Join us for an intimate house baithak celebrating Irvine’s talented local artists and the shared joy of Hindustani classical music. Set in the warmth of a close-knit gathering, the evening will offer a chance to experience ragas up close: personal, immersive, and rooted in community. The concert brings together a rare combination of exceptionally talented vocal, tabla, and sarangi artists, with Sohail Yusuf Khan adding a special dimension to this memorable evening.

1Z2A3400_Edit (2).jpg Sushma Kashyap Pawan is an Irvine-based Hindustani classical vocalist, performer, composer, and teacher. A dedicated Khayal singer, she has performed for leading music organizations across India, including Bangalore, Delhi, Kolhapur, and Hubli, as well as in the United States, including Los Angeles, Houston, and Hawaii. Her musical repertoire spans classical and semi-classical forms, including Khayal, Thumri, devotional music, and ghazals.

In addition to her concert work, Sushma has composed music for short films and plays and has collaborated with international DJ artists to create classical music-based soundscapes. She has also composed fusion ensembles for high school students, reflecting her interest in making classical music accessible to younger and broader audiences.

Sushma is also the founder and teacher of Sunaad Sangeetha Shaale in Irvine, where she works with a small group of serious students. The school emphasizes personal attention and customized instruction based on each student’s musical ability and growth.

Suhail Yusuf Khan is a sarangi player and vocalist from a distinguished musical lineage. Born in 1989, he is the grandson and disciple of Ustad Sabri Khan and also trained under his uncle, Kamal Sabri. Immersed in sarangi from childhood, he developed a refined command of raga, ornamentation, and the expressive nuances of the instrument.

While deeply rooted in Hindustani classical music, Suhail has also brought the sarangi into contemporary and cross-genre settings. He has performed with the fusion band Advaita, toured internationally, appeared at festivals including Glastonbury, and collaborated with artists across classical, folk, and experimental traditions. His work reflects both rigorous classical training and an openness to new musical conversations.

Suhail recently completed his PhD in Ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University, further extending his role as both performer and scholar

Rochan Yakkundi is a Hindustani vocal student of his father, Nachiketa Yakkundi, and has been learning from an early age. He has performed in various concerts throughout the US and India, and enjoys composing intricate musical pieces while delving deep into raag and taan theory. He is currently a PhD student at UCSD studying plasma physics. Since moving to Southern California, he has also become a vocal student of Sanjeev Chimmalgi, a disciple of Pt. C.R. Vyas. Rochan is also a self-taught harmonium player and enthusiast.

Rochan has a Master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan, where he was a member of the Indian classical musical group “Michigan Sahana” and a music director for the graduate student a cappella group “GradTONES”. Additionally, during his undergraduate years at Purdue University, he was a member and captain of the competitive Indian-American a cappella group "Purdue Taal."

Shivam Sudame is a tabla artist from Irvine, California. He began learning tabla at age seven under Shri Hemant Ekbote in Irvine and later studied with Shri Muthu Kumar and Pt. Aditya Kalyanpur. He currently receives taleem from Pt. Anindo Chatterjee, one of the leading masters of the Farrukhabad and Lucknow gharanas. Shivam has performed alongside respected musicians including Pt. Tarun Bhattacharya and Pt. Pankaj Mishra, and has presented solo performances before several noted tabla maestros.

About Sangeethaamsha

Sangeethaamsha is a California 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to promoting South Asian classical music in the San Francisco Bay Area through intimate baithak concerts, workshops, and student scholarships. Every event is a gathering of listeners who share a love for the depth and beauty of Indian classical music.

Your generous donations support our mission to keep this tradition alive and accessible.

Ragas of Summer: A Sangeethaamsha Baithak

Featuring Sushma Pawan (Vocal), Sohail Yusuf Khan (Sarangi), Shivam Sudame (Tabla), and Rochan Yakkundi (Vocal)

Team Members