Delhi-born composer Param Vir is a leading figure in contemporary music. Based in London, his output encompasses works in several genres that include chamber music, symphonic works and opera / music-theatre. His works have been performed by major ensembles, orchestras and opera houses, and presented at several international festivals. He composes prolifically, and recent seasons have seen the premieres of several major works, including a full-length opera Black Feather Rising, a choral work He Begins His Great Trance for the BBC Singers, alongside several works for cellist Rohan de Saram. Work for large forces include a recent and much-acclaimed BBC Proms commission Cave of Luminous Mind and the hugely successful Raga Fields for three international contemporary ensembles. Recent chamber works include Ablaze! for soprano and piano drawing on Tagore’s poems, and Drum of the Deathless for percussion ensemble. A string quartet We Want to Live in #Peace (inspired by the Syrian Refugee crisis) has been released on CD. A song cycle for baritone A Kinsman to Danger, based on the poetry of Sri Aurobindo, has toured internationally. NMC released a portrait CD ‘Wheeling Past the Stars’ in 2021.

Vir’s work is inspired by varied sources drawn from world mythology, art and literature. Groups that have performed or given premieres of his works include The Netherlands Opera, London Sinfonietta, BBC Symphony Orchestra, The Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Klangforum Wien, Music-Theatre Wales, Schoenberg Ensemble, Fulcrum Point (Chicago), Scottish Opera, Music Theatre Wales, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, and Ensemble Modern. New works planned include a work for solo percussion and a song cycle for soprano and orchestra.