Reena Esmail: Fusing Worlds Through Sound And Culture
India-West Staff Reporter
LOS ANGELES, CA – When Reena Esmail takes the stage or sits at her piano, the blending of two musical worlds is not just apparent—it’s an embodiment of her life’s work. An Indian American composer, Esmail bridges the traditions of Indian and Western classical music, creating compositions that resonate across cultures and bring communities together.
Known for her commitment to making music spaces more inclusive, she’s now taking this vision a step further with the release of Sŭnāō—a set of three songs designed to introduce young Western choirs to the rich traditions of Hindi language and Hindustani raag.
A first-generation American, Esmail’s journey began at The Juilliard School, where she earned her bachelor’s in music, followed by further studies at the Yale School of Music, culminating in a Doctorate.
Her passion for Hindustani music led her to India on a Fulbright-Nehru grant, where she studied under Lakshmi Shankar and Gaurav Mazumdar. Her doctoral thesis, Finding Common Ground: Uniting Practices in Hindustani and Western Art Music, examined the collaborative process between these two worlds.
Whether composing for the Seattle Symphony or the Kronos Quartet, Esmail’s music blends the precision of Western traditions with the expressiveness of Indian classical music, capturing a wide range of human experiences. Works such as This Love Between Us, which explores India’s seven major religions, reflect her ability to weave the classical elements together and her compositions have been performed by ensembles like the Los Angeles Master Chorale and BBC Singers.
Her latest project, Sŭnāō, builds on her mission of musical collaboration. The three songs introduce young Western choirs to the intricacies of Hindi and Hindustani raag, encouraging them to engage with sounds of another culture. With lyrics written by Reena Bhansali and Hindi transcription by Esmail herself, Sŭnāō offers an accessible entry point for young singers to explore South Asian musical traditions.
Esmail is excited by the response to Sŭnāō, telling India-West, “Sŭnāō has been an incredible success so far—it is one of the first original Hindi-language music publications through Oxford University Press, and choirs all over the US are singing it.”
“The greatest joy,” Esmail said, has been “seeing the massive increase in the youngest generation of desi children joining choirs at their schools—and we are so happy to be able to meet them with music that is in a language that many of them speak.”
“The songs have already been performed at Carnegie Hall and the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in the UK, demonstrating their broad appeal,” Esmail continues.
Reflecting on her own experiences, Esmail says, “I know that when I was in grade school, I never had the opportunity to share my culture through music, and it makes me so happy to meet so many young South Asian students who feel proud to share their culture in a way that everyone can relate to and enjoy.”
As the Artistic Director of Shastra, a non-profit she founded, Esmail fosters cross-cultural dialogue through music.
Through her compositions and educational projects, Esmail, who has appeared on PBS’s Great Performances, where her work was featured, is about fostering inclusivity and connection.
Listen to Sŭnāō here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPwrDCF4S4Q.
