Chethan Anant joins Mandala South Asian Performing Arts

Noted Indian classical musician and educator Chethan Anant has joined the Mandala South Asian Performing Arts, which connects audiences and students with the vibrancy of the performing arts traditions of South Asia, as interim executive director.

Anant is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the organization’s operations and programs, according to a press release. He leads and manages Mandala’s overall budget and finances, fundraising, the marketing staff, and volunteers.

“I am honored and eager for this opportunity to serve the arts and am looking forward to being a part of the work that Mandala sustains,” Anant stated

Anant is an Indian Classical musician, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, and music educator from Chicago, specializing in the Hindustani Classical tradition.

In addition to performing classical repertoire across the US and internationally, he is an avid collaborator and loves sharing music with artists spanning varied genres, including Carnatic, jazz, Thai traditional, roots, blues, and hip hop.

As an educator, Anant has been teaching music since 2016 and strives to share his new generational perspective on the age-old Hindustani Classical music tradition with his students.

He has given lecture demonstrations and performances at institutions including Stanford University, Tulane University, and Rensellaer Polytechnic Institute.

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Pranita Nayar, who continues as Mandala’s Artistic Director, said, “I have worked with Chethan, a dedicated music professional, for the last four years in his capacity as a curator and producer of events.”

“I am confident that he will lead Mandala into the next decade with our mission to produce forward-looking programming that responds to the aspirations of the rising, young, South Asian population of the US, who are interested and committed to the practice and propagation of the performing arts.”

Mandala South Asian Performing Arts is a MacArthur Award-winning organization founded by Pranita Nayar. From classical to contemporary, Mandala connects audiences and students with the vibrancy of the performing arts traditions of South Asia, according to the release.

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Mandala offers powerful engagement with specialized artists and educators who represent diverse ethnic, geographical, linguistic, cultural, and gender identities.

Mandala South Asian Performing Arts is supported by The Richard Driehaus Foundation, the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, and The Field Foundation.