Kabir Dalawari

Bitter Jester Music Festival Judge

Kabir Dalawari is an active performer, composer and educator in the Chicago area. Previously, he competed in the Bitter Jester Music Festival with his former band, The Browns, and was both a Grand Finale Finalist and Showcase Artist.

He has developed a versatile approach to the drum set through studying privately and playing with some of the finest musicians in Chicago's jazz scene. He has over half a dozen years of teaching experience and has held faculty positions at high schools in Chicago.

Kabir is an Alumni of Loyola University where he studied Jazz Studies, Psychology, and Neuroscience. He is currently a Graduate Student at DePaul University studying Jazz Performance and being mentored by renowned Musician, Educator, and Ethnomusicologist Dr. Dana Hall.

He is also the Drums Instructor at the People’s Center for Cultural and Contemporary Arts in the Pilsen neighborhood. Kabir is always excited to return as a volunteer judge for Bitter Jester!

He is currently recording his debut album releasing late 2021. Learn more about Kabir by checking out his Instagram @kabirdrums.