A MUSICIAN whose work has attracted global acclaim is preparing to charm his audience in Dorchester.

Swedish classical guitarist Johannes Moller will be taking the crowd to lands near and far when he performs at the Corn Exchange on Sunday, May 25 as part of the Dorchester Festival.

The rising star has scooped various awards around the globe and has been studying with Gary Ryan and Carlos Bonnell at the Royal College of Music in London and Zoran Dukic at the Royal Conservatoire at The Hague.

His festival concert Tales of Europe: Tales of India will see him perform pieces by classical greats as well as some of his own compositions.

While the European influence may be easy to trace, the Indian element comes from Johannes travels and years of following and learning North Indian classical music.

For Johannes his explorations in India have opened his eyes in more than just a musical sense.

He said: “One of my favourite cities in the world is Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta.

“It is an incredible vibrant city with warm-hearted people and a fascinating history.

“But it is also home to some of the world’s most extreme poverty and most brutal living conditions.”

Johannes spent time in Kolkata with the Future Hope India organisation, which was established to provide homeless children with food and shelter as well as a more permanent living environment and education.

The visit inspired him to create a new piece that he will perform at the Dorchester concert.

Johannes said: “Future Hope is a lullaby composed out of inspiration from organisations, like Future Hope India, that can provide these children with the love and security to be able to go to bed knowing that they are safe, perhaps, in some cases, for the first time in their young lives.”

The evening will also explore the crossover between Indian and western classical music.

For more information about the concert and other events taking place during the Dorchester Festival visit dorchesterarts.org.uk