Arati Ankalikar Tikekar LIVE at Aga Khan Musuem
2025-09-13 19:30 - 21:30 UTC | Aga Khan Museum, 77 Wynford Dr,, North York, Ontario, M3C 1K1, Canada
Raag-Mala Toronto, in partnership with the Aga Khan Museum, is proud to present a vocal recital by Arati Ankalikar Tikekar on Saturday September 13th at 7:30pm

Arati Ankalikar Tikekar is one of the leading vocalists of Indian Classical Music. She began her training with Late Pandit Vasantrao Kulkarni of the Agra/Gwalior gharanas (singing traditions), and subsequently received training from many great artists such as the late Gaanasarawati Kishori Amonkar (Jaipur-Atrauli), Late Pandit Dinkar Kaikini (Agra) and Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar (Gwalior).
She has taken influences from the various gharanas and created a style of singing that is suited to her unique tonal quality and vocal range. Whether she is singing a bada khayal (which requires a gradual elaboration of a raag from a slow tempo to a rapid one towards its end), or performing a light-hearted thumri or singing a bhajan, Arati’s captivating badhat (development of the composition) and the passion she imbues in her renditions are what make her a favourite among aficionados and won over newer listeners of raag sangeet (Indian classical music).
Arati has also sung film songs for Hindi, Marathi and regional cinemas. She received the best play back singer award for Konkani film Anternaad in 2006 and for the Marathi film Samhita in 2012. She also received numerous awards such as the Maharashtra State Award as the best playback singer, V. Shantaram Award and the Maharashtra Times Award for a Marathi Film.
Arati has performed at several prestigious conferences in India, such as the Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav (Pune), Tansen Sangeet Samaroh (Gwalior) and Dover Lane Music Conference (Kolkota) and also performed extensively in Canada and many other countries, where she made tireless efforts in spreading awareness of raag sangeet.
She last performed on the Aga Khan Museum stage in 2019, and we are delighted to have this artist, at the height of her music career, present a full concert of raag sangeet.
Rigved Deshpande is an accomplished tabla player performing on stage for more than 20 years, having studied under the guidance of esteemed gurus Pt. Chandrashekhar Vaze, Shri Swapnil Bhate and currently from Pt. Ramdas Palsule for the past 6 years. He has also received vocal lessons from Pt. Suresh Bapat for the past 8 years.
Rigved has accompanied renowned artists such as Vidushi Padma Talwalkar, Pt. Ajoy Chakraborthy, and Pt. Shaunak Abhisheki among others.
He has performed in prestigious events such as Sawai Gandharva-Bhimsen Mahotsav in Pune,Devgandharva Mahotsav in Mumbai, Sur Mansoor Festival in Mumbai, and has performed internationally in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, and Germany.
His musical talent and dedication have earned him a well-deserved reputation in the tabla community especially Hindustani raag sangeet.
Kishan Prabhu who hails from Puttur, in Karnataka, is a passionate young harmonium player whose musical journey began at the young age of 8 with his first Guru, Vidushi Sharada Bhat. He is currently under the guidance of Pandit Mounesh Kumar Chavani, an Akashwani (All India Radio) A-grade artist, and is also learning advanced techniques from Shri Prasad Kamath, a disciple of Pandit Sudhir Nayak of Mumbai. An accredited B-grade artist at Akashvani, Kishan has accompanied various artists in India.
Ticket Pricing:

Balcony: $40
Orchestra: $50
Raag-Mala Member Discount: 10%
A limited number of $20 student tickets will be available for purchase directly from Raag-Mala Toronto. Please email raagmalatoronto@gmail.com for details.
Tickets will be going on sale on Thursday August 14th at 10am

BUY TICKETS
Raag-Mala Benefactors & Patrons:

If you are unable to attend a concert, pass your complimentary tickets to a friend!
To help us assign seats, you may be contacted to confirm attendance

Suchismita and Debopriya Chatterjee (Flute) with Harshad Kanetkar on Tabla
2025-10-04 08:00 - 20:00
Raag-Mala Toronto participates in Nuit Blanche at the Aga Khan Museum
Saturday October 4th 2025 at 8pm

Suchismita and Debopriya Chatterjee (Flute) with Harshad Kanetkar on Tabla.

