Sardarni Harbans Kaur Chair in Sikh Musicology at Hofstra University

04/27/2026

A last kirtan with (and for) my graduating senior students. May this be a blessed memory for all. Thanks to the Guru Nanak Darbar Hicksville for hosting us 🙏

04/09/2026

Honored to join this important initiative to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of legendary Ragi Bhai Sahib Bhai Avtar Singh (1926-2006). The event will be streamed on YouTube, starting at 10AM India Time: https://www.youtube.com/live/KsXqQdOX7ss?si=71ozlbrHywCrmLv7
The title of my paper is "Bhai Avtar Singh and the Dhrupad Heritage of Gurbani Sangit"

01/11/2026

Pleased to share that my article on the Sikh diaspora in Central Italy has been released. It is published in a special issue of Sikh Formations that marks the 20 years of the Journal. See the link below. I am happy to share the link for a free copy with those who are interested in reading it.



diaspora

Based on long-term research, this paper discusses the exploitation of Sikh workers in Agro Pontino, offering an alternative narrative and approach to studying the Sikh diaspora in Italy. Building o...

12/01/2025

What a blessed time accompanied by my students (current and former) at the Gurdwara Mata Sahib Kaur - Glen Cove Gurdwara Sahib. We offered Kirtan seva and sang heritage compositions attributed to the 9th Sikh Guru, Teg Bahadur Ji, to commemorate the 350th anniversary of his shaheedi 🙏🥀

11/01/2025

Glad to announce the publication of the book I edited on Amelia Cuni's musical biography. Singer and composer Amelia Cuni (1958-2024) was the first European woman to pursue a professional career in the male-dominated field of dhrupad, a music genre rooted in the temple and court traditions of pre-modern South Asia. Cuni's pioneering work not only continues to inspire generations of Westerners but also gave dhrupad a contemporary orientation, also influenced by the singer’s experiences with avant-garde music. The volume includes 7 tracks recorded at Fondazione Cini in 2000, in which Amelia is accompanied by Phil Hollenbeck on pakhāwaj. The book is available in digital format, in Italian and English. For those interested in purchasing, the link is in the first comment.

09/22/2025

08/14/2025

This Sunday, August 17, with my students Michael Shoureas (pakhawaj) and Ritika Singh (vocal and tanpura), I will present a kirtan at the Oak Creek Gurdwara (WI), to honor and commemorate the victims of the 2012 shooting. Please join us if you are in the area 🙏

04/30/2025

The Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize was established with a gift from the family of Sardar Ishar Singh Bindra and Sardarni Kuljit Kaur Bindra, prominent Sikh-Amer...

04/18/2025

This Sunday evening (8 pm NY time) I will be in conversation with Sahana Shastry on Hofstra Radio 88.7FM WRHU, to talk about my journey in indian music, dhrupad, Gurbani Kirtan and more. Tuni in 😉✨
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sahanashastry777_tune-in-this-sunday-420-8pm-on-887fm-activity-7319045873240281089-hWgF?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAADth-dcBTbzFD-84QJqIxkOOzUq1Ma42DWw

04/12/2025

Happy Vaisakhi! My students and I are honored to present heritage Kirtan shabads tonight at the Mata Sahib Gurdwara in Glen Cove, NY. We are scheduled from 7:25 to 7:55 pm. Please join us in celebrating Vaisakhi together!