Department of Music

Experience the unique fusion of Indian Classical and Jewish music by the Om Shalom Trio, featuring award-winning artists from India and the US. The artists, performing on the sitar, tabla, and cello, explore the intersection of two, rich musical traditions. The concert will be preceded by a reception from 6-7pm featuring Indian snacks and a display of Indian Jewish art by acclaimed painter, Siona Benjamin. From 2-3:30pm the musicians will present an interactive masterclass for those who wish to learn more about their approach to music. The entire program is free and open to the public and parking is available in the McLeod Hall Garage. This event is presented by The Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth at UVA. Please join us on November 14th and delight in the artistic heritage of these two diverse traditions, brought to the contemporary stage by the Om Shalom Trio.

Artists Bios:

Ranendra Das is an international award-winning tabla player from Sylhet, Bangladesh, with a repertoire that includes Western and Indian Classical music, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Bluegrass. Recent performances include: The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial dedication with President Obama, Madison Square Garden, and Symphony Space.

A Chicagoland native, cellist Jessie Reagen Mann is based in New York City and involved with a variety of musical projects. Jessie has performed at the White House, the Met Ball, at Radio City, Carnegie Hall and on many TV shows performing with Beyonce, Jay-Z, Billy Joel, Frank Ocean, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Adele, Savion Glover as well as many others. She is often found playing with singer-songwriters in NYC's clubs and with her cello duo 2VC. Jessie has recorded for many labels and is also a Musician in Residence at Congregation B’nai Jeshuran on Manhattan's Upper West Side. In May 2010, Jessie received the Outstanding Musical Achievement Award from the Max Reger Foundation of America.

Abhik Mukherjee is a gold–medalist Sitar player from Calcutta, India. His concert tours of Argentina, Suriname, Italy, Germany and Switzerland were widely acclaimed by the press and public. He also shared the stage with legends like Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder in the celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial at Washington DC, in the presence of U.S. President Barack Obama.

Siona Benjamin is a painter originally from Bombay, now living in the US. Her work reflects her background of being brought up Jewish in a predominantly Hindu and Muslim India. In her paintings she combines the imagery of her past with the role she plays in America today, making a mosaic inspired by both Indian miniature paintings and Sephardic icons.

McLeod Hall: 202 Jeanette Lancaster Way, Charlottesville, VA 22903
Parking: McLeod Hall Garage

Interactive Masterclass: 2-3:30pm
Reception: 6-7pm
Concert: 7-9pm
SPICMACAY: Sheethal Jose – sj6hj@virginia.edu
SPICMACAY website: https://pages.shanti.virginia.edu/spicmacay/