In Surrey on Saturday, July 12, a candlelit evening with Alam Khan promises "a soul-stirring journey through the sounds of Indian classical music, led by one of the most respected sarod players of our time."
His "Ragas that Colour the Mind" concert is at Surrey Arts Centre's Main Stage, where Khan will be joined by Eman Hashimi on tabla.
Khan, son of the late sarod virtuoso Ali Akbar Khan, will perform in a co-presentation of Surrey Civic Theatres and Indian Summer Festival. Tickets range from $29 to $49, depending on the zone in the 402-seat theatre, on , or call 604-501-5566.
The night before, Khan will meet fans in Friday, July 11 at the Bear Creek Park theatre.
"In this session," says , "Alam will share insights into the deep-rooted tradition of the Senia Maihar Gharana, discuss the nuances of the sarod鈥� its tonal depth, intricate technique and expressive capacity 鈥� and trace his personal journey within this musical heritage. With live performance and guided listening, he will demonstrate how Indian Classical Music functions as a form of sonic meditation 鈥� capable of evoking profound emotional and spiritual resonance.
"Whether you鈥檙e new to Indian Classical Music or a seasoned listener," the post adds, "this is an opportunity to engage with a living tradition, understand its philosophical underpinnings, and witness the transmission of timeless knowledge through sound."
Similar to a lute, the sarod is a stringed musical instrument known for deep, resonant sound and fretless metal fingerboard.
Khan began his career in music when he accompanied his father onstage, internationally, from 1996 to 2006, according to .
"He has toured worldwide and established himself as Ali Akbar Khan鈥檚 true heir and the face of a new generation of sarode players of the Maihar Gharana, attracting praise and attention from musical icons such as Sitar Legend Ravi Shankar, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, and many more of India鈥檚 finest musicians."
Following his father鈥檚 death in 2009, Alam became the head of Indian classical instrumental studies at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California. He also teaches at the California Institute of the Arts and San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Based in Vancouver, Indian Summer Festival is dedicated to "the exceptional creativity of South Asian arts and artists." The 2025 festival starts July 4 with Borderless Solidarities: Storytelling in Ruptured Times, at Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island. Also on the calendar is A Raucous Evening with Kiran Deol (July 8, Vancouver Playhouse), among other events detailed on .
