performances have included the BBC, Midland TV, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, Bath and Oxford Universities, 1984 Liverpool Garden Festival and South Bank. In North America he has played in Vancouver, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle University and the prestigious Amir Khusro Society in Chicago. As well as being a superlative musician Gurdev Singh is also extremely charming and sociable person, who has a way of winning the hearts of the audiences with his warmth and humour