Voices of Argyll has premiered an ambitious new work by acclaimed Indian composer Amit Anand, bringing together female choir, sitar, tabla, piano and Indian dance in a vibrant celebration of cultural exchange.
The project, supported by the Hope Scott Trust, Glasgow City of Culture and the National Lottery Community Fund, was inspired by the lives and writings of two remarkable women: Flora Annie Steel and Sarojini Naidu. Steel was a pioneering writer and educator who documented life in colonial India and championed women’s education, while Naidu — known as the “Nightingale of India” — was a celebrated poet and a leading voice in India’s independence movement and women’s rights.
As part of the commission, choir members worked closely with Anand, learning about Indian classical music traditions, rhythm and storytelling. Director Alison McNeill said the importance of the project extended far beyond the music itself, highlighting the value of sharing cultures and building understanding through artistic collaboration.
The project also included an Indian dance workshop for the wider community, encouraging participation and cultural discovery. Choir members later travelled to Glasgow Hindu Mandir, where they met members of Glasgow’s South Asian community, learned more about Hindu culture and traditions, and received a warm welcome.
The world premiere took place at the Scottish Parliament before invited guests and MSPs. During the visit, Alison McNeill also delivered a talk on the importance of ensuring access to high-quality music-making and cultural opportunities in rural communities.
Following the premiere, the choir performed the work in Dunoon before appearing at Glasgow Mela — Scotland’s largest South Asian festival — where performers were gifted beautiful Indian scarves in recognition of the collaboration.
To further share the story behind the project, Amit Anand and Alison McNeill were also interviewed on Awaz FM, discussing the inspiration behind the commission and the power of music to connect communities across cultures.
“It was an absolutely beautiful and unforgettable experience singing at the Glasgow Mela Festival. This was special enough on its own but performing Interwoven alongside traditional Indian musicians and dancer was incredible. The Mela was a feast for the eyes, vibrant, energetic, diverse in every respect. The celebration of different cultures created an atmosphere that was hard to match. Performing a piece that explicitly celebrated the shared histories of Scotland and India blending choral voices with traditional Indian instrumentation right in the heart of the West End was deeply moving”. Fiona McNab