Leif Larsen Music Center

26/05/2026

Eid Mubarak from the Lief Larsen Music Centre! 🌙✨

As we celebrate this joyous occasion, may the spirit of Eid strengthen the bonds that connect us to our communities, traditions, and shared heritage. Wishing you and your loved ones peace, happiness, and prosperity.

10/05/2026

Full video: the rendition of raag bhairav by our team.

Aga Khan Music Programme
Aga Khan Development Network
Aga Khan Foundation

We are pleased to share the music video featuring the LLMC ensemble. This offers a glimpse into a classical rendition based on Raag Bhairav, a timeless raga ...

15/04/2026

We are pleased to share a preview from a recently filmed music video featuring the LLMC ensemble. This promo offers a glimpse into a classical rendition based on Raag Bhairav, a timeless raga often associated with the early hours of the morning.

Known for its calm and reflective mood, Raag Bhairav evokes a sense of peace and spiritual connection. Its distinctive sound creates a deeply moving and meditative listening experience.

This piece was composed and arranged by the late Zia ul Karim, who served as Master Trainer at LLMC from 2019 to 2022. His work continues to inspire young musicians and remains an important part of LLMC’s musical journey.

Through performances like these, emerging artists are not only developing their skills but also helping to keep musical traditions alive and meaningful for future generations.

Stay tuned for the complete video, which will be released soon on LLMC’s YouTube channel and page.

15/04/2026

Following a thunderous opening in Lahore, the musical extravaganza Mehfil—featuring LLMC alongside iconic artists such as Farhan Saeed, Junaid Khan, and Xulfi—is set to return with a marathon three-city tour across Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad.

This grand musical event is not to be missed!

Purchase your tickets now via Ticket Wala PK:

ticketwala.pk/event/mehfil-tour-5444

21/03/2026

Eid Mubarak from all of us at the Leif Larsen Music Centre. Wishing you peace, joy, and strength as we celebrate together.

Photo 📸: Christopher Wilton-Steer

22/02/2026

This track opens with Pir Ali-e-lolo, played on the traditional Xhighini. Pir Ali was once the final outpost of the Hunza State toward China; today, it lies behind the border, but its memory lives on in the Lolo.
A Lolo isn't just music—it’s a vessel for grief, used by the natives to remember the people and the land they left behind. A song of sorrow for a place that time and borders have changed forever.

The main part of the music is "Bulbul Shireen" featuring the LLMC ensemble. This music video introduces Bulbul Shireen, a well-known melody from the Gojal Valley in Upper Hunza, regarded as one of the most melodious compositions within the Hareep music tradition of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Its name beautifully captures its essence: “bulbul”—the Persian word for a melodious nightingale—and “shireen,” meaning sweetness, together symbolising the sweet, enchanting song of a nightingale.
Performed using traditional instruments such as the Dadang and Xhighini, Bulbul Shireen reflects the richness and continuity of the musical heritage of Pakistan’s northern areas.

The music fades out with the famous Tajwar Hareep, specifically the “Phuk-e-Hareep” melody. A symbol of Hunza’s cultural pride and the heartbeat of its traditional gatherings.

Through performances like these, young musicians are not only learning their craft but also helping preserve and celebrate cultural traditions for future generations.

Music Credits:

Arrangement: Mujeeb Ruzik

Rubab: Ilhan Karim, Shoaib Noor, Hasnain Karim, Aliyan Ali
Xhighini: Muhammad Hunaid and Asiya Shah
Chitrali Sitar: Ali Hamza, Fatima Amin, Inam Karim
Percussions: Adnan Karim and Mehwish Qadir
Violin: Karim Aman

Production Credits:

Director: Arsalan Haider
Associate Director: Amjad Ali
Cinematographer: Awais Abid
Second Camera: Ahtisham Ahmed
Colorist: Humza Yousaf
Post Production: Filmbug Productions
Mix - Master: Zyad Ahmad Tariq
Live audio recording: Mujeeb Ruzik - Arsalan Haider
Production House: Filmbug Productions

All rights reserved to Leif Larsen Music Center, Hunza, and Aga Khan Cultural Service - Pakistan.

