Swarlaya: A Fusion of Sitar, Sarod, Tabla, & Electronic Drums

We welcome you for an evening featuring the music of Swarnendu Mandel (sarod), Bijay Shrestha (tabla, sitar) and Gilly Gonzalez (percussion and electronic synth).

It all takes place in the Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery, known for its ambience of original light sculptures and acoustics. Lumonics has been the recipient of several "Best Of" Awards by Westword Magazine.

About the Performers:
Swarnendu Mandel
Swarnendu (born in 2000) is a sarod player and composer from Kolkata, widely regarded as a torchbearer of the Senia-Shahajahanpur gharana, known for its purist and melodious style. A disciple of the late Padmabhushan Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, he has carved a niche in Indian classical music with his artistry, depth, and lyrical approach. Since 2013, he has been associated with the ITC Sangeet Research Academy (ITC-SRA), where he is currently a Senior Scholar under Ustad Abir Hussain, and is a recipient of the CCRT National Scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Swarnendu has performed extensively across India, Europe, and the United States, earning acclaim for his recitals, lecture demonstrations, and collaborations. A graded artist with All India Radio and Doordarshan, he has shared the stage with maestros such as Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Shubha Mudgal, and Hariharan. His recent highlights include U.S. and European tours, with concerts in New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt, Vienna, and Linz. In India, he has been featured at the Mallar Festival (2024), Swar-Bilas Festival (2024), Valley of Words Literature Festival (2023), and ITC Sangeet Sammelan (2022). Winner of First Position (Gold) at the National Youth Festival 2023, he has also performed for the Railway Ministry of India, the Italian Consulate General, the Asia Music Summit (2020), and the Ministry of Sports & Culture, Taiwan (2019), and has had the rare honor of performing for two Presidents of India. Rooted in the rigor of classical training, he continues to embrace diverse musical dialogues, collaborating with jazz, folk, Rabindrasangeet, Middle Eastern, and Indian traditions, with a vision to bring the sarod to wider audiences worldwide.

Bijay Shrestha
A rare dual-instrumentalist, Bijay bridges rhythm and melody with equal fluency, allowing him to explore the full emotional spectrum of Hindustani music. Inspired by both traditional forms and contemporary sensibilities, his work blends classical technique with an ethos of healing, inner peace, and creative collaboration. Now based in Colorado, Bijay collaborates with artists across genres—from jazz and ambient to world music—while leading performances, workshops, and community initiatives that emphasize the role of music in mental health, cultural connection, and youth empowerment.

Gilly Gonzalez
Gilly Gonzalez has been playing world percussion for over 30 years. He’s graced the stages of festivals and theaters across the country playing everything from punk rock and world fusion to the subtleties of sacred middle eastern ritual. His unprecedented skill on traditional drum kit and hand percussion gives him a signature sound that can simultaneously create a trance state and the undeniable need to move the body.
Doors open at 6:45 with no exact endtime!

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Host or Publisher Barry Raphael/Marc Billard