An Invitation into Sound, Silence, and Sacred Listening
The Salt Spring Centre of Yoga warmly invites you to a special Sarod Concert—an immersive evening of Indian classical music that speaks directly to the heart, whether this is your first time hearing the instrument or you are a long-time listener.
The sarod is a twenty-five-string, fretless lute from North India, known for its deep, resonant tones and ability to evoke profound stillness. Often described as liquid sound, the sarod does not rush it unfolds, inviting the listener into meditation through vibration, nuance, and space.
This concert is offered as a fundraiser, supporting the Centre’s ongoing work in yoga, meditation, and contemplative arts. Your presence helps sustain a living lineage of practice, creativity, and community.
The Artists
Steve Oda — Sarod
Steve Oda began his musical journey at age seven, first studying slide and jazz guitar before being drawn to the classical music of North India. A Canadian of Japanese ancestry, Steve has devoted over five decades to the sarod, studying since 1970 under the legendary Ustad Ali Akbar Khan Sahib, one of the most revered masters of Indian classical music.
Following Khansahib’s passing in 2009, Steve continued his studies with Padmashri Pandit Rajeev Taranath, a senior disciple of Ali Akbar Khan, until Rajeevji’s passing in 2024 at the age of 91. Steve now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he teaches and performs internationally, carrying forward an unbroken lineage with humility, depth, and devotion.
Niel Golden — Tabla
Niel Golden is an accomplished percussionist specializing in tabla, the subtle yet powerful paired hand drums of Indian classical music. A disciple of the late Pandit Sharda Sahai, the fifth-generation master of the Benares gharana, Niel has performed for over four decades across genres and continents.
His collaborations span traditional Indian classical music, orchestras, choirs, and roots and blues artists including Xavier Rudd and Harry Manx. Niel has been nominated for both a Juno Award and a Western Canadian Music Award. He is also known for performing on the rare Hang (pronounced Hung), a melodic percussion instrument from Switzerland. Niel is a long-time member of the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra and performs locally with the world-music trio Three Rivers.
Why This Concert Is Special
- Accessible for first-time listeners — no background in Indian classical music required
- A rare opportunity to hear the sarod, an instrument seldom heard live in Canada
- Music that aligns with meditation, consciousness, and inner listening
- A fundraiser supporting the Salt Spring Centre of Yoga’s mission and programs
This is not a concert you simply attend it is an experience you enter.
Tickets & Support
This is a ticketed fundraiser with limited seating.
Advance registration is strongly recommended.
By attending, you are supporting the Centre’s dedication to preserving contemplative arts, sacred music, and spaces that nourish inner life.
Come listen. Come be still. Let the music meet you where you are.