In a tradition where vocals and dance often take center stage, sisters Suchismita and Debopriya Chatterjee have carved out their own legacy with the bamboo flute. Disciples of Padma Vibhushan Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, their journey is one of devotion, discipline, and bold individuality.
Born to musicologists Krishna and Robin Chatterjee, their upbringing was rich with sound and scholarship. Early training under Pandit Bholanath Prasanna laid their classical foundation, but it was under Chaurasia Ji’s guidance that their artistry evolved into a spiritual path.
They broadened their perspective at the World Music Conservatory in Rotterdam, training in Western classical music, while remaining deeply rooted in Indian traditions.
Now mentors themselves, the Flute Sisters continue to shape the future of Indian classical music — keeping tradition alive, relevant, and resonant for generations to come.
Harshad Kanetkar started learning Tabla at the age of five. He is equally adept and versatile in the art of performing solo as well as accompanying vocals, instrumental and dance. He has been appreciated by renowned legend musicians for his crispness and clarity of his technique and a magnificent command on rhythm and stamina which are the classic hallmarks of his style.
He has accompanied many stalwart artists in various prestigious music conferences and festivals. He has traveled and performed extensively all over the world in 17+ countries. He has worked in the Classical music field of both Hindustani and Carnatic styles and as well as in Western music world.
Harshad has received many accolades and honors including the prestigious National Award of Scholarship from the Government of India.
Recently he has been selected on the judging panel of the Recording Academy which is famous for “The Grammy Awards”.

Bahauddin ji will be accompanied by Tejas Tope (Pakhawaj)

Nanji Family Foundation Auditorium77 Wynford Drive

Please Note: seats for Raag-Mala Benefactors will be guaranteed until 15 minutes before each show, after which they will be released to the general public. These seats will be unassigned.
Tickets for the general public (including Raag-Mala Patrons & regular members) will be issued an hour before each concert, on a first come first served basis

Information: raagmalatoronto@gmail.com

We thank the Dhalla Family for their generous donation towards this event in memory of long time Raag-Mala Benefactor late Aziz Dhalla

Pt. Shantanu Bhattacharyya & Students LIVE at Aga Khan Museum
2025-10-25 19:30 - 22:00
Raag-Mala Toronto, in partnership with the Aga Khan Museum, is proud to present Shantanu Bhattacharya & Students on Saturday October 25th at 7:30pm

Pandit Shantanu Bhattacharyya is one of the foremost vocalists of Hindustani classical music today, renowned for his mastery of Khayal and Thumri and for carrying forward the rich legacy of the Patiala gharana. Trained by legendary gurus including Meera Banerjee and Ajoy Chakrabarty, Shantanu has performed at major festivals across India and around the world. His family is an integral part of his musical life: his wife Smt. Durba Bhattacharyya, a gifted singer and harmonium accompanist, and their daughter Mitra, an emerging young vocalist, often share the stage with him—embodying the living tradition of music passed from generation to generation.
For this special Raga-Mala Toronto season finale on October 25th, Shantanu is joined by Canadian brothers Jonathan Kay and Andrew Kay, long-time disciples who immersed themselves in the guru-shishya parampara, living and studying within his family’s musical orbit in Kolkata for nearly a decade. Their collaboration builds bridges across continents and generations, expanding the reach of Indian classical music through its application on Western instruments. Completing the ensemble is the brilliant tabla artist Sudhir Ghorai, a top disciple of Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, whose dynamic playing brings rhythmic depth and vitality. Together, they promise an evening of artistry, dialogue, and continuity in the timeless tradition of Hindustani raag sangeet.

