Niladri Kumaar 
The Space Between the Notes

Niladri Kumar playing instrument

Sitar Maestro Niladri Kumaar is hailed as a maverick musician and composer, a game changer, and a serious exponent of Indian Classical Music. One of the most compelling and innovative stars of India’s next generation of musicians, Kumaar was a frequent collaborator with the late Zakir Hussain. The two maestros’ extraordinary recording of a live concert in Mumbai, India, The Space Between the Notes, is planned for release later this year. In the 2026-27 season, Kumaar honors his friend and mentor Hussain with an ensemble of American and Indian musicians, offering works from that final duo recording combined with his own compositions and interpretations, carrying this centuries-old tradition forward on a musical journey deeply inspired by Hussain. 

ABOUT THE ARTIST: A fifth generation Sitarist, Niladri Kumaar is hailed as the most enigmatic and trailblazing musician in India across generations. His contribution to the world of Sitar, Indian Music, Classical and Contemporary is regarded by past and present legends as not just innovative, but deeply rooted in the traditional elements known of Music. Under the guidance and numerous years of training from the age of 4, under his Father and Guru Pandit Kartick Kumar, Niladri has gained an in-depth understanding, technique and unmatchable mastery over the Sitar and developed his own distinct style. His Music is greatly admired and he has earned a large following of ardent listeners across countries.