Yale Raga Society Brings Indian Classical Arts to Campus

The Yale Raga Society (YRS) was founded in November of 2007 as an organization committed to increasing awareness of Indian classical music in the Yale and New Haven community. The following spring, YRS hosted its inaugural concert featuring sitar maestro Ustad Shahid Parvez. The event was a spectacular success, drawing an audience of over three hundred students, faculty, and community members. Since then, thanks in large part to the generous support and encouragement of the South Asian Studies Council, YRS has not only been able to present to the community nearly a dozen concerts by some of India’s most accomplished and celebrated artists but has grown the scope of its other activities considerably.

In 2009, YRS began a partnership with the Yale School of Music and the Yale Center of British Art on the “Music in Schools” initiative, a program designed to help elementary school students express their responses to music and visual art through writing. Last spring, YRS spearheaded the project and directed the filming of an educational video on the narrative capabilities of Kathak, a north Indian classical dance form, Hindustani vocal music, and paintings housed in the YCBA’s collection. YRS has also worked to create a forum for student musicians on campus to collaborate with one another and share their art with their peers. For the past two years, YRS has hosted an annual classical music and dance program featuring student musicians, which has been received very well.

YRS will continue to be active in 2011 and 2012. This fall, YRS is presenting an exciting concert lineup, featuring violinist A. Kanyakumari and Kathak legend Pandit Chitresh Das. Going forward, YRS hopes to continue to spread awareness of the rich and diverse artistic traditions of India through quality programming, outreach, and performance.

Fall 2011 Performances

Kanyakumari • October 24, 7pm • Henry Luce Hall, 34 Hillhouse Avenue (view poster)

Pandit Chitresh • November 5, 7pm • Mary S. Harkness Auditorium, 333 Cedar Street