Patrick Ngcobo is a respected and highly skilled musician in the genre of Karnatic music (music in the South Indian classical tradition). Because Indian classical music is such a specialised artform, it’s unusual to see anybody other than an Indian performing it, let alone becoming an exponent on the subject. Born in Kloof, Patrick Ngcobo was invited by master singer Dr K J Yesudas to study with him in Madras, India, where he underwent intensive training. A living example of culture cross-over, Patrick Ngcobo also sings Indian music in Zulu and composes his own work in Zulu in the style of classical South India.

Accompanied by Paul Singaram on the mrdangam (drum) and Poovan Pillay on violin, Patrick Ngcobo will give a recital of Karnatic music in the University of Natal music department’s free lunch-hour concert at Howard College Theatre on May 17 at 12h15