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The Arts

A music feast for Toronto

Firdaus Ali

The biggest names of the Indian music industry will be flying into Toronto this week to participate in a three-day music festival starting on Friday, 'South Asian Music Festival - Toronto 2000'.

The fest featuring the likes of classical singer and Padmashree recipients Manna Dey and Uma Shankar (Kathak) along with the likes of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (sarod); Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma (santoor) and Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri (tabla).

The festival aims at promoting music for a good cause and is organized by the SAJ Academy of Performing Arts in Toronto. The proceeds will go to the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation.

"The funds raised during this event will help fund critical research at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and help it turn into a children's hospital without walls," says Deboo Chowdhury, event organizer and founder of the SAJ Academy of Performing Arts. Meaning that information about children's health, diseases and cures acquired at this hospital will be disseminated to benefit children not only in Canada, but also other children of countries throughout the world.

"Everyday miracles large and small happen at the Hospital. With the fund proceeds from the Festival, we want to make sure they happen more often," says Chowdhury, who is a music aficionado himself and thought of bringing together Indian maestros on a common platform.

"Ghazal singer Ghulam Ali will also fly in from Pakistan to participate in the event. The fest is meant to be an amalgamation of classical music, for good music knows no boundaries," adds Chowdhury.

A surprise item awaits music lovers at Seneca College's spacious Minkler Auditorium, where the festival will be held. Ustad Amjad Ali Khan will be playing the sarod along with his two sons Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash.

"Many in India may have seen the father and son perform together but this will be the first opportunity for many Torontonians," says Chowdhury.

SAJ Academy was established to promote music education especially classical Indian music to the west.

"We hope to satiate the appetite of music lovers through such festivals, at the same time offer teaching programs to those interesting in learning and mastering Indian classical music and instruments like the santoor, tabla, sitar and the harmonium," says Chowdhury.

The programming schedules is as follows:
Friday, August 4: Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma (santoor); Mr. Rahul Sharma (santoor); Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri (tabla); Padmashree Uma Sharma (Kathak dance).
Saturday, August 5: Manna Dey (Hindi songs); Ghazal Maestro Ghulam Ali (ghazals).
Sunday, August 6: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (sarod); Amaan Ali Bangash (Sarod); Ayaan Ali Bangash (sarod); Salina Ahmed Jharna (Kathak dance).

Tickets are priced at CA $ 75 (approx. Rs 2250) for the 3-day package or $ 30 (approx. Rs 900) per day.

For more information on programming details, please contact Deboo Chowdhury at (416) 620-1599 or (416) 693-5283 or by email at dsapa@aol.com. Tickets can also be purchased from box office. The telephone number is (416) 491-8877.

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