About SHYAM

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SHYAM NEPALI: BIO

Hailing from the centuries old Gandharba musical tradition of Nepal, Shyam Nepali has enjoyed an almost 30 year long career bringing the sounds of the Sarangi to audiences around the world. Shyam has filled a very unique and important role in the Sarangi tradition of Nepal, expanding on the work of his Grandfather, Magar Gaine, and his father, Ram Sharan Nepali, legendary Sarangi players who broke new ground on the world of Sarangi playing, with their technical and artistic innovations to the instrument. Shyam’s son, Prince Nepali, is continuing the tradition of innovation and virtuosity in this beautiful tradition. 

Shyam’s creative and virtuoso musicianship has allowed the traditional sound of the Sarangi to travel in new directions musically, whether it’s blending the traditional folk music of Nepal with other musical styles or paving an entirely new path with new sounds through creative musicianship and improvisation. His virtuosity and musicianship allows him to fearlessly expand the Sarangi’s expressive capabilities with every note.

Shyam can be heard on over 49 recordings, and has performed with artists such as sitar Maestro Dhrubesh Regmi, Pramod Upadhaya, Atul Gautam, flutest Mones Singh, Sufi legend Madan Gopal, Cellist Frank Behrende, Patti Smith, Tenzin Chogyal, and Abigail Washburn.

Performance venues include Brooklyn Raga Massive, Rubin Museum of Art, City Winery, Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival (New York), Berklee Performance Center, Boston University, Massachusetts Cultural Council (Boston), Forde International Festival (Norway), Jazzmandu Festival, Gurukul Theatre (Nepal), Louvre Museum, (Paris), Bishkek Global Mountain Summit (Kyrgyzstan).

Shyam is an important teacher and mentor of the next generations of Sarangi players, working with Sarangi Ghar in Nepal, and the Imagine Rainbow Project (Switzerland/Nepal), aimed at fostering self-empowerment through the creative arts, and keeping the tradition alive. Shyam founded the Himalayan Heritage Cultural Academy in Boston, MA, giving a much needed platform for Nepali folk music and dance to be taught in the USA.  Shyam has taught and mentored the newest generation of Sarangi players and folk musicians including members of the Nepali supergroups Kutumba, Sakchyam, Nayan, Manda, Lakchya, Shree Tara, and Lakhay.

Awards and recognition of his significant contribution to Nepali folk music and the Sarangi around the world include the Mah Kwah Cha award from the government of Nepal, the Governor’s Citation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, honorary consulate, Italian Embassy in Kathmandu. Shyam is fluent in Italian, English, Newari, Nepali, and proficient in Japanese and French. Shyam received a Teaching Artist Grant for 2018-2019 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

 

Discography

SELECTED ALBUMS:

  • MERO SARANGI (Amber Records, Boston, USA 2019)

  • -Aspire, 40 Million Feet (Boston, USA 2018)

  • -SKANDA (The Emotions) (KTM Music Center, Kathmandu, Nepal 2014)

  • -Rhythmic Fusion (KTM Music Center, Kathmandu Nepal 2014)

  • -Himalayan Sounds of Sarangi (Silverwolf Records, 2012)

  • -Laya Bazaar (KTM Music Center, Kathmandu, Nepal 2012)

  • -GANDHARVA The Magic Sound of the Nepali Sarangi (Stenopeica, Italy, 2012)

  • -Friends of Fusion (KTM music center, Kathmandu, Nepal 2011)

  • -Meeting in the Mountains (Music Nepal, Oslo, Norway 2010)

  • -Trikaal 3: Global Waves (SAC Music International, Kathmandu, Nepal 2007)

  • Moments of Bliss: Ani Choying Drolma (Music Nepal, 2004)

  • -Trikaal 2: Ode to Freedom (SAC Music International, Kathmandu, Nepal 2004)

  • -Trikaal 1: Cross Cultural Musical Bliss: (SAC Music International, Kathmandu, Nepal 2003)

  • -Journey to Nepal (SAC Music International, Kathmandu, Nepal 2000)