This track opens with Pir Ali-e-lolo, played on the traditional Xhighini. Pir Ali was once the final outpost of the Hunza State toward China; today, it lies ...

19/02/2026

Wishing everyone a blessed Ramzan.

May this sacred month bring peace, reflection, compassion, and blessings to you and your loved ones.

Ramzan Mubarak from all of us at LLMC.

📸 Photo: Christopher Wilton-Steer

16/02/2026

We are pleased to share a preview from a recently filmed music video featuring the LLMC ensemble. This promo introduces Bulbul Shireen, a well-known melody from the Gojal Valley in Upper Hunza, regarded as one of the most melodious compositions within the Hareep music tradition of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Its name beautifully captures its essence: “bulbul”—the Persian word for a melodious nightingale—and “shireen,” meaning sweetness—together symbolising the sweet and enchanting song of a nightingale.

Performed using traditional instruments such as the Dadang and Xhighini, Bulbul Shireen reflects the richness and continuity of the musical heritage of Pakistan’s northern areas.

Through performances like these, young musicians are not only learning their craft but also helping preserve and celebrate cultural traditions for future generations.

Stay tuned for the complete video, which will be released on LLMC’s YouTube and Facebook channels on sunday, 22 February 2026.

30/12/2025

https://youtu.be/dVLY-G77xn4?si=2jZpjhLoAFKJoVQ1

HBL Microfinance Bank, in collaboration with Dins Production, presents Phoot e Zalim — a traditional song from the mountain regions, shared as part of The Wh...

28/05/2025

Students from the Leif Larson Music Centre, Hunza, continue to blossom as performers, exhibiting their electrifying talent from one prestigious platform to another! The institution has created an ensemble out of a bevy of graduating students who have undergone both vocal and instrumental training in the traditional music of Pakistan’s quaint Northern areas. Aga Khan Cultural Service - Pakistan organized a short but intensive training for them in Eastern classical singing, specifically in the historical musical tradition of the revered Sufi mystic, composer, and poet Hazrat Amir Khusrau. The goal was to hone their musical expertise and broaden their horizons, enabling them to explore other rich musical forms in the country.

Celebrated composer and actor Mr. Arshad Mehmood and veteran Sitar expert Ustad Nafees Ahmed spearheaded the coaching sessions. Considered a Sitar Maestro, Ustaad Nafees has performed to much acclaim both across Pakistan and overseas and has been a member of the internationally recognized Sachal troupe. Furthermore, he has served as the Head of the Music Department at Karachi’s premier performing arts institute, the National Academy of Performing Arts, for over 17 years. He has also featured in popular music shows such as Coke Studio. Mr. Arshad Mehmood, on the other hand, is the recipient of innumerable national accolades, including the Pride of Performance Award from the government of Pakistan. He has composed and recorded the music of some of the country’s biggest names from the music industry, like Madam Noor Jehan, Abida Parveen, Nazia Hassan, and Nayyara Noor.

The LLMC performers received skillful guidance on translating ragas into instrumental music of the mountains. The ensemble received a rapturous applause after their performance at Karachi's Frere Hall and Lahore's Alhamra Arts Council as part of the Faiz Literary Festival. The melodies of Khusrau being narrated through the haunting sounds of instruments such as the Rabab (a string instrument like the guitar) and Dadanag (a local drum) resulted in a soulful rendition that was lapped up by the audience.

28/04/2025

The Leif Larson Music Centre (LLMC)’s ensemble performed to a packed audience at the Alhamra Arts Council Lahore, during the Faiz Festival in Lahore, on February 16.

The Faiz Festival is an annual event held in Lahore to pay homage to Faiz Ahmad Faiz, an eminent poet and activist, considered a legendary cultural figure in Pakistan’s history.

The performance was part of a showcase titled 'Ahang e Khusravi: A journey through Amir Khusro's world of spellbinding music and poetry', which paid homage to the illustrious work of Amir Khusro, a venerated Sufi musician, poet, and scholar. The iconic music composer and actor Arshad Mehmood organized the session, which was led by Ustad Nafees, a noted Sitar player and the recipient of many prestigious awards.

It was an honour for the team to have veteran artists such as Ma'am Salima Hashmi and Nadia Jamil express their adulation for the performance.