KARACHI, March 15: The All Pakistan Music Conference (APMC) will hold its fourth annual festival at the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), Hindu Gymkhana, from March 22 to March 24.

According to the organisers, the festival will be open and free to all music lovers. Performances on all three days will commence at 8.30pm.

This ‘Master’s Conference’ promises to be a grand celebration of music with performances by great maestros such as Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shaggan, Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan, Ustad Naseeruddin Saami, Malikzada Hafeez Khan Talwandi, Fareeda Khanum and Ustad Bashir Khan.

“The festival will culminate on March 24 with a performance by the Indian classical vocalist Shubha Mudgal who is traveling to Pakistan especially for this event,” said Ayla Raza, general secretary of the APMC at a curtain raiser press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday.

The conference would start on March 22 with Salamat Hussain’s flute followed by the vocal performances of Naseeruddin Sami, Farida Khanum and Hafeez Khan Talwandi and Tabla by Tari Khan.

The next day, Fateh Ali Khan (Gwalior), Mubarak Ali Khan and Ghulam Hassan Shaggun will give vocal performances. Besides, Azad Qizalbash will play Sarod and Fareed Ayaz will present Qawwali.

Finally, Bashir Khan will play Tabla and Riaz Ali/Imtiaz Ali and Fateh Ali Khan (Patiala) will give vocal performances. The event will conclude with the singing of Shubha Mudgal.

According to Ms Raza, the APMC is a not-for-profit organisation which has been working since January 2004.

“It aims to contribute towards the development of a humane society by promoting the classical arts,” she said.