Ben Fernandez performing at a stage keyboard against a red backdrop.

INDE’GRATION PROJECT

Music forWorld Peace

Different cultures.Different voices.One humanity.

The initiative

Music for World Peace

Music for World Peace is an initiative of the Inde’gration Project dedicated to promoting peace, love, understanding and harmony among people of different cultures, communities and backgrounds.

Music speaks before words do.
It crosses borders.
It breaks down walls.
It reaches the heart.

One song.One friendship.One humanity.

Ben Fernandez at a Yamaha grand piano in a dimly lit jazz club.

Side by side

The Festival

Musicians from diverse cultures and traditions come together and perform side by side — not despite their differences, but because of them.

01Carnatic
02Māori & Kiwi
03Chinese
04Jazz
05Indo-Western fusion

Artists

A world of sound

Musicians from different cultures and traditions, performing side by side.

Arohana ensemble of six musicians on stage with saxophone and bass guitar. — 01ArohanaIndo-Western fusion

Aakash Binu, Carnatic and Hindustani vocalist. — 02Aakash BinuCarnatic Vocals

Amanda Grace Leo in Nathan Joe's A Short History of Asian Theatre. — 03Amanda Grace LeoChinese Music

Photograph forthcoming

04Ra Toia-Booth · Hayden Booth · BeckyMāori & Kiwi Music

Carnatic Vocals

Aakash Binu

Carnatic & Hindustani Vocals · Tabla · Guitar

Aakash Binu is a young passionate musician who has learned both South Indian (Carnatic) and North Indian (Hindustani) music from the age of five, under leading nationally recognized classical musicians and composers in India. He sang on Indian television, progressing from school and university competitions and music fests, and was spotted as a child prodigy. He studied science from 2017 at Bangalore University while continuing advanced Carnatic classical music education in Bangalore.

Aakash is also a tabla player and a self-taught guitarist. He moved to London in September 2022 to pursue music performance in guitar at BIMM, and over the span of a year performed in London, Birmingham, Leicester, Coventry, and many more cities. He is also a professional writer who has written for music magazines, tech companies, and more.

advaithaevents.com/aakash-binu

Chinese Music

Amanda Grace Leo

Singer · Voice · Stage & Screen

Amanda Grace Hsu Hsien Leo is a bilingual NZ-born Singaporean host, stage, screen and voice actor, and singer. Having grown up between Auckland and Singapore, she navigates cross-cultural environments and performance styles with ease and flair.

From unforgettable stage performances to unique dynamism on film, Amanda brings a touch of magic and joy to everything she does — on stage, on screen, and as a singer moving across cultures.

amandagraceleo.com

Music Director

Ben Fernandez

Pianist · Composer · Arranger · Educator

A classically trained jazz pianist, composer and arranger with a Masters in Music, majoring in Jazz Performance, from the University of Auckland. He has performed in more than twenty-five countries, is an award-winning composer, and has released eleven albums in New Zealand. His work moves across concerts, festivals, theatre, film, television and advertising — and he teaches jazz improvisation.

benfernandez.com

Ben Fernandez seated at a black Yamaha grand piano in a dimly lit jazz club.

Arohana

Where Carnatic music meets jazz.

Arohana blends Indian Classical Carnatic music with jazz, combining intricate ragas, expressive improvisation and dynamic rhythms. Their music bridges South Indian classical Carnatic traditions and modern jazz.

Their performances have included original compositions, jazz standards and songs by artists such as Stevie Wonder, Sting and The Beatles, interpreted through their East-meets-West style.