Saira Peter

Saira Peter
Peter performs at Royal Albert Hall, London
OccupationSinger[1]
Websitehttps://sairapeter.com/

Saira Peter is a British-Pakistani[2][3][4] soprano officially recognised as the world's first Sufi opera singer[5][6][7][8][9][10], for which she has been selected to receive Pakistan’s 2026 Presidential honour, the ‘Sitara-e-Imtiaz’ (‘Star of Excellence’).[11][12] She is director of NJ Arts London, a multicultural performing arts centre opened in 1998 by Sir Cliff Richard OBE.[13] She is also founder of Saira Arts Academy (SAA)[14][15] which was officially inaugurated in Lahore by Fed. Min. for National Heritage and Culture, Syed Jamal Shah,[16] who lauded it as 'heralding a new era in the country’s music industry.'[17]

Early life

Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Saira Peter displayed singing talent at a young age, performing for church and community events, but she had no formal music training as a child. Upon completing her first Masters she moved to London and began to study western classical voice.

Education and training

Saira Peter completed both a BSc (Hons) and an MSc (Distinction) in Physical Chemistry from University of Karachi, followed by an MA in History from Queen Mary University of London.[18][19]

She is coached in western classical voice by composer Paul Knight. She studied raagdari with Chitrarupa Gupta (disciple of Pundit A.T. Kanan and Geeta Bannerjee) and the late Ustad Fida Hussain Khan (Patiala Gharana).[20][21]

Performance

Saira Peter has given solo western classical performances in the UK, USA, Germany, Turkey and Pakistan.

Her 2016 Pakistan debut took place at Pearl-Continental Hotel in Karachi, followed since by performances at major national venues including Mohatta Palace, Aiwan-e-Sadr (Presidential Palace, Islamabad), Governor House in Karachi, Alhamra Art Center in Lahore, Pakistan National Council of Arts (Islamabad and Lahore).[18] She is regularly invited by the High Commission of Pakistan, London to sing at official events, which they feature on official social media.[22][23]

Saira Peter was final judge and then chief judge on two consecutive seasons of Pakistan's reality series Voice of Sindh.

In September 2021 she performed a solo set at the international Mystic Music Festival in Konya, Turkey in commemoration of the birth of Sufi poet Mevlana Rumi.[24][25][26] With the support of Department of Culture, Konya, Peter created a "fusion qawwali" based on the poetry of Mevlana Rumi, featuring footage at the shrine of Mevlana Rumi in Konya.[27]

In November 2025, Saira Peter performed in Islamabad at the Sir Syed Memorial Auditorium under the auspices of the Silk Road Culture Centre.[28][29] Her programme included Western operatic arias, Eastern classical and semi‑classical pieces, and elements of her “Sufi Opera” fusion style.[30] She was joined on stage by students from the Saira Arts Academy and accompanied musically by music director Stephen Smith[31]. The concert drew an audience of music enthusiasts and cultural patrons, and former federal culture minister Jamal Shah attended as chief guest, commenting on her contribution to promoting opera and fusion music in Pakistan.[32]

In February 2026, Saira Peter participated in the “She Leads the Nations” Global Summit at the US House of Congress, DC. During the summit Saira was honoured with an Award, SHE LEADS THE NATIONS for her reaching out marginalised women through her spiritual Sufi Opera® songs. It's being covered by international media.[33][34][35][36][37][38][39] [40] [41]

In June 2026 Saira Peter was a featured soloist for Prom Praise at Royal Albert Hall, where she performed five songs, three solos and two group performances. She was accompanied by a combined 525 musicians, including All Souls Orchestra and a massed choir, all under the baton of Artistic Director Michael Andrews.[42][43][44] Her performance received positive reception across mainstream Pakistani media[45][46][47][48][49][50][51], and drew praise from Pakistan's Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, who called it a "remarkable example of cultural diplomacy."[52][53]

