Concert Video Duration : 35 mins
Concert link will be live until March 1 .

Harmonic Journeys’ music captures the spirit of blending diverse influences and the transformative and unifying power of music and art inspired by nature.

Check out this YouTube video
https://youtu.be/mb5HCJ9ziWA?si=2OYEgwvUsJkynUUL
Maestro Alif Laila shares her thoughts and experiences about the two musical segments presented in this concert. She provides an insightful look into her creative process and the emotions behind each piece

1. This sitar concert was part of East Meets West collaboration with the York River Symphony Orchestra, in the fall of 2024 at the Diamonstein Hall --Ferguson Center for the Arts, reflecting the intricate fusion of sitar, tabla, and string orchestra with the profound synergy between South Asian Classical, Western classical music, and art expressing the emotions of the music with watercolor painting images.
This extraordinary collaboration's journey unfolded entirely in the virtual realm, proving that physical distance is no barrier to meaningful connection. Yet, amidst the screens and networks, our unwavering desire to create something profound was the most tangible and dominant force.
The concert begins with a traditional sitar composition in Raag Bhairavi inspired by the legendary Ustad Allauddin Khan’s composition showcasing the timeless beauty of classical music. This was followed by a modern composition in Raag Bhairavi, blending classical heritage with contemporary sensibilities. The music culminated in a breathtaking finale, where the sitar and the York River Symphony Orchestra (YRSO) merged in harmony. The seamless interplay between Indian classical melodies and Western orchestral arrangements symbolized a profound cultural connection.

2. Rising of the Soul, a spontaneous musical conversation between Sitar and Arab percussion, was physically propelled by natural elements like wind and sunlight. These elements added a dynamic and spiritual dimension to the performance, emphasizing the transformative connection between the human spirit and the natural world. This thematic blend offers an immersive experience, celebrating the unity of artistic discipline and the organic rhythm of nature and life.
Raag Sohini resonates with the voice of the emotion portrayed in this ‘on the spur’ musical conversation between Sitar and Arab percussions ( Derbuka and Riq).

About the artists :

Conductor Eric Reiff of the York River Symphony Orchestra has worked with orchestras in the U.S. and internationally, including in Austria, Brazil, China, Israel, and Russia. He debuted at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall in 1994. In Israel, he conducted the Jerusalem New Music Ensemble and other orchestras. In 1998, he recorded with China's National Opera and Ballet Orchestra. He served as Artistic Director of the Israel–American Music Consortium. Dr. Reiff joined YRSO as a violinist in 2008 and later became a Conductor. In October 2000 he was invited to be Resident Conductor of the Calcutta Foundation Orchestra in Calcutta, India. He is now part of Hampton University's Department of Music and Performing Arts and serves as its Music Librarian.

Maestro Alif Laila on sitar: A musician, composer, and painter, from Dhaka, Bangladesh, trained in Indian classical sitar under Ustad Mir Qasem Khan, nephew of Ustad Allauddin Khan (Ravi Shankar’s guru). She has performed at venues such as The Clarice Smith Performings Center for the Arts, the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater, the Metropolitan Museum of Arts, and major international venues in her twenty-five years of performing career. She has collaborated with tabla legends such as Pandit Anindo Chatterjee and Ustad Taari Khan and materialized numerous world music projects with an array of musical genres. She is featured on the Maryland State Arts Council Touring Roster. Aramco World Culture Magazine featured her in 2021. In addition, she is a prolific creator and producer whose audio-visual concerts express the emotions of her composed raags through her paintings. She is the founder & director of Sitar Niketan, a music school in Maryland, pioneering a student sitar ensemble in the Washington D.C. area. For more information: www.aliflailasitar.com

Abhay Kulkarni, on tabla was initiated to it by his father, Pandit Amutesh Kulkarni, and is now a disciple of Pandit Dr. Satish Hampiholi, in Bengaluru, India. He has performed in many prestigious venues with many eminent artists of Indian classical music.. He received the “Baala Prathibe” award, “Karnataka Kalaashri” by Govt. of Karnataka, India, the “Prathiba Puraskaara” by Sadguru Music Academy, and many more. He is an Electronics Engineer.

John Carr, on tanpura is Sitar Maestro Alif Laila’s ‘shishya’ (devoted student). He has performed in numerous concerts in the Washington DC area with the Sitar Niketan Student Ensemble. He has accompanied his guru, in many concerts over the years. He is an Astrophysicist by profession.

Khaled Al Maoulaoui, who performs on Derbuka and Riq, is a Syrian Dervish dancer and acclaimed percussionist. He is celebrated for his captivating performances, which blend traditional Middle Eastern music with the spiritual art of whirling. Khaled is known widely for his deep mastery of rhythms and his profound, soulful connection to the melodies of diverse traditions. His ability to instantly resonate with the mood of any piece makes his performances truly captivating and unforgettable.