The Artist

    HASU PATEL, a disciple of Sitar legend Ustad Vilayat Khan Saheb is one of the few distinguished female artists performing today classical music on Sitar, the most popular string instrument of India. As a performer, composer, and educator, she has dedicated her life to preserving and propagating in its pristine purity the fascinating, highly evolved classical music of Ancient India.

   Born in the culturally rich city of Baroda, India, Hasu began her musical studies in early childhood. Her father was her mentor who instilled the love and discipline needed to become a musician. At the age of 10, she made her first public appearance. After many years of rigorous training under her illustrious Gurus Prof. N.B. Kikani and Ustad Anwar Khan Saheb, she became the first woman to receive a music degree with a Gold Medal in the 75 years history of the Faculty of Fine Arts Baroda, India. She has received many awards, scholarships, and fellowships including at the age of 21, the first prize winner in the state of Gujarat for the stringed instrument competition held by All India Radio.

   In her early twenties, she emigrated to the United States and has pursued music ceaselessly since then. Hasu plays the Sitar in a special style known as Gayaki Ang (Singing Style), in which the sitar replicates fluidity and subtle nuances of the human voice. This innovative technique, which is credited to her Guru Ustad Vilayat Khan Saheb of Imdad Khani Gharana, is the most significant contribution to her music inheritance.

    She has performed the Classical Music of India known as Raga Sangeet (scientific, precise, subtle and aesthetic system of melodic notes accompanied with rhythm of tremendous vitality on Tabla, a pair of two drums) at various Performing Art Centers, Music Conferences, World/Jazz/Country music festivals such as Woodstock's 30th anniversary and Chicago Jazz festival, Universities, radio/television stations, churches/temples/meditation centers etc. around the country. She has conducted duets with Western classical and Jazz musicians, many residences/workshops/lecture demonstrations in schools and colleges, and has offered her unique talent to terminally ill patients in hospitals as a music therapy. She has also performed as a musician in Indian classical dance ensembles.

   Hasu is affiliated with the Ohio Arts Council (Ohio Artists on Tour), Greater Columbus Arts Council, Mid-America Arts Alliance and International Alliance of Women in Music. Hasu teaches Sitar, Tabla, and Vocal music to many students at her Sursangam School of Music as well as credit hours course at Conservatory of Music at Oberlin College of Ohio.

    "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 Sites : www.hasupatel.com and www.myspace.com/hasupatel

E-mail : hasu@hasupatel.com