This concert is part of Raag-Mala Toronto’s ‘Sowing the Seeds of Raag Sangeet in Canada’ series.
Ticket Pricing:
Balcony: $40
Orchestra: $50
Raag-Mala Member Discount: 10%
A limited number of $20 student tickets will be available for purchase directly from Raag-Mala Toronto. Please email raagmalatoronto@gmail.com for details.
Tickets will be going on sale on Monday October 6th at 10am

TICKETS

Raag-Mala Benefactors & Patrons:
If you are unable to attend a concert, pass your complimentary tickets to a friend!
To help us assign seats, you may be contacted to confirm attendance

Pandit Shantanu Bhattacharyya is one of the finest vocalists in Hindustani Raag Sangeet today. He came first in both Khayal and Thumri categories in the Akashbani Music Competition at the age of 20, and achieved the Top Grade designation from Prasar Bharati early in his career.
Initiated into music by his mother Ira Bhattacharyya, Shantanu received further training from Sukhendu Goswami, and received extensive taalim from the stalwarts Pandit Prasun Banerjee and Vidushi Meera Banerjee, both of whom had studied under the late Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, the legendary exponent of Patiala gharana singing style. Shantanu also studied with Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata.
Shantanu has sung at many major festivals in India such as the Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan, Allauddin Khan Smriti Samaroh, Sangeet Natak Akademi Festival, to name a few. He is featured regularly on radio and TV, and has travelled widely in Canada, USA, UK, France, Italy, Finland, Germany, Australia and Singapore.
He has conducted music workshops at schools all over the world, composed numerous Raag-based ensemble compositions, written articles for journals and books, compositions of devotional songs and meditation music, released in CDs.
Shantanu Bhattacharyya’s music school Aalor Pathe Raga Dhwani in Kolkata has won accolades from one and all, for the brilliant performances of the young pupils learning under him in the guru-shishya tradition.
Sri Sudhir Kumar Ghorai is an accomplished Tabla artist and a senior disciple of the legendary maestro, Pandit Anindo Chatterjee since 1990. Under his guru’s guidance, Sudhir has mastered the nuances of Tabla and establishing himself as a sought-after accompanist for both vocal and instrumental classical music.
Sudhir was born into a musical family and began his early training under his cousin, Shri Amulya Kala, and later refined his skills under Shri Bankim Maity and Shri Nirmal Adhikary. Before he becoming a disciple Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, he had received advanced training from Shri Asit Pal. To enhance his artistry and accompaniment skills, he has also trained under eminent musicians such as Pandit Partho Sarathi and Pandit Shantanu Bhattacharyya.
Sudhir is graded with All India Radio and regularly participates in prestigious concerts. He has performed at numerous renowned platforms across India and Bangladesh, including The All Bengal Music Conference (Kolkata), The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture (Kolkata) and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Festival in New Delhi, to name a few. He has had accompanied many distinguished maestros such as Pandit Vinayak Torvi, Pandit Shantanu Bhattacharyya, Pandit Debasish Bhattacharya, Pandit Partho Sarathi, to seal his reputation as a senior tabla artist.
Smt. Durba Bhattacharyya is an acclaimed performer (vocalist as well as a harmonium accompanist), and is a guru of Hindustani classical vocal music – Khayal, Bhajan and Ragashrayee Bengali songs. A regular broadcaster from Akashvani Kolkata, she has performed all over India and in USA, Canada & Europe. Durba is an ex-scholar of ITC Sangeet Research Academy under Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty, and like her husband Pandit Shantanu Bhattacharyya, has learnt extensively from Late Guruma Meera Banerjee, the doyenne of Patiala gharana. She is a Gold Medalist from Pracheen Kala Kendra Chandigarh, and has several music albums to her credit.
Mitra Bhatacharyya has learnt singing from her mother, Smt. Durba Bhattacharyya, and has been taking advanced taalim from her father, Pandit Shantanu Bhattacharyya.
She stood first in some of the National level raag sangeet competitions and has performed in several cities in India, as well as in Italy, USA and Canada.
Mitra has pursued both her Bachelor’s and Masters in Comparative Literature at Jadavpur University, Kolkata; and aspires for a synthesis of music and academics in herself to present an integrated form of art that is rooted and yet ever-evolving.
She also thoroughly enjoys training younger children in the fundamentals of raag sangeet.
Jonathan and Andrew Kay, the award-winning and innovative multi-instrumentalist brothers, embarked on their musical journey as jazz saxophonists at Humber College in Toronto. Inspired by the spiritual revelations of Alice and John Coltrane in the late 60s, they dedicated themselves to Coltrane’s quest for a transcultural theory of musical transcendence, which ultimately led them to India. Their seven-year sojourn in Kolkata proved transformative as they immersed themselves in the art of North Indian Raga under the guidance of their guru, Pandit Shantanu Bhattacharyya. The Kay brothers received accolades from India’s maestros for their devotion and commitment to Raga, emerging as pioneers in expressing its intricate nuances on the saxophone and earning recognition for rendering the full development of Raga in both vocal and instrumental styles. Jonathan also spent three years in Santiniketan studying the esraj in the lineage of Ranadhir Roy with his guru, Abir Singh Khangura.
Pushing the boundaries of their craft, they have introduced innovative techniques, including Jonathan’s creation of the Shruti-phone, a non-tempered saxophone designed to express the subtle shrutis (micro-tones) of Raga, and Andrew’s development of a full set of tuned Himalayan singing bowls. Their deep engagement with Indian Classical music has led to collaborations with some of India’s most esteemed Maestros, including Subhankar Banerjee, Bickram Ghosh, Tejendra Majumdar, Ronu Majumdar, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Subhen Chatterjee, and Subhajyoti Guha. Through their dedication, innovation, and collaborations, Jonathan and Andrew Kay have become internationally recognized as artists who bring the timeless spirit of Indian Classical music into new sonic horizons while remaining rooted in the tradition of Raga.

