01/13/2026
Thrilled to be attending the Orchestral Qawwali Project on February 13 at Meridian Hall—a truly special evening hosted by our friends at , in collaboration with TO Live !
Qawwali is a centuries-old musical tradition rooted in Sufi Islam, originating in South Asia over 700 years ago. It was developed as a form of devotional music meant to bring listeners closer to the divine through poetry, repetition, rhythm, and collective experience. Traditionally performed by an ensemble of vocalists with harmonium and percussion, qawwali builds gradually—inviting the audience into a state of reflection, transcendence, and spiritual connection.
What makes the Orchestral Qawwali Project so exciting is its bold innovation: fusing this deeply rooted devotional form with the richness and scale of orchestral music. The result is a powerful dialogue between traditions—where soaring strings and layered harmonies expand qawwali’s emotional depth while honouring its spiritual core. It’s a reminder that tradition is not static, but living—and that new expressions can deepen, rather than dilute, its meaning.
At its heart, Sufism emphasizes love, devotion, and the pursuit of spiritual truth beyond boundaries of language, culture, or creed. Qawwali embodies this philosophy, using music as a bridge between the earthly and the spiritual, the personal and the universal.
Can’t wait to experience this beautiful convergence of history, spirituality, and musical imagination live at Meridian Hall.
