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Musicologist
Surinder Singh is ‘Prof’, courtesy
Thames Valley University
LONDON:
The Thames Valley
University has awarded Prof. Surinder Singh Matharu with the
honorary title of “Professor” in the Subject of Sikh Music & Sikh
Musicology. Professor Surinder Singh is the Founder and Head of the
Raj Academy of Asian Music, a
school based in West London, reviving and promoting the education of
authentic Sikh music. The Academy’s primary objective is to educate
communities worldwide about Sikh Music; the singing of the hymns (Shabads)
in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, according to the Raag prescribed for each hymn, as well
as promoting traditional instruments of the Sikhs (Rabab, Saranda,
Taus, Dilruba, Sarangi, Pakhawaj).
Raj Academy is one of its kind to offer courses in Sikh Music which
are accredited by Academic Institutions. It is furthermore unique in
its approach of teaching, i.e. keeping a strong emphasis on the
musicology (the mood and character) of the Raags present in the Holy
Scripture and its application in compositions. The learning strategy
at Raj Academy is student centered.
The
Academy is interested in promoting its students and setting up an
infrastructure, allowing former students to pursue a career in Sikh
music and to teach Sikh Music internationally. Born in 1969 in
Kapurthala, Prof Surinder Singh grew up in a family with a military
background but found his passion for music. He studied Vocal,
 Composition and Musicology of Indian Classical Music under the Guru- Shishya Parampara (intensive personal training under a master) with
the Late Pandit Kharayti Lal Tahim of the Dehli Gharana. Parallel to
this,he graduated from Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar with a
BA in Economics, an MA and an MPhil in Music.
His
musical training was continued in England through the study of
ancient authentic string instruments such as the Sarangi under
Surjit Singh Aulakh, a senior student of Pandit Ram Narayan Ji.
After arriving in the UK in 1992, he settled in the West Midlands
for a short time, where he came across the substantial need for
education of authentic Sikh Music in the Indian community.
Consequently he founded the Raj Academy in 1994 when he moved to
London. His journey throughout the past twelve years is by far a
story of battle and bravery, to raise and create awareness about the
loss of heritage and identity, and for resources to be able to share
his knowledge. Yet, it is also a story of success. Starting out with
2 students, Professor Surinder Singh has now over 700 dedicated
students from all backgrounds and age groups enrolled on his courses
in London and many more from all over the world are logged on to the
Academy’s online school.
Last
year the Thames Valley University joined forces with Raj Academy and
launched a Degree in Sikh Music. The University is currently running
the 2nd year of the BMus (BA Honors in Sikh Music); following on in
2008 courses for MA and MPhil in Sikh Music will be launched;
followed by a PhD program. In the very same year of 2008, seventeen
students, the first ever outside of India, will graduate with a
B.Mus in Sikh Music, allowing them to either study further or
pursue a career with their specialist qualification.
20 December 2006
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