Canadian Soul and R&B Singer Priya To Represent Canada at the Bangla International Music Festival 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 25, 2010 -- Toronto, Ontario, Feb, 26, 2010: Priya, Canadian R&B and soul artist will make her first-ever trip to Dhaka, Bangladesh,
performing at the first International Bangla Music Festival 2010, Feb. 27-28 and Mar. 1. Invited by her Excellency Prime
Minister of Bangladesh Shaikh Haseena Wajid, Priya has been selected to represent Canada at the festival alongside music
heavyweights from around the world including, India’s music director Bappi Lahiri, Bangladesh’s playback singer Runa Laila, and a singer from the UK, Mia J.

The Festival promotes activities that support Bengali language worldwide and will feature prominent Bangla singers from
Bangladesh to Canada, the US and UK, China, Pakistan, India, the Czech Republic, and Uzbekistan. Another first for Priya, who is thrilled to be a part of this initiative, will be the challenge of singing in Bengali without any previous training or knowledge of the language.

"Words cannot describe what a great honor it is for me to represent Canada for this prestigious occasion. Alongside the opportunity to learn a beautiful Bengali song, I also discovered the integrity, dignity and grace that the Bangladeshi people hold with great loyalty. Their fight for freedom of speech is a story of true inspiration and I'm truly blessed to be a part of it."

The Festival in it’s first year was formed in celebration of the Bengali Language Movement, advocating the recognition of
Bengali as an official language post-separation from Pakistan and as a tribute to Feb. 21, 1952, a day of massacre at the
University of Dhaka for students and political activists who rallied against the notion of Urdu as the sole national language.

Since 2000, Feb. 21 has been known as International Mother Language Day worldwide, celebrating the ethno-linguistic

rights of all people. In honor, the Gymnasium Ground at the University of Dhaka will be centre-stage to Priya and interna-
tional performers who advocate harmony in language.

About Priya:

Priya hit the music scene in 2006 with a distinctive voice and style—a lyrical blend of classical Indian and soulful R&B. Priya's
Eastern-Western synthesis has taken her from her Toronto hometown to international fame, and in 2008 she collaborated with Punjabi singer Mika Singh. Priya has performed for audiences of over 100, 000 people at Canadian South Asian festivals

such as Masala!, Mehendi!, Masti!, RBC Desifest, and the TELUS Mosaic South Asian Heritage Festival of Mississauga. She has been showcased nationwide on MuchMusic, eTalk, OMNI TV, Ishtyle TV, CBC Radio, the Toronto Star, Anokhi Vibe Magazine, IStyle Magazine, the Mississauga News and Metro News, and overseas by the India Times. Currently, Priya is writing and recording her debut album expected for release this year.

For more information on PRIYA, please visit:
http://www.thisispriya.com/

About the Author:
For Media and Press inquiries:
Parul Bharadia
parul.bharadia@sympatico.ca

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