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Columbus Indiana Philharmonic closes season with India-themed concert
CIP aimed to strengthen ties between the local community and the global Indian diaspora through the event.
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Staff Reporter - Mon, 11, May 2026
- 01:51 EDT
- 28
Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran at the concert / Columbus Indiana Philharmonic
The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic (CIP) marked the end of its 2025-26 season with its Columbus concert on May 9 at the Columbus North Erne Auditorium in Indiana.
Named “Philharmonic Sangeet: India to Indiana,” the concert was described by CIP as “a vivid exploration of how the orchestral precision of Western classical music can dance alongside the soul-stirring ragas and talas of India.”
The concert was curated by renowned composer and pioneer of Indian American choral music Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran and led by CIP Music Director Isaac Selya.
CIP aimed to strengthen ties between the local community and the global Indian diaspora through the event.
The festivities of the day kicked off with an insightful pre-concert dialogue between Dr. Kanniks, Isaac Selya and soprano Vidita Kanniks. The directors continued this educational tangent throughout the evening. They spotlighted structural connections between the works of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven and the evolution of Indian film music.
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The audience experienced a confluence of Indian and Western music. While Edward Elgar, Mozart and Beethoven provided a familiar Western flavor, the spotlight remained firmly on the Indian scores.
The event featured the Chitrahaar Overture, featuring 10 decades of Bollywood and popular melodies in 12 minutes, and the Tirai Isai Overture, a vibrant tribute to Tamil cinema, both composed by Kannikeswaran in 2024.
The attendees also witnessed an ode to Indian polymath Rabindranath Tagore, featuring the premiere of Dr. Kanniks’ orchestral arrangement of Rabindranath Tagore’s “Modhuro dhvoni.” It was performed by Vidita Kanniks, a McGill University graduate and Juno Award nominee.
Tagore’s legacy was highlighted since the concert coincided with Rabindra Jayanti, celebrated on May 9.
Vidita Kanniks also performed a reimagined presentation of “Evening Song” from Philip Glass’ opera Satyagraha. In a departure from traditional operatic artistry, the performance prioritized the clarity and sacred resonance of the original Sanskrit lyrics, offering an authentic experience. The singer described this rendition as one on her wish list for several years.
The centerpiece of the night was the world premiere of “The Rainmaker Suite.” Composed to honor the 250th anniversary of the legendary 19th-century composer Muthuswami Dikshitar, the suite was restricted to the scale of Raga Amritavarshini. Through three movements, the music vividly charted a narrative of drought, prayer and torrential rain.
“The music portrayed the story so vividly,” noted Kathy Dell, a CIP board member.
Dell continued, “It brought the drought, the rain and the thunder right before our eyes. This was one of the most special concerts the Philharmonic has ever performed and it was a privilege to have this piece premiere in Columbus, Indiana.”
The CIP’s commitment to outreach shone brightest during the grand finale, Chaturang Tarana.
In a powerful parallel performance, 20 choral singers from the Cincinnati Indian community joined voices with local Columbus singers.
The finale included a choreographed dance sequence featuring Vimina with local dancers Shruti and Krishnapriya, while Jim Feist performed on tabla with the orchestra.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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