Alam Khan & Salar Nader
2026-04-18 20:00 - 22:00
Raag-Mala Toronto and the Aga Khan Museum co-present Alam Khan & Salar Nader

Hear history come alive through the sarod and tabla with Alam Khan and Salar Nader — a duo redefining tradition while honouring centuries of musical heritage. Drawing from the profound teachings of their legendary gurus, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Ustad Zakir Hussain, they weave a mesmerizing tapestry of melody and rhythm that resonates across cultures and generations.
Let their captivating rhythms carry you through intricate tabla patterns and the soul-stirring tones of the sarod in a celebration of lineage, mastery, and the enduring power of music to connect us all. Don’t miss an evening where ancient ragas from the courts of Emperor Akbar come alive through contemporary interpretations, and where virtuosity meets heartfelt expression.

Tickets:Regular $50Raag-Mala Member/AKM Friend: $45Senior/Student: $37.50

Tickets will be reserved for Raag-Mala Benefactors/Patrons

Two-time Grammy-nominated artist Alam Khan, Khalifa of the Seni Maihar Gharana and son of the late legendary maestro of the Sarod, Swara Samrat Ali Akbar Khan, has been captivating audiences worldwide for over 20 years. Since beginning his training at the age of seven, Alam was fortunate to learn in the traditional style of Guru and Shishya (teacher and student) under the careful guidance of his father. The influence of Ali Akbar Khan’s teachings is evident in every note Alam plays, as well as in his imaginative interpretations of ancient ragas passed down from the courts of Emperor Akbar through Mian Tansen in the 16th century.

Alam’s performance career took off when he began accompanying his father on international stages from 1996 to 2006. During this period, he performed at prestigious venues such as the Royal Jodhpur Palace, the Dover Lane Music Festival in Calcutta, New York’s Lincoln Center Jazz Festival, and in highly acclaimed concerts across the United States, Canada, Europe, and India.
While accompanying his father, Alam’s solo career began to take shape in 1998, and since then he has established himself as the true heir to Ali Akbar Khan’s legacy. As one of the leading Sarod players of the Maihar Gharana, Alam has received praise from musical icons such as Ravi Shankar, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, and Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, among many of India’s finest musicians.Alam has had the privilege of performing alongside some of India’s greatest Tabla masters, including Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, Ustad Zakir Hussain, and Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, at renowned venues around the world.

In addition to his classical work, Alam has collaborated with a diverse array of artists across various genres, including the Grammy-winning Tedeschi Trucks Band, Vijay Iyer, Blake Mills, Anoushka Shankar, Karsh Kale, Beats Antique, Bob Weir, The San Francisco Symphony, Del Sol Quartet, and Jack Perla, among others. He is also a founding member of the genre-bending group Grand Tapestry and the primary composer of The Resonance Between.

Alam served as his father’s personal assistant in his final years, helping with teaching at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California—a hub for students and lovers of Indian classical music.
Following his father’s passing in 2009, Alam became the Head of Indian Classical Instrumental Studies at the Ali Akbar College of Music (AACM). He is dedicated to preserving, performing, and sharing the rich tradition of Indian classical music with the world, while helping it flourish in the modern age.

