Ragas with Soul: Sach Dhanjal, Himmet Bahra & Amol Abhyankar

In the second concert of the Leicester series, we present the breathtaking voice of Sach Dhanjal, who brings a refreshing warmth to banish the winter blues. He will be accompanied by his talented ensemble: Himmet Bahra on tabla and Amol Abhyankar on harmonium. Together, they craft not just music but a truly transformative experience.

This is the perfect belated Valentine’s gift for lovebirds or a delightful treat for classical music enthusiasts.

About the performers:

1- Sach Dhanjal (Khayal Vocal)

Sach Dhanjal is an Indian classical vocalist based in London, UK. He began his journey in music through the Sikh tradition of Gurmat Sangeet, introduced to him by his first teacher, Shri Harpal Singh Khalla. Upon displaying a keen interest in the art, Harpal Singh encouraged him to seek tutelage from Shri Rajendra Dixit, representing the Agra and Gwalior-Paluskar Gharanas.

In 2019, Sach embarked upon the next phase of his musical education under the tutelage of Pandit Dr. Ram Deshpande in Mumbai, India. Since then, he has been a disciple of Dr. Deshpande and his son, Shri Gandhar Deshpande - a journey that continues to this day, with a focus on the intricacies of the Agra, Gwalior and Jaipur gharanas of khayal music.

2- Himmet Bahra (Tabla)

Himmet’s musical journey began at the young age of 5, with formal Tabla training from Ustaad Harkirat Singh Rayatt. Between the ages of 6 and 20 years old, Himmet attended annual Chakardar Summer Schools which encompassed sessions led by world- leading Tabla players and musicians. Himmet has therefore had the privilege of learning from the late Guru Acharya Pandit Shankar Ghosh Ji, setting a robust musical foundation.

At age 20, Himmet Singh became a disciple and student of the world-famous Tabla Maestro, Taal Yogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar, a master of both rhythm and Taal. Having stayed and travelled with his teacher across India, most recently in February 2023, Himmet has had extensive, advanced training on a 1-to-1 basis, in the traditional method of studying Hindustani classical music known as ‘Seena Baseena,’ translating to, ‘from me to you’.

3- Amol Abhyankar (Harmonium)

Amol Abhyankar is a professional harmonium artist with over 14 years of dedicated training under the guidance of the legendary Harmonium Maestro, Padmashree Pandit Tulsidas Borkar. During these years, he has honed his skills and deepened his understanding of the intricacies of Indian classical music. He continues to enhance his skills with guidance from his guru-bhai, Shri Siddhesh Bicholkar. His dedication to Indian classical music is reflected in his performances and ongoing learning. 

Amol has accompanied several artists on stage in both India and the UK and has also performed solo at various concerts in India. As one of Pandit Borkar's youngest students, he remains committed to learning and sharing the art of Indian classical music.

Alongside his musical journey, Amol recently completed a Master’s degree in Film-making from the London Film Academy, combining his passion for music and storytelling. This blend of disciplines showcases his interest in exploring creative expression through both sound and visuals.