Ghazal in Raag | A Classical Soirée

Join us for an intimate evening of ghazals intertwined with varying emotions, emerging from the magic of raags - where each raag evokes a mood, every verse stirs the heart, and the old world charm and nostalgia find new life among us.

Featuring the voice of Hera Mubashir, carrying forward South Asian classical traditions, accompanied by master harmonium player Hitesh Master Nayak, tabla virtuoso Abhijit Kastha and bansuri player Dr. Sonny Patel, this cozy gathering blends poetry, melody, and emotion in a way that invites connection and reflection.

Experience this soulful evening at Model Town Art Gallery, with handcrafted chai by Chiteatime - the perfect pairing for a winter evening immersed in the timeless beauty of ghazals in raag.

Hera Mubashir

Hera Mubashir is a South Asian classical vocalist based in Chicago, born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan. She is deeply drawn to the moods and depth of raags, especially in the realm of khayal, where the fluidity of sur allows her to communicate a peculiar feeling with striking freedom. She also explores thumri, geet, and ghazal, keeping alive traditions where poetry and melody are inseparable. Hera has been training under Ustaad Urooj Saami, inheritor of the rich legacy of the Qawwal Bacha Delhi Gharana - a centuries-old tradition known for its depth, devotion, and mastery of raag and khayal. Beyond performance, Hera cares deeply about representation and community, and sees music as one of the most powerful ways people can come together.

Hitesh Master Nayak

Hitesh “Master” Nayak hails from a distinguished lineage of royal court musicians (Rajgayaks) from Junagadh and Gwalior, whose musical heritage dates back to the 15th century. Trained from the age of three by his father Vrajlal Nayak and later under eminent gurus of the Mewati Gharana, he also learned harmonium from masters of Mumbai’s Deshi Natak Samaj. A Master’s degree holder in Music from Gandharva Mahavidyalay, Ahmedabad, Hitesh performed in Bollywood for over a decade with the legendary Shankar–Jaikishan duo. Now based in Chicago, he continues to teach and perform, carrying forward his family’s rich classical legacy.

Abhijit Kastha

Abhijit grew up in a musical family and trained under Sri Chanl Biswas and Sri Subir Mukherjee before studying tabla with Pt. Subhankar Banerjee of the Farukhabad Gharana for over 20 years. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in percussion from Rabindra Bharati University with first-class honors. A recipient of prestigious awards including the National Scholarship from the Indian Ministry of Culture and the Mahadeolal Gangadebi Saraogi Memorial award, Abhijit is also a graded artist of All India Radio.

Sonny Patel

Dr. Sonny Patel is a student of Lyon Leifer, studying bansuri - the bamboo flute of northern South Asia. He performs with the South Asian Music Ensemble at the University of Chicago and is a member of Do The Needful, Chicago’s surf-punk Bollywood band. Sonny has performed at venues including the Old Town School of Folk Music, the South Asia Institute, and summer festivals across Chicago. A physician by training, he is also the Director of Programs at Chicago Debates and enjoys gardening and hiking with his dog.