Join us for an evening of Indian classical music with Warren Senders!
Friday, May 5th | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. ET | 524 Luther Bonney Hall, Portland | Free and open to the public
About Warren Senders
One of the world’s great improvisational song forms is khyal, the richly ornamented classical singing of North Indian tradition. Acclaimed as the foremost non-Indian performer of this beautiful idiom, Warren Senders lived in India for many years, learning the khyal style from master teacher Pt. S.G. Devasthali, a senior disciple of the great Gwalior maestro, Pandit Gajananrao Joshi. He has performed throughout the world, enrapturing audiences and critics with a unique combination of authenticity and originality. His CD release, “The Beauty of Khyal,” features mesmerizing renditions of five evening and night ragas.
…an amazing man, an amazing artist.”
— Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, interviewed in Little India, September 2002
Mr. Senders has received grants and fellowships including the Indo-American Fellowship, the Jon B. Higgins Memorial Scholarship for Indian Music, a Senior Research Fellowship and a Performing Arts Fellowship from the American Institute of Indian Studies, support for music composition from Meet the Composer, and travel awards from the Fund for U.S. Artists. His writings on music have been published by Rhythm Magazine, Bansuri, the New England Conservatory Journal for Learning Through Music, and World Rhythm. Also a jazz musician, his original instrumental music can be heard on CDs by “Antigravity” and the Jazz Composers’ Alliance Orchestra.
”Warren’s talent of keeping listeners engrossed by his delightful singing…
comes from this same attitude of heartily enjoying the process of musical discovery.”
— Chaitanya Kunte, Tarun Bharat, Pune, India
An internationally recognized educator and a faculty member of Tufts University and the New England Conservatory of Music, Mr. Senders has given hundreds of lecture demonstrations, master-classes, and clinics, for interested learners from kindergartners to elders. He has developed extensive course material on the structure and aesthetics of Hindustani music, and has introduced students at colleges and universities all over the United States, Canada, and India to aspects of Indian music.
Mr. Senders is also a dedicated environmental activist. From producing over twenty environmental benefit concerts and working as program director of Music 4 Climate Justice, to his daily climate vigil near his home outside Boston, to risking arrest in non-violent civil disobedience, he has worked ceaselessly to raise public awareness of the devastating impacts of planetary climate change.
About the Accompanists
Shri Rajesh Pai started learning the Tabla in Udupi, Karnataka at the age of eight and had his formal training under his Gurus Shri Shrihari Marate and Shri Vittaldas Bhat for over ten years. He has accompanied many artists in classical, light classical and fusion concerts. He has been a very active Tabla accompanist/teacher, and is regularly featured in events in the New England area.
Kaavya Valiveti received her initial music training in Carnatic music from her mother Smt. Natana Valiveti and in western classical music from various teachers. For the past ten years she has been a disciple of harmonium maestro Pt. Dr. Ravindra Katoti of Bengaluru. She has given solo performances, has been a part of jugalbandis, and has accompanied many vocalists, tabla artists, and kathak dancers.