July 2026 saw Saira Peter honoured as an official guest in Windsor Castle, where she stayed for three days as a participant in the international women's summit, She Leads United Kingdom. By request she sang sacred songs inside St George's Chapel and later performed an aria from her Sufi Opera Marvi's Tears in the Castle's Vicar's Hall, St George's House, site of the original production of Shakespeare's play The Merry Wives of Windsor.[54][55]

Television and film

Peter has recorded original soundtrack vocals for Pakistani primetime television dramas. On 6 May 2022 her OST featured on GEO TV's Dil Awaiz,[56] a duet with Nabeel Shaukat (composer: Naveed Nashad), the first episode quickly gaining millions of views.[57] She recorded a solo OST composed by Naveed Nashad for HUM TV network's Nehar, the first episode airing 9 May 2022.[58] In 2026, Peter sang the original soundtrack "Tanha Akeli Hoon" for the television drama Muamma. The song, filmed on actress Saba Qamar, received media attention following its release.[59][60][61]

Television series' soundtracks

Year Title Song Network Composer Lyricist Co-singer(s) Ref(s)
2025 Muamma "Tanha Akeli Hoon" Hum TV Naveed Nashad Fatima Najeeb [62]

Sufi opera

Passionate about bringing together people of all backgrounds, during her second MA (History), Saira Peter identified music as a historical means of bridging otherwise isolated communities and promoting a positive message. Simultaneously in the midst of studying Western Classical voice, she envisioned using her music to take Sufi peace poetry to the world stage.[63]

In 2015-16 she worked with vocal coach Paul Knight to create several Sufi opera songs based on English translations of poetry by Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. These were well received by diverse audiences in the UK, USA and Pakistan. She is currently working with a team of British professional artists to stage the world’s first full-scale Sufi opera, a musical stage drama based on the story of Umar Marvi, one of Latif’s “seven heroines” of Sindh.[18] The new fusion opera is set to debut in the United Kingdom, with Peter in the role of Marvi.[64][65]

Peter has also pioneered a fusion style of the qawwali genre in which she incorporates both Western operatic and South Asian classical styles of singing. This may be heard in her fusion qawwali 'Rabeem Ver, which feature's text by famed Sufi poet Maulana Jalalluddin Rumi. Peter first performed the song live at Mystic Music Festival (Konya, Turkey) before producing an audio and video recording in collaboration with Konya Culture and Tourism Directorate.[66]

Personal life

Saira Peter lives in London, UK, with her husband, the ethnomusicologist and pianist / harmonium player Stephen Smith.[20]

Artistry

According to The Express Tribune, Peter's career wish is "to translate Sufi poetry for Western music so they can understand Pakistani people and their desire for peace".[21] In an interview with Arab News, she described her own music, culminating in the Sufi opera genre, as "merging the two worlds", of Western and Pakistani classical music.[67] She regularly incorporates both traditional Pakistani songs and Western classical art songs into her concerts.[18] Pakistan's media often credits Peter with introducing Western operatic singing to Pakistan.[68]

Awards and distinctions

  • 2018: Recorded "God Save the Queen" by request of East Sussex government offices (Hastings, UK)[69] for which she received letter of gratitude from (late) HM Queen Elizabeth II.[70] Peter is the first Asian and first Pakistani to record the British national anthem.[69]
  • Islamabad Art Fest 2019: Award for Best Music Performance at Pakistan's largest international arts event[71]
  • 2022: Re-recorded British national anthem as "God Save the King", receiving a letter of appreciation from HM King Charles III in response.[72]
  • 2026: 'She Leads the Nations' award as an 'international woman of distinction', presented in US House of Congress, Washington DC.[73][74]
  • 2026: 'Global Woman of Distinction,' presented by She Leads United Kingdom, Windsor Castle, UK.[75]
  • 2026: ‘Sitara-e-Imtiaz’ (‘Star of Excellence’), given by Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari to Saira Peter as a "Sufi opera singer", for making "outstanding contributions to arts" and "achieving international recognition bringing honour to Pakistan"[76][77][78]

Discography

  • Resplendent (2017)
  • Raqs-E-Rooh (2018)
  • Yeh Zindagi (2021)[79]

