Sangeethaamsha in collaboration with India Community Center, West Valley and India Community Center, Milpitas is proud to present our annual fall concert this year. We're proud to host two excellent performances by Alam Khan, Son of the legendary Sarode Maestro, Swara Samrat Ali Akbar Khan, and Rujul Pathak, disciple of Ustad Shaukat Hussain Khan of the Agra Atrauli Gharana. Excellent musicians, Amod Dandawate on Tabla, Vijay Ghaskadvi on Harmonium, and more will accompany them.

When: Sunday, October 13th, 2024

Where: ICC Milpitas, Aspen Hall, 525 Los Coches St, Milpitas, CA 95035

Early bird tickets are on sale now. Ticket prices go up on September 15th.

Artist Bios

Alam Khan is the son of legendary Sarode maestro Ali Akbar Khan. Since training in the Maihar Seni Gharana tradition from the age of 7, Alam has carried on his father's musical legacy, both as a performer accompanying Ali Akbar Khan and through his own acclaimed solo career since 1998. Alam has performed at prestigious venues around the world, establishing himself as the true heir and face of a new generation of Sarode players in the Maihar Gharana tradition. He has collaborated with renowned Indian classical musicians as well as artists from diverse genres. In his final years, Alam assisted him in teaching at the Ali Akbar College of Music. Now, Alam carries on this legacy, dedicated to preserving, performing, and teaching this musical tradition to the world.

Rujul Pathak is a talented exponent of Hindustani Classical Vocal Music. Since childhood, she has been immersed in a culturally rich family environment where music is more than a hobby. Since the age of 14, she has been trained in the Agra Atrauli Gharana tradition under the tutelage of Ustad Shaukat Hussain Khan at the renowned Saptak School of Music in Ahmedabad. At a young age, Rujul has already achieved significant accolades in Indian Classical Music. Her vocal performances showcase a rare blend of creativity and preparation, and she has won prestigious awards like the Pt. Omkarnath Thakur award from the Gujarat Sangeet Natak Academy, and has been conferred the coveted title of "Surmani" in recognition of her promising talent. Rujul has performed at renowned venues and also creates youtube videos of traditional compositions to popularize them to the masses. In addition to her musical artistry, Rujul is also a kathak dancer, having learned this dance form for the past two decades. Rujul holds a BS in Statistics and MBA degree and works as an IT technology leader in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Vijay Ghaskadvi is a talented harmonium player and dedicated student of Indian Classical Music. He began learning harmonium from his father at a young age, and later developed his own style, fusing the instrument's characteristic quick taans with smooth, flute-like transitions between ragas. Vijay has performed extensively in the US and India, and has been fortunate to accompany many esteemed artists. His dedication to music also extends to teaching, and he offers instruction at various levels, covering both theoretical and practical aspects of Indian Classical Music. In addition to his musical pursuits, Vijay is a technology leader in Silicon Valley and an alumnus of IIT Bombay.

Amod Dandawate is a dedicated tabla artist specializing in the Farrukhabad style. His musical journey began with early exposure to tabla through his father, Late Dr. Vasantrao Dandawate, and after completing his engineering degree, he pursued the art form through other acclaimed teachers. He has been under the tutelage of Pt. Samir Chatterjee for over a decade, receiving intensive training in the guru-shishya tradition. Amod is a sought-after accompanist, having supported numerous major artists from India and the US. He is also actively involved in teaching and promoting Indian classical music in the tri-state area, and now Bay area. Apart from his musical achievements, Amod also holds a doctorate in Electrical Engineering.

Tanmay Bichu began learning tabla since the age of 6, under Shree Manohar Pimpalaskar. He has been taking advanced training under Pt. Ramdas Palsule for more than 10 years and is now learning under Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri at the Ali Akbar College of Music. He has also received guidance from eminent tabla maestros like Pt. Arup Chattopadhyay and Ustaad Zakir Hussain. He is an active performer in various Indian Classical and World Music concerts in India and the US. He has performed several Tabla solos in India and the US and is a sought after accompanist for all formats of Indian Classical Music - vocal, instrumental and dance. Tanmay holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech and works as a research engineer in the Bay area.

Sangeethaamsha's story

During the pandemic, Classical musicians in India were hit hard because the two primary opportunities to make money (live events and teaching) were banned. For an art form that thrives in small groups, COVID was particularly devastating. Sign up to our newsletter at sangeethaamsha.com to learn more.

Originally started by a small group of volunteers, who raised money (in Dollars) and paid artists in India to hold virtual Zoom concerts for a small audience in the US.

Encouraged by feedback from the local community, a small group of volunteers formally incorporated Sangeethaamsha as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2022.

Our goal now is to nurture, teach, produce, or provide access to a variety of arts experiences encompassing the visual, media, or performing arts, with particular intent to promote the rich heritage of the Classical Hindustani music to the young members of the community as well as the mainstream population in the U.S. Founded and operated by a group of volunteers from Silicon Valley, CA and the greater San Francisco area,

Our performances are typically organized in the “Baithak” style, providing an intimate musical experience exchange between the artist and the audience. This style elevates appreciation of the music, accelerates learning, and importantly, helps interpret artist’s musical expression.

We also hold free-workshops and invite visiting guests, teachers, and artists to perform in intimate venues.

Sangeethaamsha's Fall Festival 2024

Fall classical concert featuring Alam Khan, Rujul Pathak, and other acclaimed local classical musicians.