Sanjeev Abhyankar Headlines Inaugural ‘Next Wave’ Series Concert In SoCal

India-West Staff Reporter

IRVINE, CA – The inaugural concert of the Next Wave Series took place on March 30 at the Winnifred Smith Hall on the University of California, Irvine campus, drawing an audience of over 150 music enthusiasts. The event showcased a blend of emerging and established Indian classical artists, marking the beginning of a new cultural initiative in Southern California.

The evening opened with a Carnatic vocal performance by the Chari Sisters, supported by Gopal Ravindran on the mrudangam and Nikita Kaushik on the violin. Their set captivated the audience, highlighting the rich nuances of South Indian classical music.

The main performance featured renowned Hindustani vocalist Sanjeev Abhyankar, accompanied by Sanjay Deshpande on the tabla and Abhishek Shinker on the harmonium, delivering a mesmerizing recital.

Reflecting on the experience, Abhyankar praised the venue and the audience, stating, “This concert had everything a musician needs: a wonderful auditorium, a very receptive and nice audience, and a good sound system. So I enjoyed the concert thoroughly and would love to come and perform here again.”

Emerging artist Sanchitha Chari expressed gratitude for the platform and the opportunity to engage with Abhyankar. “It means a lot for us to have such immense support at this stage in our musical journey. We were lucky to interact with and hear words of encouragement from Sri Sanjeev Abhyankar before the concert. To get that from a musician of his caliber just means so much to us.”

The Next Wave Series is the brainchild of philanthropists Anupama and Mihir Worah, who aim to bring world-class Indian and global music to Southern California. Launched in collaboration with Dhwani Academy, the series seeks to showcase both distinguished artists from India and promising talents from the U.S. and Orange County in particular.