Videography

  • Zarori Tha – 2015[80]
  • Pairey Pawandi Saan – 2015
  • Aao Rana – 2015
  • You Are My Friend – 2015

References

  1. ↑ Akhtar, Akhtar Ali. "Saira Peter and the All Souls Choir come together". The News International. Pakistan.
  2. ↑ "Sufi-opera singer Saira Peter to release her two new songs next week". www.radio.gov.pk.
  3. ↑ "Pakistan's first opera singer takes message of spirituality to western audience". www.geo.tv. 3 September 2018.
  4. ↑ "Saira Peter to perform in online concerts". Times of Islamabad. July 8, 2020.
  5. ↑ UK Intellectual Property Office Trademark No UK00003709868
  6. ↑ ""British Pakistani soprano Saira Peter..."". Official Twitter account for the Foreign Minister of Pakistan's Public Diplomacy Initiative. September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Pakistan's first Opera singer enthralls audiences". gulfnews.com. 24 April 2017.
  8. ↑ "Pakistan's first sufi-opera singer". www.thenews.com.pk.
  9. ↑ Express News (2026-06-08). British-Pakistani Sufi Opera Singer Saira Peter Delivers a Spectacular Performance Royal Albert Hall. Retrieved 2026-06-17 – via YouTube.
  10. ↑ "Guest: Saira Peter (British-Pakistani soprano): World's 1st Sufi Opera singer Host: Sonia Adnan Satti". Facebook: Radio Pakistan News (Official). 8 December 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "Presidency announces 355 civil awards on Independence Day". Dawn. 15 August 2026. p. 3. Retrieved 15 August 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ Akhtar, Akhtar Ali (15 August 2026). "صوفی اوپیرا گلوکارہ سائرہ پیٹر ستارۂ امتیاز کیلئے منتخب" [Sufi opera singer Saira Peter selected for the Sitara-i-Imtiaz]. Jang News (in Urdu). Retrieved 15 August 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ↑ Alturki, Nada (2024-12-29). "Soprano Saira Peter on creating Sufi opera, blending cultures in first visit to Saudi Arabia". Arab News. Retrieved 2025-11-29.
  14. ↑ "Saira Peter". The Express Tribune. Pakistan.
  15. ↑ "گلوکارہ سائرہ پیٹر نے لاہور میں اوپرا سکول کا آغاز کر دیا". Independent Urdu. 30 Nov 2025. Retrieved 21 Dec 2025.
  16. ↑ "Minister inaugurates first opera music academy in Lahore". Associated Press of Pakistan: Digital. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  17. ↑ Zehra, Syeda Qandeel (18 December 2023). "Lahore Welcomes the Inauguration of Pakistan's First Opera Music Academy". Hamari Web News. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Akram, Sophia (30 March 2019). "On a High Note: Meet the World's First Sufi Opera Singer". OZY. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  19. ↑ Datta, Anil (25 April 2017). "Saira Peter: Her velvety voice is her greatest asset". The News International. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  20. 1 2 Agha, Saira (29 August 2020). "Pride of Pakistan: Saira Peter". Daily Times. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  21. 1 2 Aijaz, Rahul (26 March 2017). "I wanted to see how different communities and nationalities worked together in harmony: Saira Peter". The Express Tribune. Pakistan. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  22. ↑ "Saira Peter performs at Pakistan HC London on Independence Day". www.thenews.com.pk.
  23. ↑ "Saira Peter, Pakistani Opera Singer performs at Pakistan Day ceremony". Pakistan High Commission UK (www.facebook.com/PakistaninUK1). 23 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  24. ↑ "Saira Peter's performance stuns audience at int'l Mystic Music Festival, Turkey". Associated Press of Pakistan Digital. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  25. ↑ ""Saira Peter's performance stuns audience at international Mystic Music Festival"". Daily Times Pakistan. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  26. ↑ ""Turkey's International Sufi Festival was looted by Saira Peter"". ProIqra. September 27, 2021. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  27. ↑ "Sufi opera star Saira Peter records Maulana Rumi's Qawwali in Konya". Voice of Sindh. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  28. ↑ "Sufi Opera star captivates capital audience". The Express Tribune. 2 December 2025.
