Biography
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Born In
Vadodara, Gujarat, India
HASU PATEL, a disciple of sitar legend Ustad Vilayat Khan Sahib, is one of the few world-class female artists performing today Classical Music on sitar, the most popular string instrument of India. She founded Sursangam School of Music, where students learn sitar, tabla and vocal music.
Born in the culturally rich city of Baroda, India, Hasu began her musical studies in early childhood. At the age of 10, she made her first public appearance. She had many years of rigorous training under her illustrious Gurus Prof. N.B. Kikani and Ustad Anwar Khan Sahib. She is the first woman to receive a music degree with a Gold medal in the 75-year history of the Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S. University, Baroda, India. At the age of 21, she won the first prize in the State of Gujarat for the stringed instrument competition held by All India Radio. Here in the United States, she has continued to pursue music ceaselessly for the past three decades.
Hasu plays in a very special style known as Gayaki Ang (Singing Style), where the sitar replicates the fluidity and subtle nuances of the human voice. Ustad Vilayat Khan Sahib of the Imdad Khani Gharana (tradition) created this technique.
She has performed the Classical Music of India known as Raga Sangeet at various universities, performing art centers, music and sound healing conferences, world/jazz/country music festivals, radio/television stations, churches/temples, yoga ashrams, and with Indian Classical dance ensembles, etc. Hasu offers workshops and lecture demonstrations and collaborates with western classical and jazz musicians. To name a few concerts, she has performed at Woodstock's 30th anniversary, the Chicago Asian Jazz Festival, the Rhineberger Chamber Hall of Cleveland Orchestra, the Warner Concert Hall at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, and the Women in Music Festival at the Eastman School of Music.
Hasu recently received commissions from two western orchestras to write concertos featuring Indian Classical Ragas. The result was two compositions, Mangal Dhwani and Swara Mangalam, both for Sitar, Tabla and Orchestra. Hasu performed the world premier of Mangal Dhwani with the Doctors Orchestra of Houston in February 2008 in a program entitled ‘East Meets West.’ She performed the world premier of Swara Mangalam with the Canton Orchestra of Michigan in March 2008. Hasu became the first female composer and performer of sitar concertos.
Her activities in 2008 also include performing a Sitar concert at the ‘2008 Beijing International Congress on Women in Music’ on the China Conservatory of Music campus, Beijing, China.
Shiva’s Dance International of Cleveland, Ohio recognized Hasu with an award of excellence for her outstanding contribution to the performing arts and public service. In March 2008, she was honored at the 8th Annual Women Composers Festival of Hartford as one of the ‘Women of the World – International Guest Composers’ at the University of Hartford in Connecticut. In January 2009, the NRI (Non Resident Indians) Welfare Society of India honored her with the prestigious ‘Hind Rattan Award’ for the outstanding services, achievements and contributions in the field of music.
Her affiliations include:
* Ohio Arts Council - Ohio Artists on Tour
* Greater Columbus Arts Council - Artists-in-Schools
* Arts Midwest - Midwest Performing Artist
* International Alliance for Women in Music (IAWM) - Board Member
* Oberlin College of Ohio - Teaching Classical Music of India on Sitar, Tabla and Vocal at Conservatory of Music
* Children's Music Network
"My Music, My Dream - It gives me an eternal pleasure when I teach the students and play before music lovers around the world. The more one plays, the more humility captivates one," says Hasu with much determination and joy. To her, Indian classical music is a rare and divine art, which calls for absolute dedication called sadhana.
Hasu's debut album Gayaki Sitar presents in bold Alap, improvisation which embodies the very essence of pure classicism. The music is spiritual and meditative, and rendered as such to bring forth the transcendental experience of the moods called rasas.
Web Site Address: www.hasupatel.com, E-mail Address: hasu@hasupatel.com
(Source: http://www.hasupatel.com/bio.htm | http://www.myspace.com/hasupatel)
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