Raag-Mala Toronto

Pt. Uday Bhawalkar LIVE at Ismaili Centre Toronto
2026-05-30 20:00 - 22:00 UTC | Ismaili Centre Toronto, 49 Wynford Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M3C 1K1, Canada
Raag-Mala Toronto, in partnership with the Aga Khan Museum, is proud to present a Dhrupad Vocal recital by Pt. Uday Bhawalkar on Saturday May 30th at 8pm at the Ismaili Centre Toronto
Ashwini ji will be accompanied on pakhawaj by Pratap Awad
TICKETS:
General Admission: $50Raag-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.
The front section will be reserved for Raag-Mala Benefactors & Patrons – unassigned General Seating.

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

Uday Bhawalkar is among the foremost Dhrupad vocalists and has been a strong force in its growing recognition, popularity and resurgence, worldwide. He’s a disciple of Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar (vocal) and Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (Rudra-Veena), the towering pillars of the Dhrupad tradition. Uday believes that when immersed in the note and raga, the self dissolves and only the music remains.
Uday has an engaging style and is able to reach out and communicate with audiences of all backgrounds. He has widely performed in the UK , Europe, USA, Canada, Mexico, Singapore, Japan, Israel, Morocco, Bangladesh and Nepal. He has also collaborated with artists from other disciplines and culture and has contributed to the soundtracks for international arts films.
He has taught internationally at institutions such as the Rotterdam Music Conservatory, The University of Washington, Seattle and the Asian music circuit, London, to name a few. He is a Guru at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy at Kolkata, Bengal Foundation’s” Parampara Sangeetalay”, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
In recognition for his artistry, he has received many prestigious awards including the Kumar Gandharva Samman (2001) and the Raza Foundation Award (2007), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2021, Kalidas Samman 2022 and Hanumant Award 2023.
Pratap Awad has received his training in the Pakhawaj from Pandit Subhash Maharaj Deshmukh, Pandit Uddhav Aapegaonkar , Pandit Vasantrao Ghorpadkar and Pt Arvind kumar Azad , Currently he is taking training from Talyogi Pt. Suresh Talwalkar
Pratap has given many solo performances and is a vibrant accompanist for many Dhrupad musicians and instrumentalists both in India and abroad. He has performed in many prestigious festivals in India USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Japan, Singapore, Israel, Bangladesh He has received Government of Maharashtra scholarship in 2004, National Scholarship in 2011 and awards like First prize in All India Radio competition 2007, Talmani Puraskar 2008, National Gold Medal 2010, Yashwanth Rao Chavan Yuva Sangeet Sanman 2017, Kala Govrav Sanman 2019

Pt. Pankaj Mishra and Vinay Desai with Vivek Pandya
2026-06-13 19:30 - 21:30 | 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 Pt. Pankaj Mishra and Vinay Desai with Vivek Pandya on Saturday June 13th at 7:30pm at the Aga Khan Museum – Nanji Family Foundation Auditorium

TICKETS:
Balcony: $40Orchestra: $50Raag-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

