SPOTLIGHT

SEASON FINALE SOUNDS GOOD

US-based artiste Vidushi Mitali Bhawmik.

By MOHAMED KHAKI

Raag-Mala’s final concert of the 2023 season at the Aga Khan Museum has US-based artiste Vidushi Mitali Bhawmik, who performed on the Raag-Mala stage in 2017.

Mitali ji, who was born in Nogaon, Assam, started music taalim at an early age under Sri Ajit Dutta, followed by studies under Pandit Biren Phukan. Later, she received lessons from Vidushi Meera Banerjee (a disciple of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali) and Padma Bhushan Pandit V. G. Jog, the famous violin maestro.

Pandit Jog’s vast experience in the different gharanas helped Mitali ji blend the best of the different traditions in her music, in contrast to adhering to a single gharana. Mitali ji has continued her training in semiclassical music from Srimati Dahlia Rahut, a senior disciple of Vidushi Girija Devi, the legend of Banarasi gayaki.

She has performed widely in India, the US, the UK, and Europe. She is the recipient of the 2021 Excellence in the Arts Award from the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission. Mitali ji is the Director of Ethno-media Music Studio in New Jersey, where she teaches and promotes raag sangeet to the younger generation. She is also the founder of  Raag-Rang, a nonprofit organization which promotes music in the community by arranging concerts by musicians from USA and India.

Toronto’s Kiran Morarji and Hardeep Chana will have an opportunity to showcase their talent as accompanists on tabla and harmonium, respectively.

“Raag-Mala concerts in the spring were extremely well-attended” says Nishant Parekh, president of Raag-Mala Toronto. “We hope for a similar attendance at the finale.”                                                  

• Mohamed Khaki is on the Raag-Mala team.

When and where: Aga Khan Museum Auditorium, 77 Wynford Drive, Toronto. Details and tickets: www.agakhanmuseum.org.