Musical collaboration transcends boundaries — of culture, genre, and geography — and in doing so, it creates space for deep listening, shared creativity, and mutual respect. The 2025 Yorkshire edition of Young Croydon Composers proved just that.
What began in 2018 as an initiative by Drum The Bass to nurture young musicians in Croydon found new life and energy in Leeds and Bradford this year. Under the inspiring mentorship of Shri Sriram and Dennis Rollins MBE, 13 young musicians from diverse backgrounds came together to compose four original works. Each piece reflected not only their individual musical identities but also what's possible when talents merge across genres and traditions.
From Indian classical instruments like the sitar, tabla, and santoor, to Western strings, brass, and keys — these collaborations wove together distinct sonic worlds into powerful, unified expressions. The compositions were later arranged for brass band and presented at two major performances, moving audiences at Leeds Conservatoire and Victoria Hall, Shipley.
These young composers didn't just write music — they built trust, broke barriers, and learned to value difference as a source of strength. The project stands as a testament to how collaborative music-making can empower the next generation to innovate, express, and connect.
Here's a look at the four original compositions born out of this experience:
🎵 Dawn's Embrace
Ikjot Kaur Khokhar (Vocals), Sukhraj Singh (Santoor), Wiktor Grabarczyk (Guitar), Ingryd Telvakova (Keys)
🎵 Dreamweavers
Taveesha Vashishta (Sitar), Preet Singh (Dilruba), Bella Lewis (Guitar)
🎵 Shoes Don't Stop
Harikesh Dontamsetti (Santoor), Sohan Chhiba (Violin), Sarah Antonowicz (Guitar)
🎵 Dance of the Echoes
Anjali Virdee (Sitar), Vinay Dontamsetti (Tabla), Samuel Crook (Keys, Oboe)