  29. ↑ "Saira Peter enthralls Islamabad with spellbinding opera performance". The Nation. 2 December 2025.
  30. ↑ "Pakistan's first opera singer to enthrall audience today". Dawn. 2 December 2025.
  31. ↑ "Saira Peter enthralls Islamabad with spellbinding opera performance". Associated Press of Pakistan. 1 December 2025.
  32. ↑ "Saira Peter enthrals Islamabad with spellbinding Sufi Opera performance". 24NewsHD. 1 December 2025.
  33. ↑ "پہلی پاکستانی صوفی اوپرا سنگر کی امریکی ایوان بالا میں شاندار پذیرائی". Daily Jang (in Urdu). Lahore. 10 February 2026. p. 8.
  34. ↑ "Saira Peter awarded in USA". Express.pk. 10 February 2026.
  35. ↑ "Saira Peter honoured with award in US". 24News HD. 11 February 2026.
  36. ↑ "Pakistani Sufi Opera Singer Saira Peter performs in US". TV One USA.
  37. ↑ "Pakistani Sufi Opera Singer Saira Peter performs in US". Independent Urdu.
  38. ↑ Qaisar Kamran (12 February 2026). "Pakistani Sufi opera singer Saira Peter honoured in Washington". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  39. ↑ "Voice of Sindh" (in Urdu).
  40. ↑ "Up in the air". Dawn (E-paper). Karachi: Dawn. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  41. ↑ You Desk (24 February 2026). "Saira Peter among 14 women honoured at 'She Leads the Nations' Summit". The News International. Karachi: Jang Group of Newspapers. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  42. ↑ "Prom Praise: To the Ends of the Earth | Royal Albert Hall". RoyalAlbertHall.com. 10 June 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  43. ↑ "Saira Peter at Royal Albert Hall 06 June 2026". Voice of Sindh. 4 June 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  44. ↑ "پاکستانی صوفی گلوکارہ سائرہ کی رائل البرٹ ہال میں پرفارمنس" [Urdu: Pakistani Sufi singer Saira's performance at the Royal Albert Hall]. Independent Urdu (in Urdu). The Independent UK. 7 June 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  45. ↑ "British-Pakistani Sufi Opera Singer Saira Peter Delivers a Spectacular Performance Royal Albert Hall". Express News (in Urdu). 9 June 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  46. ↑ "Pakistani Opera Singer Sara Peter Stuns Audience at London's Royal Albert Hall". Geo News (in Urdu). 8 June 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  47. ↑ "Saira Peter Brings Pakistani Opera to the World Stage | Royal Albert Hall Performance | Morning Asia". Asia One News. Pakistan. 10 June 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  48. ↑ "Sufi-opera star Saira Peter praised for London Royal Albert Hall's performance". BOL News (in Urdu). Pakistan. 9 June 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
  49. ↑ Siddiqui, Muhammad Irfan (27 June 2026). ""Saira Peter: The Voice From Karachi That Echoed Through Royal Albert Hall"". Mag the Weekly. pp. 46–47. Retrieved 16 July 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  50. ↑ "Saira Peter makes history at the Royal Albert Hall". Daily Times. 29 June 2026. pp. B4. Retrieved 17 July 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  51. ↑ "Sufi Opera singer Saira Peter's stunning performance at Londons historic Royal Albert Hall". Akhbar-e-Jehan (in Urdu). Pakistan. 15 June 2026. Retrieved 17 July 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  52. ↑ "Saira Peter praised for London performance". Daily Times. 9 June 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  53. ↑ "Aurangzeb Khichi praises Saira Peter for showcasing Pakistan's cultural strength on global stage". Associated Press of Pakistan. 7 June 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  54. ↑ "Saira Peter honoured as official guest at Windsor Castle". Daily Times. Islamabad, Pakistan. 25 July 2026. pp. B4. Retrieved 27 July 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  55. ↑ "Pakistan's internationally acclaimed soprano Saira Peter Brings Pride to Pakistan with Historic Honour at Windsor Castle". Daily News Valley (Print media). Islamabad, Pakistan. 27 July 2026.
