2025 Events

Kala Darpan is beginning its Fall 2025 with an unique concert of Shehnai presented Pandit Shailesh Bhagwat.

One of the most well known disciples of Late Bharat-Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan Saheb, Pt. Shailesh Bhagwat's rendering of Shehnai is marked with an emotional presentation - which has a systematic blending and an improvisation of Raga in the "Gayaki-Ang". His phenomenal breath-control is superb and notable. No less noteworthy is his inclination in presenting the most intricate Ragas of his Shehnai which are less heard these days, like Raga Shivamat-Bhairav, Shahana-Bahar, Hans-Narayan, Hanskinkini, Meghranjani & many others. The depth and range of his Shehnai has a thorough spiritual, scientific, logical and professional approach towards his Music.

Dr. Ajit Deshmukh will provide Tabla accompaniment to Pt. Bhagwat. He is a disciple of Pt. Pandit Shyam Kane the foremost disciple and also received received training under the guidance of Ustad Zakir Hussain. He has accompanied great artists such as Ustad Aashish Khan, Pt. Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Pt. Madhav Gudi and Pt. Raja Kale. He has also accompanied many US based artists in Chicago and Austin metro areas. Ajit is a also a trained Saxophone player and performed as a part of University of Illinois Jazz band.

Pt. Bhagwat will also be accompanied by Shri. Ravi Saraf on Bansuri and Shri. Rishi Dange on Harmonium.

Ajit and Ravi have been supporters of Kala Darpan and we are extremely happy to get them in a role of artist on Kala Darpan stage.

Sunday August 17, 2025 at 5 PM

Venue: Hope Presbyterian Church 11512 Olson Dr, Austin, TX 78750

Shri Saurabh Kadgaonkar is a gifted Hindustani classical vocalist celebrated for soulful renditions rooted in both the Kirana and Jaipur gharanas. He began his musical journey under his father, Shri Sunil Kadgaonkar, and has been a senior disciple of Pt. Raghunandan Panshikar for 14 years. Holding an M.A. in Vocal Music from Shivaji University and a Sangeet Visharad, Saurabh is known for his rich, emotive voice and versatile repertoire, spanning khayal, bhajans, Natyageet, and semi-classical genres. He has performed in many prestigious conferences including Sawai Gandharva Festival, Pune and also on All India Radio. 

Shri. Bharat Kamat is one of India’s leading Tabla artists who has been well received not only by discerning audiences but also by the lay listener. Born into a distinguished musical family in Pune, he began Tabla training at age five under his father Pt. Chandrakant Kamat – a disciple of Pt. Samta Prasad, and later absorbed the rich Benares repertoire. Clarity, purity of theka and his tone have made Bharat a musician par excellence. His accompaniment clearly reflects a deep understanding of the musical requirements of various gharanas in khyal music. He has accompanied many legendary artists and had a long association with Pt. Bhimsen Joshi.

Shri. Ameya Bichu is a rising harmonium artist from Pune, whose sensitive accompaniment and deep grasp of Hindustani classical music have drawn considerable attention. Trained under Shri Tanmay Deochake, Taalyogi Pt. Suresh Talwalkar, and Vidushi Padma, he holds a B.A. in Music (Harmonium) from Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University and has studied for over six years under eminent mentors. He has accompanied distinguished artists winning recognition and awards at national competitions.

Sunday October 3, 2025 Friday at 7 PM

Venue: TBD

India Music Festival - A platform for young artists from Austin community!

Date:    TBD

Venue: TBD

Audience tickets for this event are just $10 for adults.

The event is free for kids (0-18 years). 

Kala Darpan is beginning its Spring 2025 with an extremely talented Hindustani vocal artist Smt. Shashwati Mandal !!!

Shashwati Mandal upholds the finest aspects of the Gwalior gharana, the oldest surviving style of khayal singing. She was born into a family of successful musicians - her grandfather Balabhau Umdekar 'Kundalguru' was a Scindias court musician in pre-Independence times. She studied under the demanding tutelage of her mother Kamal Mandal, Balasaheb Poonchwale, and has also delved into the Gwalior gharana’s ancestry by studying Dhrupad with the Gundecha Brothers.