APPEARANCES:

  • AlpenCongress | Kongresshaus Berchtesgaden (Germany)

  • Amsterdam Bar and Hall (Minneapolis, MN)

  • Archives of Traditional Music, Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana)

  • Asunal Hall (Nagoya, Japan)

  • Berklee Performance Center (Boston)

  • Bishkek Global Mountain Summit (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan)

  • Boston Children’s Hospital (Boston, MA)

  • Boston Royale Theater (Boston, MA)

  • Boston University (Boston, MA)

  • Brooklyn Raga Massive (NYC)

  • Canada-Bangladesh Festival (Toronto, Canada)

  • Caravan'Sérail (Brussels, Belgium)

  • Chiesa Collegio Papio (Ascona, Switzerland)

  • City Winery (NYC)

  • Club Passim (Boston, MA)

  • Concord Community Music School (Concord, NH)

  • CUNY (NYC)

  • East Indian Music Academy (NYC)

  • Embassy of Nepal (Washington DC)

  • Experimenta 2002, IV EDIZIONE (Alberbello, Italy)

  • Freiraum Zentrum (Flurlingen, Switzerland)

  • Galax Bluegrass Festival (Galax, VA)

  • Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival (East Durham, NY)

  • Harvard University (Cambridge, MA)

  • Himalayan Yak (NYC)

  • Hotel Yak & Yeti (Kathmandu, Nepal)

  • Iona Scottish Session (Brooklyn, NY)

  • Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston, MA)

  • Jalopy Theater & School of Music (NYC)

  • Jazzmandu Festival (Kathmandu, Nepal)

  • Kornfeldkirche (Riehen, Switzerland)

  • Kripa Unplugged (Kathmandu, Nepal)

  • Kulturzentrum Songtsen House (Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Liverpool International Theatre Festival (Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada)

  • Louvre Museum (Paris, France)

  • Lowell Fiddle & Banjo Contest (Lowell, MA)

  • Lowell Folk Festival (Lowell, MA)

  • La Maison Culturelle du Népal (Paris, France)

  • Manchester City Hall (UK)

  • Massachusetts Cultural Council (Boston, MA)

  • Massachusetts State House (Boston, MA)

  • Mela House (Oslo, Norway)

  • Mechernicher Brunnenfest (Germany)

  • Montana Folk Festival (Butte, MT)

  • The Mountain Music Project: A Musical Odyssey from Appalachia to Himalaya (Film: 2009)

  • National Arts Club of New York (NYC)

  • New School University (NYC)

  • Oskaemaus Festival (Switzerland)

  • Pashupatinath Temple (Kathmandu, Nepal)

  • Patan Museum (Kathmandu, Nepal)

  • Pathway to Paris (NYC)

  • Permakultur, Kathmandutal (Schwanden, Switzerland)

  • Project Sarangi (Kathmandu, Nepal)

  • Le Rialto (Montreal)

  • The Rubin Museum (NYC)

  • Sala Multiuso (Ticino, Switzerland)

  • Shalin Liu Theater (Rockport, MA)

  • SOLD: The Movie (Emma Thompson, Gillian Anderson, 2014)

  • Telebasel TV (Switzerland)

  • Theatre Village (Kathmandu, Nepal)

  • Toyota Music Factory (Dallas, TX)

  • Whaling Museum (Nantucket, MA)

  • Wisdom Together Conference (Oslo, Norway)

  • Workshophu/Musigborse (Bern, Switzerland)

  • Young Tradition Vermont (Burlington, VT)

Awards

  • Traditional Arts Teaching Grant: Massachusetts Cultural Council 2018

  • Special Adjudication Award, Outstanding Musical Score: Liverpool International Theatre Festival, Nova Scotia, 2018

  • Cultural Ambassador: Government of Nepal, 2011

  • Civil Voice for Peace and Development Award: Government of Nepal, 2007

  • Honorary Consulate: Italian Consulate of Kathmandu

  • Rotary Club of Patan West Vocational Award, Kathmandu, Nepal

  • President’s Art and Poetry Award, Government of Nepal