Concert: Swarnendu Mandal
The Philadelphia concert featuring Kolkata-based classical sarod player and composer Swarnendu Mandal has been cancelled because of unforeseen circumstances. The program was to present an evening of Indian classical music co-presented by Asian Arts Initiative and Fire Museum Presents.
Mandal, born in 2000, is associated with the Senia-Shahajahanpur gharana, a tradition recognized for its lyrical, refined, and purist approach. He studied with the late Padmabhushan Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta and has been connected with the ITC Sangeet Research Academy since 2013, where he is a Senior Scholar under Ustad Abir Hussain. He has also received a CCRT National Scholarship from India’s Ministry of Culture. His performance work spans India, Europe, and the United States, including recitals, lecture-demonstrations, and collaborations. A graded artist with All India Radio and Doordarshan, he has performed alongside Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Shubha Mudgal, and Hariharan, while also exploring collaborations involving jazz, folk, Rabindrasangeet, Middle Eastern music, and other Indian traditions.
Status: Cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
When: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Showtimes: 7–9 PM
Venue: Black Box Theater, Asian Arts Initiative
Address: 1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Tickets: $15 in advance; $20 on the day of the show
Presenters: Asian Arts Initiative and Fire Museum Presents
Artist: Swarnendu Mandal, classical sarod player and composer
Background: Mandal is based in Kolkata and is a Senior Scholar at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, where he continues advanced training in the Hindustani classical tradition. His other work includes international touring, participation as a featured artist and composer at the Venice Biennale, and a residency concert series with Germany’s Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra. He has organized collaborative concert programming in Kolkata, including the 14-musician series What Next, and independently released “Unresolved,” a solo recording centered on Raag Latangi. Alongside his musical training, he holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology and a master’s degree in musicology.