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Former Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Chair in Indian Studies Dr听Radhika Balakrishnan听returned 迟辞听搁叠颁听谤别肠别苍迟濒测听迟辞听commence听a听four-week residency. The visit听comes on the back of听Radhika鈥檚 remote work with听students on听the听Language of Music听module.听

Hear from Radhika,听as she shares her experiences of being back听at RBC听and what听it听means to her.听

What is the purpose of听the听residency?听

My听residency started on Monday 17 November and it听marks the reintroduction of Indian music听to the Conservatoire鈥檚 curriculum, now offered 迟辞听third- and fourth-year听BMus and听BMus听Jazz students through the Language of Music module.听听

Students听can听explore raga-based improvisation and tala systems, and I am also performing with the RBC India Ensemble, the Indo-Jazz Ensemble and contributing to Open Day events.听

A key part of this residency is community outreach, including work with St Benedict鈥檚 Primary School, reflecting my belief in music as a language of cultural connection.听

What activities听are you听involved听in?听

I have been undertaking teaching听and academic work, such as one-to-one lessons with students, and taking on the final three classes of Indian music. I also ran an Indian cinema session,听examining the relationship between music,听sound听and storytelling.听

In terms of performance and outreach, I will be at performances with the RBC India Ensemble and Indo-Jazz Ensemble at听the听Open Day听on Thursday听4 December, and a听session with St Benedict鈥檚 Primary School听on Friday听5 December.听

I will also perform at the听Milan, Coming Together听concert with the India Ensemble and the听Jazz Gala听at听Eastside听Jazz Club.听

What have been the highlights of your visit so far?听

The RBC India Ensemble performed at the听听in Birmingham. The ensemble was warmly appreciated,听with听members Andrey Fjelstad, Benji Filmer, Sam Nolan听and I receiving听a certificate of commendation from the Consul General of India听Dr听Venkatachalam Murugan.听

How does it feel听to be back at RBC?听

It genuinely听feels听like coming听back to my home away from home. When I first arrived as听the first-ever听Indian Council for Cultural Relations听Chair, I听飞补蝉苍鈥檛听sure how Indian classical music would be received. I found extraordinary curiosity and openness. Students听across departments embraced raga and tala, weaving Indian musical ideas into their own practice.听

It is deeply meaningful 迟辞听return now, at a moment when Indian music has officially entered the curriculum. It reflects RBC鈥檚 commitment to cultural diversity and honours the collaborative work between the Conservatoire and the wider Birmingham community. RBC is a place where global music traditions meet, converse and thrive, and I am honoured to contribute once again to that journey. Being here听reaffirms my belief in music as a powerful bridge between cultures.听