KAOCA & NAKA Present: Live in Concert!
Join us for a mesmerizing evening of Indian classical music featuring:
Ankush N. Nayak – Sitar
S. Akash – Flute
Accompanied by Santosh Sajip – Tabla
️Tickets: Adults: $30, Kids: Free
Dinner included!
About the artists:
Ankush N. Nayak (@ankushnsitar)
Sitar virtuoso Ankush Nayak bridges ancient Indian classical traditions with contemporary innovation as one of today's most exciting global music talents. Beginning his musical journey at age 9 under Ustad Rafique Khan of the prestigious Dharwad Gharana, Ankush's mastery of the sitar reflects generations of musical heritage.
His exceptional talent has been recognized with India's highest musical honors, including winning the All India Radio National Music Competition and achieving the coveted A-grade artist status with All India Radio and Doordarshan. The recipient of numerous prestigious awards including the Ravi Koppikar Award from the International Foundation for Fine Arts, Ankush has established himself as a leading voice in classical Indian music.
Beyond traditional performances, Ankush pushes musical boundaries through his fusion band Bhairav and collaborations with world-renowned artists, including Grammy-winner A.R. Rahman and Uzbek percussion master Abbos Kosimov.
A testament to his diverse talents, Ankush holds an MS in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Arizona and currently serves as Director of IT at Expert Group of Institutions. His unique blend of technical expertise and musical artistry creates performances that resonate with both classical purists and contemporary audiences alike.
S. Akash (@sakashflute)
Born into a family of musicians on 13th March 1997, S. Akash showed an extraordinary affinity for music at just 3½ years old. Trained initially by the legendary Pandit Venkatesh Godkindi and currently honing the Gayaki Ang style under Pandit Jayateerth Mevundi for over 21 years, Akash has risen as one of India’s finest young flautists.
A recipient of numerous prestigious awards including the Child Prodigy Award, POGO Amazing Kids Award, Shanmukhananda Sangeetha Shiromani, and Sur Jyotsna National Award, Akash has mesmerized audiences across India and internationally — performing at acclaimed festivals in USA, Germany, Dubai, Turkey, Netherlands, and more.
Having shared stages with legends like Pandit Ajay Chakraborty, Ustad Taufiq Qureshi, and Shankar Mahadevan, Akash continues to enchant audiences worldwide, earning him the title of “Youngest Flute Maestro” by Insync Music.
Santosh Sajip
Santosh Sajip, started learning tabla at the age of 8 from Shri Chausalkar in Bhusawal. He was taught the Lucknow gharana style of playing by Shri Nikhil Pandya at the Ali Akbar College of music in Fremont. He was very fortunate to continue his learning from the legendary master and the doyen of the Lucknow gharana, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri. He has also learnt from his maternal uncle Shri Prabhakar Betrabet who he credits for his constant guidance. He is also a regular attendee of Pandit Yogesh Samsi’s online masterclass workshop.
He has accompanied artists like Smt. Padmini Rao, Smt. Mahalaxmi Shenoy, Shri Bala Chandra Prabhu, and Ustad Hafiz Bale Khan.
He continues to learn from Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri and teaches tabla to aspiring students in Fremont
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