Hasu Patel, a disciple of sitar legend Ustad Vilayat Khan Saheb, is one of the few distinguished female artists performing classical music on sitar. As a performer, composer, and a teacher, she has dedicated her life to preserving and propagating in its pristine purity the fascinating, highly evolved classical music of ancient India.
At the age of 10 Hasu made her first public appearance, and after many years of rigorous training, she became the first woman to receive a music degree with a Gold Medal in the 75 years history of the Faculty of Fine Arts Baroda, India. She since has received many awards, scholarships, and fellowships including at the age of 21, the first prize winner in the State of Gujarat for the stringed instrument competition held by All India Radio.
Now living in the United States, Hasu plays a very special style of sitar known as 'Gayaki Ang' (Singing Style), where the sitar replicates the fluidity and sutle nuances of the human voice. Hasu also has performed the classical music of India known as 'Raga Sangeet' (scientific, precise, subtle and aesthetic system of melodic notes accompanied with rhythm of tremendous vitality on Tabla, a pair of two drums) at Woodstock's 30th Anniversary and Chicago Jazz Festival. Hasu is affiliated with the Ohio Arts Council (Ohio Artists on Tour 2002-2003), Greater Columbus Arts Council, Mid-America Arts Alliance and International Alliance of Women in Music. She teaches sitar, tabla, and vocal music to many area students at her Sursangam School of Music.
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