School of Music

Professor Nani Agbeli is Director of West African Music, Dance and Arts (Ghana) at CalArts. Nani came to CalArts after directing Kiniwe, the African drum and dance ensemble of the Music Department (Tufts University), as well as programs at Harvard University, Brandeis University, and the... Continue reading »

“...the controlled virtuosity of Swapan’s (Tabla) playing always implied that if he cared, nothing could stop him. What a display he put on...!" San Francisco Chronicle, USA Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri is a phenomenon in the arena of Indian Classical Music. Musicians honor him as one of... Continue reading »

Joey De Leon, Jr. was born sometime in the 1960’s in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City but was primarily raised in the Bronx and North Bergen, New Jersey, the oldest of 2 children. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music, where he was... Continue reading »

“Randy Gloss's maneuvering of his frame drum had to be seen to be believed…" -Mina Silverstone, salamworldwide.com "Randy Gloss' work on pandeiro (Afro-Brazilian tambourine) was one of the most amazing demonstrations of concentrated virtuosity I've ever seen." -Greg Burk,... Continue reading »

Andrew Grueschow is an LA-based percussionist with an interest in music the world over. He has traveled to Ghana, West Africa several times, studying the music of the Ewe and the Dagombas, and recording traditional drumming for Zadonu Records. In addition to the Hands On'Semble, an award winning... Continue reading »

Aashish Khan was initiated into North Indian Classical Music at the age of five by his grandfather, the legendary Acharya Baba Allauddin Khan Sahib, exponent of the Senia Beenkar and Senia Rababiya Gharana founded in the 16th Century by Mian Tansen, court musician to Emperor Akbar. Also he has... Continue reading »

Houman Pourmehdi is a master percussionist, well known for his diverse abilities as a musician, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, performing and recording in numerous ensembles and at a variety of venues. He was introduced to Persian music by his father, and received his first Tonbak at the... Continue reading »