Pt. Pankaj Mishra
Pt. Pankaj Mishra is one of the foremost Sarangi virtuosos of his generation, carrying the proud legacy of the Banaras Gharana. Trained under the strict guidance of the legendary Pt. Mahesh Prasad Mishra of Banaras Gharana. Pankaj embodies the rare blend of tradition, depth, and emotion that defines the finest of Indian classical music.
Pankaj is a Visharad from Prayag Sangeet Samiti and an “A” graded artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan. Pankaj is celebrated for his soulful renditions and the rare finesse with which he brings the voice of the sarangi to life.
Currently based in Toronto, Canada, he has performed across India, the U.S., Canada, Most European countries, Kenia, and Trinidad, leaving an indelible mark on audiences worldwide. He has graced some of the most prestigious stages, including the Dover Lane Music Conference, Sangeet Piyasi, Swar Samrat Festival, and the Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh, Red Rocks, Ali Akbar College, and many more on the list.
A highly sought-after accompanist and soloist, Pankaj has collaborated with legends across genres—Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri, Pt. Kumar Bose, Pt. Anindo Chatterjee, Vidushi Girija Devi, Ustad Tari Khan, Ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali, and Pt. Birju Maharaj, to name just a few. Equally revered in Classical, Ghazal, Kathak, and Bollywood & Hollywood circles, his versatility and mastery have made him a global ambassador of the sarangi.
Pt. Pankaj Mishra’s artistry reached a landmark achievement with his contribution to the GRAMMY Award-Winning 2026 — IMMERSED (Album from Canada). His sarangi performance brings depth to the album, bridging Indian classical tradition with a contemporary global soundscape.
With every performance, Pt. Pankaj Mishra offers more than music—he offers a journey into the soul of an ancient art form, carried forward with grace, brilliance, and devotion.
Vinay Desai
Vinay is a direct disciple of the world-renowned Santoor Maestro Padma Vibhusan Pandit Shivkumar Sharmaji. After graduating from college in Delaware, Vinay sought out to learn Santoor in India. Having had some background training in tabla and vocal, in 2011, Pandit Shivkumar Sharmaji guided Vinay to begin his training under Takahiro Arai and Kunal Gunjal, before being accepted by Panditji himself. Vinay regularly performs throughout USA, including Hawaii, Argentina, Canada, The Bahamas, Australia, and India. He has performed for some of the well known organizations and prestigious festivals in different countries including Fringe Festival in Adelaide, Mona Foma in Tasmania, Lollapalooza Festival in Argentina (Vinay was one of the first Santoor players to play in an orchestra in Argentina), Festival of Tabla in L.A., KBF Festival in Arizona, Kussum Mahotsav TSA in NJ, Darpan in Texas, Jaipur Literature Festival, SwarZankar in Pune, Swar Samarat Festival in Kolkata, NMACC in Mumbai, Hamsadhwani, Matra in Kolkata, Starglam Entertainment in Canada, among many others. Though specializing in Indian Classical Music, Vinay has worked with all genres with shows of Bollywood music, Hollywood music, Theater and drama music, etc. He is known for his meditative and dynamic musical phrases. His devotion to the purity and the depth of Shivkumar Sharma’s style comes forth in performance. Vinay continues to spread his Guru’s work not only through performances but also teaching and lecturing at different places. He has performed with legends including Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, Ustad Tari khan, Ustad Sukhvinder Singh Pinky. and some of the most glamorous upcoming Tabla players. Vinay is known for his superlative melodic improvisations and sharp sense of rhythm. He has an astonishing ability to embrace, dive into and reinterpret traditional music.
Vivek Pandya
Vivek Pandya is a rising star in the world of Indian classical percussion, widely regarded as one of the most promising young tabla players of his generation. His journey began at the age of three when his parents first noticed his uncanny precision as he playfully mimicked rhythmic patterns on the tabla. Recognizing his natural talent, his father took a keen interest in his musical development and decided to take him to study formally. This early exposure to formal training set him on a path that would soon reveal his exceptional musicality and innate understanding of rhythm.
Trained for over 15 years under Pt. Anindo Chatterjee, Vivek has developed a distinctive style that blends technical brilliance with deep artistic expression. Known for his exceptional clarity and control, he has mastered complex techniques such as the intricate dhir dhir and the challenging one-finger na dhin dhin na, which add depth and complexity to his performances.
Vivek made his national debut on NYC radio, and has since performed at prestigious venues, including Lincoln Center in New York City and the EMPAC Concert Hall at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His captivating performances—both as a soloist and as an accompanist to renowned musicians—have earned him recognition as an upcoming young maestro in the world of Indian percussion.
In addition to his classical music performances, Vivek has explored new musical frontiers through projects like the albums “Strive” and “20 for 20,” where he collaborates with artists from diverse genres, expanding the reach of the tabla. His versatility and dedication continue to earn him admiration, and he is widely regarded as one of the most exciting tabla players to watch in the coming years.
With his technical brilliance, creative vision, and unwavering commitment to his craft, Vivek Pandya is on the path to becoming a defining figure in the world of tabla, poised to influence generations to come.

Arati Ankalikar Tikekar: August 15th 2026
2026-08-15 17:30 - 19:30 | Chinmaya Mission Toronto, 8832 The Gore Road, Brampton, Ontario, L6P 0B1, Canada
Dear Friends,

We regret to inform you that the upcoming performance of Arati Ankalikar Tikekar, scheduled for August 15th has been cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances.

Ticketholders will be contacted directly.

Thank you for your understanding.

We hope to see you during our fall season at the Aga Khan Museum.

The Raag-Mala Team

Raag-Mala Toronto is proud to present a vocal recital by Arati Ankalikar Tikekar on Saturday August 15th at 5:30pm at Chinmaya Mission Toronto.

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.
Arati ji will be accompanied by local artists Samidha Joglekar & Anuja Panditrao (vocal accompaniment), Rigved Deshpande (tabla) and Sushant Anantharam (harmonium)
Tickets:
Members (*including Patrons): $35
Non-Members: $40
Please send an etransfer to raagmalatorontopayments@gmail.com
Benefactors receive complimentary tickets
*This concert is not part of our regular concert season
