Sandeep Das
Sandeep Das is one of the leading Tabla virtuosos in the world today. Having established himself as India’s top Tabla maestro, he has also built a prolific international reputation.He is one of the unique Indian classical musicians who has collaborated and performed with and composed for major symphony orchestras, string quartets, and jazz musicians with regularly featured concerts at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Hollywood Bowl, Royal Albert Hall and the Concertgebouw, to name a few. He has performed at prestigious events such as 150 years celebration of the UNO at the General Assembly Hall in NYC, Opening ceremony of the Special Olympics in Shanghai, Opening ceremony of the 1st Asia Expo in Kunming, China, The World Economic Forum in Switzerland and for visiting dignitaries like the Queen of England, Queen of Thailand, the Pope and various other visiting country heads. His collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble (SRE) for “Sing Me Home” won the 2017 Grammy Award for the Best World Music album. He has had two previous Grammy nominations in 2005 and 2009.
Das has composed several pieces combining both percussion and melody. His latest composition “ King Ashoka” recently premiered at UC Santa Barbara by Yo-Yo Ma and The SRE and also toured in Asia. “Tarang” was chosen as the theme music for “Blind Sight,” a documentary about the first Everest climb by six blind climbers. “Mohini” became theme music for the Japanese TV channel NHK’s 10-episode documentary on the Silk Road. “Srishti” a percussive rich composition has been performed worldwide.
Das is the founder of HUM (Harmony and Universality through Music). HUM’s mission is two-fold: to promote global understanding through performance and education and provide learning opportunities and scholarships for specially-abled children with potential in any genre of art to empower them to lead self reliant lives. Since its inception, HUM has grown in size and now supports six specially-abled children through a National Scholarship, the first of its kind in India.
Das had intensively trained for 12 years, starting at the age of 7 in the centuries-old Indian tradition of Guru-Shishya Parampara of living with his Guru—Pandit Kishan Maharaj— and learning and practicing music as a way of life, more than just an art form. His training and life experiences provide a unique, educational opportunity for students and ensembles to learn from. He has been on faculty for the last five years at the Harvard Education School Summer Institute and has been an artist in residence at various universities like Dartmouth, Brandeis, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Clara, College of the Holy Cross, Juilliard school of Music, Berklee School of Music, UC British Columbia and many others.
A Gold Medalist in English Literature from Banaras Hindu University in India, he went to school at the prestigious St.Xaviers in Patna. He is an artist, performer, composer, and cultural and educational entrepreneur. He currently resides in Boston, USA.
Testimonial and Press
Yo-Yo Ma: “Sandeep transcends his instrument- when he plays the Tabla he is a creator of myths, a master communicator and an orchestra, all in one. In my decades of collaboration around the world, he is easily one of the greatest artists I have ever met. Not only is he one of the best artists I have met but he is also once one of the best teachers I have met. I believe there is no one he cannot engage!”
New York Times: “The Breathless duet by the cellist and Sandeep Das was a highlight of the evening. He can turn any performance into a visual spectacle.”
Washington Post: “Tarang” (Waves) by Sandeep Das…The Jocular atmosphere evident on the players’ faces…everyone was having a good time!”
The Independent (U.K.) BBC Proms: “The Indian Tabla player Sandeep Das’ piece became the mainstay of this afternoon Prom!”
Chicago Tribune: “Sandeep Das’ awesome table playing …The sheer timbral variety he achieved on the Tabla contributed to its hypnotic effect!”
Inquirer (Singapore): “The infectious finale, Sandeep Das’ “Tarang” ended in euphoria. The seemingly never ending applause obliged the ensemble to give three encores.”
Los Angeles Times: “Fabulous Tabla playing by Sandeep Das in a composition of his own”
