Dilzafer Singh is considered one of the foremost young tabla and jori virtuosos on the global stage, currently under the tutelage of Pandit Anindo Chatterjee and Ustad Sukhvinder Singh ‘Pinky.’

Dilzafer’s musical odyssey began at the tender age of four, marked by his early engagement with the Gurmat Sangeet tradition, consisting of both singing and playing various instruments in classical ragas. It did not take long for him to fall in love with the intricate rhythms of the tabla. He started learning the tabla from Bhai Amritpal Singh, a disciple of Pandit Shushil Kumar Jain (one of the great maestros and thought leaders of the Panjab Baaj). Dilzafer also learned from Ustad Aditya Kalyanpur, a disciple of the late Ustad Allah Rakha Khan and living legend Ustad Zakir Hussain. Soon, Dilzafer was accepted under the tutelage of tabla maestro Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, further expanding his mastery. In his continued exploration, Dilzafer has also committed himself to the jori, the predecessor of the tabla, in an endeavor to delve deeper into the rich heritage of Sikh instruments and the Panjab Gharana. He is privileged to be learning jori from Ustad Sukhvinder Singh ‘Pinky,’ a maestro of both the Panjab and Banaras Gharanas.

As a prominent musician in Boston’s vibrant music scene and a rising senior at the Groton School, Dilzafer’s influence extends beyond just performing; he has recently been dedicating his time and efforts to research in the academic field of Hindustani ethnomusicology. His latest research on rhythmic aesthetics investigates the distinctive rhythmic structures and metric organizations in Hindustani and Western music forms. His work highlights the unique rhythmic philosophies of these traditions, focusing on the cyclical and improvisational elements in Hindustani music, the hierarchical and composed nature of Western classical music, and the repetitive, syncopated patterns in Western popular music. This study aims to illuminate the nuanced interplay between rhythm and melody, further enriching our understanding of the captivating world of Indian classical music.