Center for the Study of Hindu Traditions

Featuring Josh Feinberg on Sitar and Nitin Mitta on Tabla.

Sponsored by the Center for the Study of Hindu Traditions (CHiTra), at the University of Florida and the Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth (SPICMACAY).

Josh Feinburg is a noted Sitar player who has been strongly influenced by the music of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. He bought his first instrument at age fifteen, and studied with Dr. Peter Row while attending the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. In 2005, Josh initiated his training with Ust. Ali Akbar Khan. Josh has also received training and guidance from the maestro’s senior disciples including Sri James Pomerantz and Dr. George Ruckert. Presently, Josh is continuing his training with Ust. Ali Akbar Khan’s sons Ust. Aashish Khan and Sri Alam Khan, as well as his senior disciple Sri Anindya Banerjee.Josh regularly performs throughout the US, India, and Canada. Some of his most notable performances and lecture/demonstrations have been organized by Harvard University; ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata; the New England Conservatory of Music; the Gandhi Memorial Center; the University of Florida, Gainesville; Purdue University; UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens; the University of Washington; the Utsav Festival produced by Ragamala, Basant Bahar; the 2007 Fulbright Conference in Aurangabad, India; and many others. Josh has performed with Sri Samir Chatterjee, Sri Anindya Banerjee, and Sri Alam Khan. He has also been featured on several TV and radio programs across the US and Canada including KPFA in Berkeley, Swar Lahari in San Francisco, and Rag Aur Taal in New York, among others.

In addition to his work in classical Indian music, Josh has explored the possibilities for the sitar through collaborations outside of traditional Hindustani music. Some of his most noteworthy projects have included collaborations with legendary tap dancer Savion Glover, acclaimed saxophonist Patrick Lamb, and recording on jazz drummer Richie Barshay’s album Homework (which included pianist Herbie Handcock as a special guest). Recently, Josh recorded on cellist Gideon Freudmann’s new album, which was released in Fall 2011. Josh was also the featured soloist in a series of concerts with the Seattle Coral Company, performing Eric Whitacre’s piece Winter, which was composed for choir, orchestra, sitar solo, and tanpura accompaniment.

Nitin Mitta is one of the most sought after tabla players in the music world and has established a reputation as an artist with a rare combination of technical virtuosity, spontaneity, clarity of tone, and sensitivity to melodic nuance. He is an acclaimed accompanist who has performed with some of India’s most celebrated musicians including Pandit Jasraj, Pandits Rajan and Sajan Mishra, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Ustad Nishat Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez, and Pandit Nayan Ghosh.