LAHORE: The All Pakistan Music Conference, a prestigious platform for promotion of classical, semi-classical, folk and light music, has a vibrant October ahead as on 1st of the month a special music evening titled ‘United Nation Music Programme’ will be held at Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall, and from Oct 6 the APMC’s five-day yearly festival will begin at the Open Air Theatre in Bagh-i-Jinnah.

Those who will perform at the the United Nations Music Programme include Alia Rasheed, Ali Hafeez Khan, Labraz Afzal Khan and Muhammad Aizaz Sohail. Among the instrumentalists, Atiqur Rahman will be on Pakhawaj, Ustad Pervaz Paras on the Harmonium and Ayesha Nadir Ali on the Tanpura.

The yearly APMC festival is one of the most regular features of the city’s cultural calendar.

On the festival’s first day students (up to age 10) will contest for certificates and Javed Ahmed Qureshi Trophy for the Best School, O-Level students for medals and Ghazanfar Trophy for The Best School, and A-Level students will compete for medals and Syed Wajid Ali Trophy for The Best College/University.

Grand music event returns to Open Air Theatre

Other events include Vocal Classical Music Contest for Roshan Ara Begum Shield for the Best Student, amateurs contest for medals and Hayat Ahmad Khan Trophy for The Best Music Academy.

On the second day (Oct 7), a music session titled ‘Gharano ki Miraas’ will be held, while on the third (Oct 8) ‘Folk and Light Classical Music Night’ will be held.

Classical Music Night will be held on Oct 9, and prizes among the winners will be distributed on Oct 10.

For the last few years the APMC festival is being held at Alhamra Art Center, The Mall. However, Punjab Council of Arts Director Chaudhry Asif who is also in charge of Open Air Theatre told Dawn that the APMC members had decided to bring the festival back to its original venue.

Published in Dawn September 29th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play