Grammy-Winning Amjad Ali Khan And Sons To Present ‘Samaagam’ With La Jolla Symphony

Following their Grammy win for Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his sons, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, are set to present their concerto Samaagam with the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus during the ensemble’s 2026–27 season.

Conducted by Sameer Patel, the performance will take place at Mandeville Auditorium at the University of California, San Diego, bringing Indian classical music into dialogue with the Western orchestral tradition.

The family’s Grammy-winning project, Meditations, received the 2026 Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording. The album brings together the Dalai Lama’s reflections on peace, compassion and universal responsibility with music by Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan and Ayaan, underscoring the role of music in connecting cultures and communicating shared human values.

That philosophy is central to Samaagam, a Sanskrit word meaning “confluence” or “flowing together”. Composed in 2009 at the invitation of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the concerto brings the expressive range of the sarod into conversation with the textures of a Western symphony orchestra.

Drawing on nearly a dozen ragas, the melodic frameworks of Hindustani classical music, the composition moves through meditative passages, intricate rhythmic patterns, lyrical sections and improvisations. Rather than merging the two musical traditions into a single form, the work seeks to preserve their individual identities while exploring their common ground.

“I have always valued the Western world for its discipline, tradition, conduct and sensitivity. Like cosmic divinity, music knows few barriers or boundaries. I have always admired and enjoyed listening to European classical musicians like Beethoven, Bach, Brahms and Russia’s Tchaikovsky,” says Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

For Amaan Ali Bangash, the scope for improvisation offers a connection between Indian classical music and jazz, despite differences in their approaches.

“Our renditions are often compared with jazz, which is not misplaced. There is scope for improvisations in both the disciplines, but in a different manner. The message of Indian classical music is freedom within the discipline,” he says.

Ayaan Ali Bangash also views music as an expression of an ancient spiritual and scientific heritage, rooted in the Vedic tradition and the enduring significance of sound.

Together, the three musicians carry forward the legacy of the Senia Bangash gharana while exploring new possibilities for Indian classical music on international stages. Their work spans traditional sarod performance, orchestral collaboration and projects that bring music into conversation with broader themes of humanity and cultural understanding.

From the Grammy-winning Meditations to the orchestral journey of Samaagam, the collaboration reflects a shared artistic approach centred on the ability of music to transcend geographical and cultural boundaries.

The upcoming performance with the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus will bring this approach to a new audience, pairing the sarod’s distinctive sound with a Western orchestral arrangement as part of the ensemble’s 2026–27 season.

Event details

• Performance: Samaagam — Sarod Concerto

• Artists: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash

• Orchestra: La Jolla Symphony & Chorus

• Conductor: Sameer Patel

• Venue: Mandeville Auditorium, University of California, San Diego

• Season: 2026–27