Berklee's South Asian Scholar Association to Host All-Ages Concert

Berklee's South Asian Scholar Association to Host All-Ages Concert The student-led event, Mehfil, will feature songs in eight different languages and blend traditional South Asian folk melodies with contemporary instrumentation.

By

Colette Greenstein

April 3, 2025

SASA students rehearsal for their Mehfil concert which will be held on April 20, 2025 at Brighton Music Hall.

Image courtesy of SASA

Berklee's South Asian Scholar Association (SASA) will present Mehfil, an all-ages concert, on Sunday, April 20, at 8:00 p.m. at Brighton Music Hall.

SASA was founded in 2021 under the Berklee India Exchange as a launch pad for South Asian students and their allies to celebrate culture and drive innovation. Mehfil is their most ambitious project to date, funded entirely by a community that believes in SASA's mission and loves the music they create.

Mehfil was chosen as the name of the concert because it's a word that echoes through time, a gathering where music breathes, stories unfold, and souls connect, says Serena Jalan, vice president of SASA. Rooted in South Asian tradition, a mehfil is more than just a performance; it is an intimate communion of artistry and emotion, where every note carries history, and every rhythm sparks new life. Our Mehfil is a tribute to the timeless magic of Coke Studio, where blues meets rock, tradition meets innovation, and voices intertwine like threads in a tapestry of sound. On this night, music will not just be heard-it will be felt, shared, and remembered.

Coke Studio is an Indian music series (which is part of an international TV franchise) that features live studio recordings by various artists, showcasing a diverse range of music from the Indian subcontinent, like Hindustani, Carnatic, and Indian folk, alongside hip-hop, rock, and pop music.

As far as we know, no other student club has been able to do something at such a large scale completely on their own in Berklees history, says Annette Philip, a Grammy- and Emmy-nominated musician, educator, entrepreneur, and the artistic director of Berklee India Exchange. It shows the strength, dedication, and entrepreneurial innovation that our Berklee South Asian students have within them. I could not be more proud.

Deeptha Ganesh, president of SASA, adds: Mehfil is more than just a show-it's a celebration of the beauty found in diversity and the power of representation. Featuring songs in eight different languages and blending traditional South Asian folk melodies with contemporary instrumentation, Mehfil aims to highlight the rich tapestry of musical traditions that define where we come from.

The South Asian Scholar Association will present Mehfil on Sunday, April 20, at 8:00 p.m. at Brighton Music Hall, 158 Brighton Avenue in Allston. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. The event is standing room only. General admission tickets are $20 and $29 and available online.

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