The Asian Music Circuit (AMC) is a UK-based organisation based which produces tours and concerts internationally, holds educational and outreach events in the UK and works generally to promote the music of Asia. Registered in Hemel Hempstead,[1] its office and museum are based in West London. A registered charity funded by Arts Council England,[2] the organisation celebrates twenty years since its incorporation in 2011, though it was initially founded in 1989. It is regarded as a leading promoter of pan-Asian music in England.[3][4]
Asian Music Circuit | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | AMC |
| Origin | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Genres | music of Asia |
| Occupation | music promoter |
| Years active | 1989-present |
| Website | http://www.amc.org.uk |
Concerts and touring
editTouring is the main activity of the AMC.[5] Most prominent Asian performers have worked with the Asian Music Circuit, including Pandit Ravi Shankar, Anuradha Paudwal, The Kamkars, Fun-da-mental, the Naxi musicians of China and Asha Bhosle. The AMC has produced concerts in London's Royal Albert Hall[6] as part of the BBC Proms,[7] Royal Festival Hall and Wembley Arena, and also in the Sage Gateshead and at Manchester International Festival. It occasionally brings tours to Europe, the US and Asia.
The AMC brought Bollywood stars Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy to the Royal Albert Hall in September 2011 - the group's first-ever performance in the UK.
Education and outreach projects
editEvery year, the AMC hosts a variety of workshops and courses for singers and instrumentalists, including khyal, tabla, dhrupad and ghazal. In partnership with the UK IMRs, the AMC sends artists to lead performance days with detainees. Working with local schools in West London, the AMC invites teachers to bring classes into its museum, or sends teachers to classrooms directly. Its foci have included the music of Afghanistan[8][9][10] and poetry events.[11][12]
Since 2010, the summer schools have been scaled down due to funding cuts.
Museum of Asian Music
edit
The AMC is based in its Museum[13] in Acton[14] was officially opened by The Prince of Wales in 2008. It features permanent displays of Asian musical instruments and temporary exhibitions focusing on different countries and regions of Asia. An extensive audio-visual archive is based here and can be accessed on dedicated computer terminals.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Companies in the UK. Asian Music Circuit Limited. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ Arts Council England Archived 2010-12-15 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ BBC. Discovering London's Asian music archives. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ South Asian Arts-uk. Links. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ WOMEX. AMC Profile. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ Royal Albert Hall. Flute Encounter 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ BBC. Proms 2009. Indian Voices Day.. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ Vimeo. British Council's Partnership programmes. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ Afghanaid. Asian Music Circuit - a Festival of Afghan Culture. Archived 2011-10-04 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ Afghan Events Worldwide. Asian Music Circuit launches new festival of Afghan culture. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ Poet in the City. Courtly Love. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ National Portrait Gallery. The Indian Portrait: Events. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ Time Out. Asian Music Circuit's Museum. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ Visit London. Asian Music Circuit's Museum. Retrieved 7 February 2011.