Sacred Music

Klezmer Klassica explores the richly generative but often un(der)explored meeting point of Western ‘classical’ music and Jewish ‘folk’ music, musical encounters against a complex historical, cultural, and political backdrop. Conceived by Richard Fay and Daniel Mawson, the Klezmer Klassica chamber ensemble explores this rich musical vein through fresh interpretations of pieces by composers both well-known (Bloch, Prokofiev, Shostakovich) and less well-known (Achron, Chajes, Gnessin, Saminsky, Wolfsohn), as well as by living composers (Cravitz, Fay, Kohn, Mawson).

Furaha Mussanzi is a community activist, storyteller and singer/songwriter passionate about her faith, social justice and using creative means to build bridges and promote peace. Having grown up in war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo and migrated to Bradford 20 years ago as a refugee, she completed her undergrad in Interior Design before getting a Master’s degree in African Peace and conflict studies at the University of Bradford and spent 6 years managing the Millside Community Centre. Hospitality and seeing others reach their potential makes her come alive.

She is currently working as the Pastoral Care Leader for the Light Church and was appointed as an Ecumenical Canon at Bradford Cathedral. Her deep Christian faith and values is central to everything she does, but outside of her calling to serve others, she also loves travelling, meeting new people, cooking and creating content on her YouTube channel.

Omar Esa is an award-winning singer/songwriter, performing traditional and contemporary nasheeds in English, Urdu, Punjabi and Arabic. Formerly an RnB singer, he was inspired by his Muslim faith to adopt the voice-only nasheed genre. From Holland to Hong Kong, and from Switzerland to Sierra Leone, Omar Esa has toured internationally. His third album, Allah and His Beloved, was released in 2021 reaching number 3 in the iTunes UK music chart.

Bradford Cathedral Consort is a committed group of volunteer adults and teenagres who sing for Sunday evening services in the Cathedral. In addition to their regular Cathedral duties, the Cathedral Consort tours regularly within the UK and abroad, presents concerts, as well as broadcasting and recording. Recently the Cathedral Consort has appeared in concert with VOCES8, The City of London Sinfonia, The Black Dyke Band, and the European Union Chamber Orchestra. Bradford Cathedral Consort is led by Director of Music, Alexander Berry, and Assistant Director of Music, Graham Thorpe.

Kirpal Singh Panesar, a renowned musician from the UK, is considered one of the most gifted artists in the world of Gurmat Kirtan & Tanti Saaz. Exceptionally skilled at playing instruments such as Dilruba, Esraj and Tarshehnai, Kirpal is a disciple of the late Ustad Bismillah Khan, whom he had the great honour of studying under with the blessings of Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji. Kirpal’s musical journey began under the tutelage of Ustad Surjeet Singh Ji, Harminderpal S Rayatt, and Ustad Gurdev Singh Ji. He has also learned Kirtan from acclaimed artists such as Ustad Harbhajan Singh Ji, Ustad Mohan Singh Ji, and Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji. Kirpal has mesmerised audiences at prestigious venues across the globe since a young age with his exceptional improvisation and expressive musicality. Besides being an accomplished performer, he also passionately teaches students of all levels and ages.

Anamika Choudhari is a composer and singer of Indian classical, semi-classical and Bollywood music. An artist of Assamese heritage and born to a Bengali family, Anamika is passionate about placing her cultural identity at the heart of her music.

‘Dibrova Choir’ was formed in early 1950, under the auspices of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) in Bradford, and the leadership of its Choirmaster, Mr Jaroslaw Hawryluk. Over the decades, it fluctuated between male and mixed voices and was named after the first song the mixed choir ever performed, “Hey, hey, we will go to the Dibrova” (a wooded, oak glade). Popular with both Ukrainian and English concert audiences, the choir also appeared on television and radio. After a pause in the early 2010s, Dibrova reformed as a male voice choir in 2018 for the 70th anniversary of AUGB Bradford.