The Grace Goudy Distinguished Artists Series brings world-renowned musicians to Salem every year for performances and residency activities including master classes, student composers' readings and classroom presentations.
On March 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Hudson Hall, we present sitar master Arjun K. Verma, accompanied by tabla master Abhijit Banerjee and Nazan Aktas, tanpura.
Arjun has emerged with a unique voice on the sitar—both within the tradition of North Indian Classical Music, and through his innovative cross-genre collaborations. The son of internationally performing sitarist Roop Verma, who was a disciple of Ali Akbar Khan and Ravi Shankar, Arjun began learning sitar from his father at age five.
As a musician of the Maihar Gharana (style) of Hindustani classical music, Arjun’s playing is based on the music of Maestro Ali Akbar Khan. He has developed innovative sitar techniques inspired by the Maestro’s style, and is also influenced by sitarist Nikhil Banerjee. Arjun’s playing also incorporates musical elements drawn from his long apprenticeship with his father, Roop Verma. The combination of these influences results in a style encompassing the deeply contemplative as well as the exhilarating elements of Indian Music.
Arjun’s music has received critical acclaim from leading publications, including the New York Times, Times of India, Sruti Magazine, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and the San Francisco Chronicle.
Sponsored by Willamette University and directed by Professor Anita King from 1983-2014, the Series is currently directed by Professor Jean-David Coen. The program is supported through an endowment established by The Collins Foundation in the 1990's to honor the late Grace Goudy, an original trustee of the foundation.
For more information call the Willamette Music Department at 503-370-6255. For tickets visit the website wu-das.com or call the box office at 503-370-6221.