A standout artist of his generation, tabla virtuoso Salar Nader is recognized as a global ambassador weaving South Asian arts into the musical traditions of his Afghanistan heritage. A percussionist, composer, and producer, Nader has studied under Ustad Zakir Hussain since the age of seven. He has toured widely with Stanley Clarke, Kronos Quartet, Wu Man, Miles From India; Central Asian master musicians Homayoun Sakhi and Abbos Kosimovj; and legendary Indian classical musicians including Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Selva Ganesh, Alam Khan, Rahul Sharma, and many others. He has performed and recorded with contemporary and electronic artists including Cheb i Sabbah, Niyaz, and Grand Tapestry.

NEW DATE: Vidushi Ashwini Bhide Deshpande LIVE at Aga Khan Museum
2026-04-23 20:00 - 22:30
Dear Friends,
We are pleased to announce that the rescheduled performance by Vidushi Ashwini Bhide Deshpande will now take place at the Aga Khan Museum on Thursday April 23, 2026, at 8 pm.

Your ticket and seat will be automatically transferred to this new date.

If you are no longer able to attend, you may contact info@agakhanmuseum.org to:

Credit the cost of the ticket to your account for use toward future ticketed events, admission, or performances. It will remain in your account until you use it and does not expire.
Request a refund to the credit card used to buy your ticket.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Your understanding and support are greatly appreciated, and we look forward to enjoying the performance with you on April 23.

Sincerely,

The Raag-Mala Team & Aga Khan Museum

Raag-Mala Toronto, in partnership with the Aga Khan Museum, is proud to present Vidushi Ashwini Bhide Deshpande on Thursday April 23rd at 8pm at the Aga Khan Museum – Nanji Family Foundation Auditorium
Ashwini ji will be accompanied on tabla by Sanjay Deshpande and on harmonium by Siddhesh Bicholkar
TICKETS:
Balcony: $50Orchestra: $60Raag-Mala Member Discount: 10%
A limited number of $20 student tickets will be available for purchase directly from Raag-Mala Toronto. Please email raagmalatoronto@gmail.com for details.

Raag-Mala Benefactors & Patrons:If you are unable to attend a concert, pass your complimentary tickets to a friend!To help us assign seats, you may be contacted to confirm attendance

Vidushi Ashwini Bhide Deshpande is an outstanding vocalist and leading torchbearer of the famed “Jaipur-Atrauli” gharana. She was awarded the Padma Shree in 2025 for her contribution to the arts.
She trained initially under Pandit Narayanrao Datar and later, under her mother Srimati Manik Bhide. Ashwiniji has won numerous awards, including “Pandit Jasraj Gaurav Puraskar”, which was conferred on the occasion of Panditji’s 75th birthday and the “Kumar Gandharva Samman” by the Government of Madhya Pradesh – the first female Hindustani vocalist to have been decorated with this prestigious national award. Ashwiniji has numerous recordings to her credit and is the author of “Ragarachananjali”, a much-lauded book of her self-composed bandishes. She has performed at all prestigious music conferences In India and abroad. She last performed on the Aga Khan Museum stage in 2019, and we are delighted to have this artist, at the height of her music career, present a concert of raag sangeet.
Sanjay Deshpande started learning tabla under Late Pt. Sabade; later he took taleem from Taalyogi Pt. Suresh Talwalkar of Delhi-Farookabad Gharana and received guidance from the maestro Ud. Alla Rakha Khan. Sanjay continues his studies under Pt. Yogesh Samsi and Pt. Vivek Joshi. He is a recipient of the coveted “Ahmedjaan Thirakwa Scholarship” for solo performance, and has accompanied senior artists such as Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Vidushi. Malini Rajurkar, Dr. Prabha Atre, Pt. Dinkar Kaikini, and Vidushi Ashwini Bhide.
Siddhesh Bicholkar has been learning music since childhood and has been privileged to receive guidance from Shri Sharad Mathkar and Pt. Tulsidas Borkar, renowned Harmonium exponent and Guru. He has been the recipient of many eminent music scholarships including from the Government of India.