  56. ↑ "Dil Awaiz | OST | Nabeel Shaukat Ali ft. Saira Peter". Har Pal Geo (YouTube). 29 June 2022. Retrieved 21 Dec 2025.
  57. ↑ Dil Awaiz Episode 01 – Har Pal GEO on YouTube, 6 May 2022
  58. ↑ "Nehar". humdrama.com. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  59. ↑ "تنہا اکیلی ہوں، صبا قمر پر فلمایا گیا گانا مقبول". Jang. January 2026. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  60. ↑ "Saba Qamar's "Tanha Akeli Hoon" gains popularity through Saira Peter". Minute Mirror. January 2026. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  61. ↑ "سائرہ پیٹر کا صبا قمر پر فلمایا گیا گانا تنہا اکیلی ہوں ناظرین میں مقبول". Voice of Sindh. January 2026. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  62. ↑ "Song 'Tanha Akeli Hoon' filmed on Saba Qamar gains popularity in the voice of Saira Peter". The AZB. January 2026. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  63. ↑ "Sufi Opera: Where No Woman Has Gone Before", Libas International, vol. 30, no. 2, 2017
  64. ↑ Jamal, Sana (January 1, 2023). "Saira Peter: World's First Sufi Opera Singer". Gulf News. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  65. ↑ "Saira Peter records Rumi's qawwali in Konya". Daily Times (Pakistan). 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  66. ↑ "Saira Peter releases Maulana Rumi's fusion qawwali ('Rabeem Ver') worldwide". Daily Parliament Times. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  67. ↑ Imran, Kashif (3 December 2023). "'Merging two worlds together': British-Pakistani soprano plans to take 'Sufi opera' to new heights". Arab News. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  68. ↑ "I introduced opera music to Pakistan!!". Jang News. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  69. 1 2 "British-Pakistani opera singer receives King's commendation". Associated Press of Pakistan. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  70. ↑ "British-Pakistani opera singer receives King's commendation". Associated Press of Pakistan. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 21 Dec 2025.
  71. ↑ "IAF19 Awards – Islamabad Art Festival".
  72. ↑ Ali, Ali (25 May 2024). "British-Pakistani opera singer receives King's commendation". Associated Press of Pakistan. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  73. ↑ "Saira Peter among 14 women honoured at 'She Leads the Nations' Summit". You Magazine: The News International Pakistan. Pakistan. 24 February 2026. pp. IV. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  74. ↑ "Saira Honoured". Dawn. Pakistan. 22 February 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
  75. ↑ "Pakistani opera singer Sarah Peter has received a top award in the UK". Daily Nawa-i-Waqt (in Urdu). Lahore, Pakistan. 27 July 2026. p. 8. Retrieved 27 July 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  76. ↑ "Presidency announces 355 civil awards on Independence Day". Dawn. 15 August 2026. p. 3. Retrieved 15 August 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  77. ↑ Allahwala, Rehan (15 August 2026). "About Sitara-e-Imtiaz: Criteria for the Award". SITAREIMTIAZ.COM: The Encyclopaedia of Pakistan's Highest Civilian Honour. Retrieved 15 August 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  78. ↑ Akhtar, Akhtar Ali (15 August 2026). "صوفی اوپیرا گلوکارہ سائرہ پیٹر ستارۂ امتیاز کیلئے منتخب" [Sufi opera singer Saira Peter selected for the Sitara-i-Imtiaz]. Jang News (in Urdu). Retrieved 15 August 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  79. ↑ "Saira Peter's new song 'Yeh Zindagi' released, garners praise from fans around the world -". 10 February 2021.
  80. ↑ "Pakistan's first Opera singer Saira Peter releases debut album". Samaa TV.
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