“I’m very grateful to the Barbican"
Jasdeep Singh Degun has been announced as an Artist in Residence at London’s Barbican Centre, presenting a series of major performances from October 28, 2026, to April 22, 2027.
A consummate soloist and a leading voice in contemporary music, Jasdeep is recognised for redefining the possibilities of the sitar across genres and disciplines.
In 2024, he became the first British Asian musician to receive the Royal Philharmonic Society Instrumentalist Award, marking a significant moment in his career and the wider cultural landscape.
The sitarist and composer said: “I’m very grateful to the Barbican for inviting me to be Artist in Residence.
“It’s a real privilege to have the opportunity to bring together different strands of my music across a series of performances – from sharing the stage with Ustad Sukhvinder Singh ‘Pinky’ at the Darbar Festival, to premiering a new sitar concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and bringing Orpheus to London in a new semi-staged production.
“I’ve always seen my work as a part of the wider musical landscape in the UK, moving naturally between different contexts and tradition.
“This residency allows me to share this in a meaningful way and marks a significant milestone for me personally.
“I’m very much looking forward to presenting my music and connecting with new audiences.”
Spanning multiple performances, the residency opens on October 28, 2026, at Milton Court Concert Hall with an appearance alongside charismatic tabla maestro Sukhvinder Singh ‘Pinky’, as part of the Darbar Festival.
Rooted in the traditions of Indian classical music, the performance will guide audiences through the infinite riches of raag and rhythm.
At the centre of the residency is the world premiere of Jasdeep’s new Sitar Concerto on January 22, 2027, commissioned by the Barbican and performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under conductor Kirill Karabits.
Presented alongside works by John Adams and Sergei Prokofiev, the programme places Degun’s composition within a broader dialogue across musical traditions.
The residency continues on April 22, 2027, with the London premiere of Jasdeep’s critically acclaimed reimagining of L’Orfeo.
Co-directed by Jasdeep Singh Degun and Ashok Gupta, the semi-staged production combines Monteverdi’s original score with new material, bringing together artists from Indian and Western classical traditions.
Unconstrained by genre, Jasdeep’s work moves seamlessly between tradition and innovation, reshaping the musical landscape through a distinctly contemporary voice.
Helen Wallace, Head of Music at the Barbican, said:
“Jasdeep cuts a unique and pioneering figure in music today, appealing to a wide range of our Barbican audiences, from the classical, Indian classical and contemporary.
“We’re so thrilled to be working with him, bringing his captivating opera to London, commissioning a major new concerto and presenting more intimate encounters in our spaces.”
Across the 2026-2027 classical season, the Barbican will expand its artist residency programme.
Alongside Jasdeep Singh Degun, violinist Isabelle Faust, violist Lawrence Power and the Scottish Ensemble will curate performances spanning orchestral, operatic and interdisciplinary forms.
Reflecting the Barbican’s commitment to an artist-led and international perspective, the residencies invite each artist to shape ambitious projects showcasing the breadth and diversity of contemporary classical music.
Helen Wallace added: “Our perspective at the Barbican is always international and always artist-led.
“With new and younger audiences taking more interest in classical music, it’s on us to present dazzling, diverse musical experiences to show the range and breadth of what is possible.
“This is why I’m particularly delighted to be presenting a host of resident artists this year.
“These performers have each been invited to curate and to dream – bringing diverse projects across ballet, film, opera, orchestral and solo formats.”
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