Her style is also influenced by detailed study of other traditions including ghazal, thumri, Carnatic pallavi, and the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She is considered to be one of the finest exponents of tappa - a semi-classical style derived from Punjabi camel-riders with fast, distinctively angular melodies and lyrics which typically depict the emotional outbursts of a lover.

She will be accompanied by Shri. Nishad Kanhere on Tabla and Smt. Aarti Shankar on Violin.

Sunday February 9, 2025 at 3 PM

Venue: Hope Presbyterian Church 11512 Olson Dr, Austin, TX 78750

India Dance Festival

This is the most awaited dance festival in Austin dance students. The program invite talented Indian classical and folk dance students and enthusiasts from the community.

March 1, 2025 at 3pm

Venue: George Washington Carver Museum
1165 Angelina Street

Austin, TX 78702 

Kala Darpan is thrilled to bring an unique concert titled Sur Sadhika presented by the eminent artist of current generation Vidushi Devaki Pandit !! Devaki ji need to introduction. She is among the foremost vocalists of the country. She is a disciple of Ganasaraswati Kishori Amonkar and Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki. Her gayaki is thus influenced by her legendary gurus and their unique aesthetic approach to music.  

Sur Sadhika is an unique concert that pay a tribute to the legendary women singers from India. The program is based on all popular compositions, songs, ghazals, Thumri etc. by the greatest women from Indian Music field such as Smt. Kishori Amonkar, Smt. Lata Mangeshkar, Begum Akhtar, Smt. Shobha Gurtu, Abida Parveen, Madhurani, and Farida Khanum. Austin music lovers should not miss this event.

She will be accompanied by Shri. Harshad Kanetkar on Tabla and Shri. Abhinay Ravande on Harmonium.

Saturday March29, 2025 at 5 PM

Venue: Covenant United Methodist Church, 4410 Duval Rd #6808, Austin, TX-78727 

Keeping our promise to the next generation artist, here is a great concert which brings three young talents in both individual and duet forms of presentations.
Megha Rawoot is a Mumbai based sitar player. Currently she is a disciple of Sitar Maestro Purbayan Chatterjee. She has taken the training in sitar from Mrs. Deepti Mishra and Pt. Madan Shankar Mishra also. She has done her Bachelor’s degree in Hindustani music (sitar) from Miranda house, Delhi University and completed Masters in performing arts (sitar). She is an awardee of National scholarship for junior category in the field of sitar by CCRT, ministry of culture and an awardee of Scholarship for young artist in the same field by Ministry of culture. She has performed in many national and state competitions in India. She was runner up in 19th national youth festival “Bandhav” and represented Delhi, held in Assam. She has been an artist in All India Radio. She has performed in 140th Harivallabh sangeet samaroh. She has performed National and International stages.

Ninad Daithankar is a promising Santoor player of his generation. Having born into a family of musicians, Ninad was fascinated by the sound of Santoor from early childhood. At the age of 12, Ninad started receiving his formal training in Santoor from his father & Guru Dr. Dhananjay Daithankar ( Disciple of Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma) and he has been learning Santoor for past 12 years. Ninad has also completed M.A. (Santoor) from Bharati Vidyapeeth's performing centre with distinction. He has performed extensively in various prestigious Music festivals. 

​He is a recipient of many prestigious awards which include Citi-NCPA scholarship, Ajay Bakshi Smruti Puraskar, Indumati Kale Yuva Vadyavadak puraskar.

Both will be accompanied on young talented Tabla by Pravan Gurav. He started his Tabla lessons from his father and then got tutelage of great Tabla maestros such as Pandit Nana Mulye and Shri. Suresh Samant. Currently, Pranav is honing his skills and learning nuances of the Tabla art from one of the leading Tabla player Dr. Aneesh Pradhan, an exponent of Farrukhabad Gharana. 

Saturday May 3, 2025 at 5 PM

Venue: Covenant United Methodist Church, 4410 Duval Rd #6808, Austin, TX-78727