S. Akash & Vivek Pandya | Manas Kumar, Ojas Adhiya & ID Rao

Raga & Rhythm: Contemporary Maestros Series

An ICMCA Double-Bill Concert Experience

ICMCA is delighted to present a unique double-bill concert experience—a mini-festival that celebrates the brilliance, vitality, and evolving voice of Hindustani classical music. This special afternoon brings together two distinct concerts, each pairing an outstanding melodic artist with a masterful tabla accompanist, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience contrasting musical conversations within a single immersive event.

An intermission between the two concerts allows audiences to relax, connect, and enjoy refreshments, before returning for a second spellbinding performance. Adding to the excitement, each concert will feature a short tabla solo, highlighting the rhythmic mastery and individual artistry of two of today’s most compelling tabla musicians.

Concert I: [3:00 – 5:00 PM]

S. Akash (Flute) with Vivek Pandya (Tabla)

The first concert of the evening features flute maestro S. Akash, accompanied by the exceptional young tabla artist Vivek Pandya, in a deeply expressive and rhythmically charged presentation.

Born in 1997, S. Akash is a child prodigy whose musical journey began at the age of four under the late Pandit Venkatesh Godkindi, and continues under the guidance of Pandit Jayateerth Mevundi. Known for his extraordinary musical intuition and intricate raga development, Akash performs with remarkable depth despite not relying on written notation. His artistry has earned him numerous honors, including the Child Prodigy Award, the Pogo Amazing Kids Award, and the Bharat Ratna Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi Fellowship. He has performed extensively across India and internationally, collaborating with leading musicians such as Pandit Ajay Chakraborty, Ustad Taufiq Qureshi, Shankar Mahadevan, and Kaushiki Chakraborty.

Accompanying him is Vivek Pandya, one of the most exciting young tabla players of his generation. Trained for over fifteen years under the legendary Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, Vivek is admired for his technical clarity, refined tonal control, and fearless command of complex rhythmic structures. He has performed at prestigious venues including Lincoln Center (NYC) and EMPAC Concert Hall, and has earned recognition both as a sensitive accompanist and a compelling soloist. His versatility also extends to cross-genre collaborations and recordings, reflecting a modern artistic vision rooted firmly in classical tradition.

This concert will culminate in a dynamic tabla solo by Vivek Pandya, offering audiences a glimpse into his rhythmic imagination and virtuosic command.

Concert II: [5:30 – 7:30 PM]

THE THIRD CURRENT – A Cross-Cultural Sonic Journey

Featuring:

• Ojas Adhiya – Tabla

• Manas Kumar – Violin

• I.D. Rao – World Winds

The Concept:
The name The Third Current represents the meeting of three powerful musical streams: rhythm, melody, and breath.Each artist brings a distinct musical voice. Together, they create something unpredictable, dynamic, and alive.

The Musical Language:
The performance weaves together Indian classical rhythm traditions,  Cinematic and contemporary violin textures,  Global wind instruments, including saxophone and world flutes

The second concert brings together violin virtuoso Manas Kumar , the celebrated tabla artist Ojas Adhiya, and the versatile professional saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist I.D. Rao in a powerful and lyrical exploration of raga and rhythm,

On tabla is Ojas Adhiya, a prodigy whose extraordinary talent was recognized in early childhood. Trained initially under Mridangraj Ji and mentored through extensive performance exposure with legendary music directors Kalyanji–Anandji, Ojas has performed over 500 concerts worldwide. Known for his dexterous fingering, fluid phrasing, and genre-spanning versatility, he has collaborated with an exceptional roster of artists including Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Anoushka Shankar, Kaushiki Chakraborty, John McLaughlin, and many others. His achievements include recognition in the Limca Book of Records as India’s youngest tabla player, along with numerous national honors. In addition to a richly layered violin-tabla dialogue, this concert will feature a thrilling tabla solo by Ojas Adhiya, showcasing his signature virtuosity and rhythmic brilliance.

Manas Kumar is among India’s leading young Hindustani violinists, known for his soulful raga interpretation, rhythmic precision, and refined musical sensibility. A top-honors graduate of Bhatkhande University and an A-grade artist of All India Radio, he is the recipient of prestigious accolades including the SURMANI title and senior scholarships from the Government of India. His performances reflect a rare balance of emotional depth and technical sophistication, earning him acclaim across India and abroad.

ID Rao is a highly versatile professional saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist from Paralakhemundi, Odisha. He is known for his command of Carnatic, Hindustani, and Western musical traditions, bringing a rare cross-cultural fluency to his performances. Trained under the guidance of his father and uncle, ID Rao developed into a skilled performer equally at home in studio recordings and on the concert stage.

A former musician with the Indian Navy, he later established himself as a prominent session artist in Mumbai, collaborating on major productions including Coke Studio India and MTV Unplugged India, as well as projects with acclaimed artists such as Shaan. Over the course of his career, ID Rao has worked with leading musicians and contributed to a wide range of recording and film projects, including collaborations with Shaan and Mann Bipin’s Sax on Drum project.