Musician's Shows Reveal What Happens When Sitar Tradition Meets Modernity In Sonoma County

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A centuries-old musical tradition will meet a modern audience during three Sonoma County performances this September.

Arjun K. Verma, whom The New York Times hailed as a “fine sitarist,” will bring what he calls a fresh, modern approach to North Indian classical music to Sonoma County libraries beginning Saturday.

The Indian-American sitarist and composer began his training with his father, Roop Verma, and continued studying with the legendary Ali Akbar Khan and his son, Alam Khan.

He described meticulous training that he says shaped a rich musicality and captures the profound majesty and exhilaration of North Indian classical music. Upcoming performances include:

Windsor Regional Library
Saturday, Sept. 5
2–3 p.m.

Petaluma Regional Library
Wednesday, Sept. 9
6–7 p.m.

Guerneville Regional Library
Sunday, Sept. 13
2 p.m.