NILADRI KUMAAR: The Space Between the Notes
October 14, 2026
Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater
Tickets on sale Friday, June 19 at 10:00 AM
[Cincinnati, OH] – Sitar Maestro Niladri Kumaar – hailed as a maverick musician and composer, a celebrated cultural ambassador, an icon of Indian music, and one of the most compelling and innovative artists of his generation brings his The Space Between the Notes concert tour to the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater for one performance only on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 7:30 PM as part of the Cincinnati Arts Association’s CAA PRESENTS! 2026-27 Season.
Tickets go on sale Friday, June 19 at 10:00 AM at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-2787 [ARTS], and the Aronoff Center Ticket Office. For group sales (10 or more), call (513) 977-4155. Prices include all applicable fees and taxes and are subject to change.
Sitar Maestro Niladri Kumaar is hailed as a maverick musician and composer, a celebrated cultural ambassador, and an icon of Indian music. One of the most compelling and innovative artists of his generation, he is a devoted exponent of Indian classical music—widely regarded as a source of national pride and among the most sought-after Indian musicians today. He frequently collaborated with the late Zakir Hussain, and together their sitar-tabla duo became one of their most popular and celebrated musical partnerships.
Space Between the Notes is an extraordinary live recording of these two maestros in concert in Mumbai, India. Set for release later this year, it stands as their only recorded performance together. Honoring the musical tradition they shared, Niladri continues to expand the global reach of Indian music with a specially curated 2026–27 concert tour featuring his sitar, zitar, and an ensemble of Indian and American musicians.
Niladri weaves his signature, spellbinding melodies in a distinctive style that blends centuries-old tradition with bold creative innovation. The tour also pays tribute to the unique musical bond between these two masters through selections from their album, presented live on stage. Space Between the Notes is a powerful musical journey—rooted in tradition and certain to resonate deeply with audiences.
Niladri will be accompanied by the following musicians:
Agnelo Fernandes
At an early age, Agnelo started learning the violin from his dad, Balthazar Fernandes, an arranger and orchestrator for the famous musical duo Kalyandji-Anandji. He started learning the trumpet from Chiyokozu Ohtsuka and played trumpet with the Bombay Chamber Orchestra (BCO). He learned the French horn under the tutelage of Alan Jones and Elizabeth Randall and eventually was inspired to play the piano by his brother-in-law Ben Fernandez, a jazz pianist. He started playing keyboards with various pop acts in Mumbai and became attracted to the electronics of music (programming/synthesis). Agnelo has collaborated with Raju Singh, Mehnaz, Shiamak Davar, Aadesh Srivastav, Terence Lewis, Leslie Lewis, Pritam, Rabbi Shergill, Shibani Kashyap, Niladri Kumar, Bombay Vikings (Neeraj Sridhar), and Salim-Suleiman.
Sambit Chatterjee
Sambit has been playing drums for the past fifteen years, having taken tabla classes from his father – Grammy®-nominated tabla maestro Pandit Subhen Chatterjee – and has now branched out to find his own sound. He has been endorsed by some of the leading music brands of the world, including Zildjian Cymbals, EVANS Drumheads, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Sennheiser IEMS, Neumann Microphones, and CRS Cymbal Resonant System. He has played with some of the leading bands in the circuit, such as What Escapes Me, aswekeepsearching, Karma – BandishFusion, and Amyt Datta, as well as some virtuosos including DIVINE, Mohini Dey, Niladri Kumaar, Rhythm Shaw, and Tajdar Junaid. He also is the touring drummer of Bollywood sensation playback singer Nikhita Gandhi. Sambit’s band has toured with artists like Parkway Drive, PLINI, and Polyphia, and his bands have played with Deep Purple, Steve Vai, Katy Perry, Dua Lipa, Post Malone, Goo Goo Dolls, The War on Drugs, Kings of Leon, and many more. He has also played with eminent senior classical musicians, including Grammy®-winning Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Ustaad Taufiq Qureshi.
He was invited by the genius Ustad Zakir Hussain to play solo and Indian compositions at his father Ustad Allah Rakhha Khan’s 100th birthday celebration concert. The very next day, he performed with the highly acclaimed vocalist Isheeta Chakraborty at the Mumbai International Jazz Day under Herbie Hancock, curated by Indian Jazz legend Loiuz Banks, at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Sambit is also a regular at the biggest festivals in India and a prominent name in the Indian music circuit.
At the NH7 Weekender Festival, Sambit was invited by the American alternative band Switchfoot to share the stage and play a song with them, and he was the only drummer to represent India at the Commonwealth Games Gold Coast 2018. Sambit is also the director and curator of Kolkata International Drum Festival, which he co-curated with his father. The Festival was a huge success and included some of the biggest names in drumming in India.
Satyajit Talwalkar
Satyajit is a young, talented, and promising tabla player of the present generation. He belongs to a rich heritage of music – a son and disciple of great guru Padmashree Taalyogi Pt. Suresh Talwalkar and renowned Indian classical vocalist Smt. Padma Talwalkar. He started learning music at the age of four and gave his first public performance when he was nine.
He has accompanied the great musicians of India, including Ust. Amjad Ali Khan, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, and Pt. Jasraj. He also regularly performs with Niladri Kumaar, Rakesh Chaurasia, Amaan Ali Khan, Ayaan Ali Khan, Purbayan Chatterjee, and Rahul Sharma.
Satyajit is very interested in fusion world music. He is fortunate to perform with renowned percussionists like Trilok Gurtu and Shiva Mani and has also performed many concerts with world-renowned piano wizard Mr. Louis Banks.
He has been awarded the prestigious Bharatratna Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, as well as Aditya Birla Kala Kiran Puraskar.
Cincinnati Arts Association SPONSORS
The Cincinnati Arts Association is supported [in part] by an investment of public funds from the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically.
Season Sponsors: AMERITAS (Founding Season Sponsor), MIAMI UNIVERSITY, ARTSWAVE, LOCAL 12 WKRC-TV, The P&G FUND of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, TRIHEALTH
SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS: 21C Museum Hotel, altafiber, Bahl & Gaynor, Cincinnati Herald, CityBeat, Fairfield Inn & Suites Cincinnati Uptown/University Area, Harlan Graphics, Heidelberg Distributing, Kinley Cincinnati, The Party Source, Pepsi, Summerfair Cincinnati
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CALENDAR INFORMATION
WHAT: Niladri Kumaar: The Space Between the Notes
WHEN: Wednesday, October 14, 2026 – 7:30 PM
WHERE: Aronoff Center – Jarson-Kaplan Theater
PRICES: Start at $51.25, inclusive of all fees
INFO: Sitar Maestro Niladri Kumaar is hailed as a maverick musician and composer, a celebrated cultural ambassador, and an icon of Indian music. One of the most compelling and innovative artists of his generation, he is a devoted exponent of Indian classical music—widely regarded as a source of national pride and among the most sought-after Indian musicians today.
TICKET INFORMATION – on sale Friday, June 19 at 10:00 AM
- www.CincinnatiArts.org
- (513) 621-ARTS [2787]
- Aronoff Center Ticket Office
- Group sales (10 or more): (513) 977-4155
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