Pete Yelding

Pete Yelding is a cellist, sitarist and vocalist from a family of travelling Showpeople. He is a student of Ustad Irfan Muhammad Khan, the Khalif (chief) of an illustrious musical lineage of North Indian Classical instrumentalists known as the Lucknow Shahjahanpur Gharana. This lineage is known for its rousing compositions and intricate presentations of raga in an older instrumental style known as Gat-Toda. As well as being one of only a small number of contemporary sitarists to perform in this particular stirring style of Hindustani music, Pete is the only musician to have ever translated its compositions and improvisation techniques onto cello. As well as the usual bands and orchestras, Pete grew up playing cello with West African Griots with whom he made lifetime friends at fairs and festivals he attended on site-crew with his mum. He was awarded a scholarship to study composition and cello at Birmingham Conservatoire in 2008. In his first term he was introduced to Hindustani music and the sitar by visiting sitarist Clem Alford. Over the next 10 years, alongside Pete's many creative projects that included songwriting, interdisciplinary and theatrical collaborations and developing a wide improvising palette on cello, Pete studied and honed his sitar technique and understanding of Raga. He received sitar tuition from Jonathan Mayer and some vocal tuition from Rauf Saami of the famous Qawwals, the Saami Brothers. Then in 2019 he was introduced to his Ustad, Irfan Muhammad Khan, whose musical style he has since adopted to perform with today. Over his professional career Pete has collaborated with artists such as Zinzi Minott, Mammal Hands, Iqbal Khan, Talvin Singh, Sura Susso, Jonathan Mayer, Hanif Khan, Shagufta Iqbal, & Amadou Diagne; and organisations such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, Bristol Old Vic, Cape Farewell, Birmingham REP & SAMA Arts.