Creating music is not just a process of writing notes. Music comes alive only when those notes are lived by breath, voice, rhythm, and human emotion. The Composer’s Desk – First Edition 2025 was held at the National Assembly on Saturday with the aim of providing a first-hand experience of this creative collaboration.

The program presented in this edition combined the spirit of Nepali folk music with the dignity and dimension of a cinematic score in the form of world music. The musical arrangement, form and special instrumental arrangement of the program were inspired by the artistic vision of Namlo Music Hub founder and musician Ganga Thapa.

Along with musician and producer Ganga Thapa, 25 musicians resonated on the same stage for about three hours continuously in a fusion of folk and modern instrumental music.

The program started with the music of the movie ‘Jari’ and then immersed the auditorium in a musical journey with ‘Teenpaate’, local tunes from the Karnali region, ‘Sakhi Ri’ of the Tharu community, and a total of 16 creations.

Around 25 musicians on the stage, from Murli to Sarangi, Madal to Flute, Drumset to String Section, all brought the vision and emotion of the musician to life in one voice.

Ganga Thapa was accompanied by Eileen Thapa: Cello, Vocals, Phoebe Shrestha: Violin, Eva Maharjan: Cello, Roshna Shakya: Violin, Ravi Shrestha: Double Bass, Swarnim Maharjan: Flute, Rupesh Shakya: Flute, Flute, Paras Subedi: Madal, Sijan Maharjan: Percussion (Percussion), Joseph Shrestha: Guitar, Ashwin: Sarangi, Dhan Bahadur Gurung: Sanai, Steve Arastia: Clarinet and singers/vocalists, Shingron Pun, Pawan Giri, Anshu Raki, Reshma Pun, Samiksha Chaudhary, Santosh Rana, Parvati Thapa, Sreeti Pradhan along with  children also performed.

The Composers Desk not only performed but also opened up the dialogue between musicians and musicologists to the audience in a meaningful way.