The beauty of Shashmaqom with master musicians from Tajikistan

The beauty, elegance, and wisdom of Shashmaqom are coming to London! Join us for an unforgettable evening with master musicians from Tajikistan.

Experience the rich cultural heritage of Shashmaqom music, known for its intricate melodies and profound lyrics. Immerse yourself in the mesmerizing sounds that have been passed down through generations. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the magic of Shashmaqom brought to life by talented artists from Tajikistan!

• Sirojiddin Juraev – dutar, tanbur and sato
• Khurshed Ibrohimzoda - Shashmaqom singer
• Madina Sabirova - dancer (Tajik State Ensemble Zebo)

About the artists

Sirojiddin Juraev is a master performer on long-necked lutes from Central Asia. He is a musician in dutar, tanbur, sato, and a specialist in the genre of Shashmaqom. Born and raised near the ancient city of Khujand, in northern Tajikistan, Sirojiddin learned to play the two-stringed dutar as a child and later studied with the great Uzbek master Turgun Alimatov. As a student at the Academy of Maqom, in Dushanbe, Sirojiddin also studied tanbur and sato (bowed tanbur) with his Ustaz Abduvali Abdurashidov. Sirojiddin is active as a composer, lecturer, and arranger, and has created a body of new virtuoso works for dutar, tanbur, and sato. He performs both as a soloist and as a member of several ensembles, including Soriana, the Aga Khan Ensemble, the Academy of Maqom, and Tajikistan’s State Shashmaqom Ensemble.

Khurshed Ibrohimzoda developed his passion for maqoms since his early age while studying maqom and mastering his performance skills on rubab in his hometown in Sogd region of Tajikistan. He was involved in maqom performances as a member of the local youth ensemble. He then continued extensive maqom studies at the Arts Faculty of the Khujand State University named after Ergashev. Khurshed is not only a brilliant singer and musician but also a composer: in 2007 – 2012, he composed six new offshoots of the famous ‘Savt’ part of Shashmaqom, including Amali Rost, Amali Irok, Savti Ushshoq, Savti Khussaini, Savti Khudjoz and Chorgohi Mukhaiyar.

Currently, Khurshed is a leading soloist of the State Shashmaqom Ensemble under the Television and Broadcasting State Committee of Tajikistan. As the soloist, he recorded one hundred maqom compositions, some of which formed the Golden Fund of the Tajikistan State Committee of Television and Broadcasting. In 2006, Khurshed was nominated for the International Grammy Award (USA); he is a recipient of numerous prestigious music awards, including the special prize for the best performance of Shashmaqom at the 7th International Music Festival Sharq Taronalari in Samarkand.

Madina Sabirova is a young aspiring dancer born and raised in Dushanbe in the family closely involved in arts. She developed a strong interest in dance since her early childhood, which was supported by her family. Madina has a university degree in Journalism but her passion for the traditional Tajik dance and the performing skills she had acquired since her childhood, have brought her to a professional stage as the leading dancer of the State Dance Ensemble Zebo. Madina enjoys travelling the world, demonstrating with pride and love the beauty, vibrance and elegance of the traditional Tajik dance.

• Organisers: Supported by SOAS University of London and Embassy of Tajikistan in the United Kingdom