Vinay Desai + Tejas Tope

Spiral Music presents acoustic music every Wednesday evening at the base of the Museum’s spiral staircase. Artists who specialize in music from the Himalayas and South Asia are invited to forge a connection between their music and the art in the galleries.

About the Musicians

Vinay Desai began learning santoor, a type of hammered dulcimer, after graduating from college. In India, he studied under Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Takahiro, and Kunal Gunjal. Through tabla and voice, Vinay balances rhythmic and vocal styles in his performances.

Tejas Tope has been studying tabla with his guru, Pandit Samir Chatterjee, since the age of five. He has performed on many occasions across the country, and last year completed a tour in India. He has also trained with Ustad Zakir Hussain, and studied pakhawaj, an Indian two-headed drum, with Pandit Mohan Shyam Sharma. Tejas is a junior at the NYU Stern School of Business, studying finance and math.