ICMCA presents Sara Ranganathan (Veena) & Utsav Lal (Piano)

Sara Ranganathan and Utsav Lal play Unity Church of the Hills on Saturday, August 22, from 4 to 7 PM. The concert is a double bill of Indian classical music, and it's the launch of ICMCA's new Contemporary Maestros Series.

The evening is split into two halves. The first features Ranganathan on veena, paired with Ganapathi Ranganathan on mridangam. After a short intermission with complimentary light snacks and chai, the second half belongs to Lal on piano, joined by Pandit Gourisankar on tabla. The two sets come together in a grand finale with all four artists on stage at once.

There's a bit of a contrast to hear here. Ranganathan is an award-winning veena maestro, and the veena is a plucked string instrument with a deep, resonant sound. Lal is an internationally acclaimed 'Raga Pianist,' bringing the ragas of Indian classical music to the piano. Between the two, you get the veena and the piano—two very different instruments—each taking its turn with its own percussion accompaniment before they all play together.

The show is open to all ages, so it works as a family outing. Tickets are $30, with a $25 price for students and seniors over 65; ICMCA members get in for free. The venue is Unity Church of the Hills, 9905 Anderson Mill, in West Austin near Lakeway.