MUSIC

A Performance by Nistha Raj of Indian Classical Violin on Saturday April 14, 2012

The Red Tent Healing Arts Center is honored to host a performance of Indian classical music by violinist Nistha Raj. Nistha Raj transports a rare music to the American stage—the smoldering, evocative, meditative sound of classical Indian violin. Her deep connection to Hindustani classical music began in childhood and was propelled, in 2004, when she traveled to the small Indian town of Vrindavan to spend a year studying Dhrupad—one of the oldest Hindustani vocal and instrumental forms.

The mesmerizing rhythms and inspired improvisations of Nistha’s solo raags (melodies) result in a hypnotic beauty, evolved from ancient Vedic chant and Sufi composition. Only since the early 1800s have Hindustani musicians incorporated the violin; thus, artists such as Nistha continue to evolve the genre today.
The evening also includes presentations by aromatherapy educator Katie Haley on ethnobotanical and Ayurvedic wisdom regarding healing plants from India, henna body painting, Indian cuisine and community.

Nistha Raj Biography

Nistha is a teacher and performer of both Western and Hindustani classical violin in the Washington, DC community. She performs in cultural festivals and national venues ranging from the United Nations to the Kennedy Center. Recently, she has shared the stage with jazz trio The Fourth Stream, recorded with rock band, the NRIs, and performed with grammy-nominated Hip Hop artist Christylez Bacon. In 2005, she received an award from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations to undergo intensive, formal training in North Indian Classical violin at the Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya in New Delhi. She regularly receives grants that support her work to educate and delight audiences. Her esteemed instructors include Tarun Krishna Das, Sharat Srivastava, Meeta Pandit, Dr. N Rajam, and Prattyush Banerjee. Nistha holds a B.A. in music with honors from University of Houston and a M.A. in Arts Management from George Mason University.