Accord is back after a hiatus!
A series of exciting musical events are lined up for August. Read all about it below.
Accord has been away for about three years, and we’re ready to make a comeback!
In this issue, we have a letter from SASF Founder and Trustee Nirupama Rao, followed by details of SASO’s upcoming events, and the recent documentary filmed about SASO.
The South Asian Symphony Foundation (SASF) has been steadily working on putting together a series of events for this year. Take a look at the details below and don’t forget to confirm your attendance by filling out the registration forms!
SASF would like to acknowledge and thank Adani Power Limited, Bajaj Group Charitable Trusts and the Serum Institute of India for their support toward these events.
From the Founder’s Desk
Dear all, I’m often asked why I created an Orchestra and what is the underlying purpose of it all. Here’s my two cents!
The Orchestra as a Model for Society
There is something profoundly symbolic about an orchestra. It is more than a group of musicians gathered to perform a piece of music; it is a living metaphor for what society could be — and perhaps what it must be, if we are to thrive together.
In an orchestra, every individual has a role, but no role exists in isolation. The violinist does not dominate the flutist; the percussionist does not drown the clarinet. Each part matters, whether it plays the melody or the harmony, whether it is heard boldly or barely at all. Some instruments sound only once in a piece — a triangle chime, a soft oboe line — yet their absence would leave the whole work feeling incomplete.
This is a powerful image for how we might view our places in society. In the orchestra, difference is not just tolerated — it is essential. The rich resonance of a cello would lose its magic without the brightness of the trumpet, the elegance of the harp, or the grounding heartbeat of the bass drum. Harmony does not mean sameness; it means finding the beauty in difference and placing it in a structure where it can contribute fully.
And yet, despite this dazzling complexity, there is no chaos. Why? Because there is a score — a shared vision, a direction that all agree to follow. And there is a conductor, a unifier: someone whose job is to listen, interpret, and guide. Not to silence, but to shape. The conductor does not make a sound themselves, yet their presence brings cohesion and energy to the group.
In a healthy society, our laws, values, and collective goals act as the score. Our leaders are conductors — not soloists but stewards of balance. And we, the people, are the musicians: unique, essential, interdependent.
The orchestra also teaches us about humility. A soloist may shine for a moment, but even they are wrapped in the support of others. No one plays all the notes. No one can. The music only exists when all contribute — in tune, in time, and in relationship.
This metaphor becomes even more powerful in today’s world, where individualism often overshadows community, and noise threatens to replace music. The orchestra reminds us that true greatness lies not in volume, but in harmony — in listening, adapting, and playing our part with care and respect.
Let us aspire to live as an orchestra lives: honoring our differences, tuning to one another, and creating something together that none of us could ever create alone.
Nirupama Rao, July 8, 2025
Peace Notes: An Evening At the Opera
2nd August, 2025 | 5 PM | Christ University Auditorium, Bangalore
Maria Badstue, conductor
Cheryl Bains, soprano
Alok Kumar, tenor
Experience the drama, passion, and romance of opera in a concert featuring timeless masterpieces from Bizet’s Carmen, Verdi’s La Traviata, and Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet. The South Asian Symphony Orchestra will be led by India-born Danish conductor Maria Badstue, and joined by stellar soloists—Indian-American tenor Alok Kumar and soprano Cheryl Bains. This concert brings the emotional power of grand opera to life in Bengaluru.
Lead and Collaborate: A workshop on Musical Leadership and Listening
4th August, 2025 | 7 PM | Sabha Blr (262, Kamaraj Rd, Shivaji Nagar, Bengaluru)
Maria Badstue, conductor
Alok Kumar, tenor
Soundarie David Rodrigo, piano
What happens in the interaction between a conductor and a singer? Who leads and who allows themselves to be led? What delicate interactions are at play? And can we use these experiences in other contexts?
Tenor Alok Kumar and conductor Maria Badstue, with pianist Soundarie David Rodrigo, run the workshop Lead & Collaborate. The participants of the workshop get a unique insight into what happens in the meeting and collaboration between a professional singer and a professional conductor. Together, we explore what it means to listen to ourselves and to each other, as we experience the shared space we create.
This promises to be an engaging and revelatory event with a high degree of audience involvement. An experience that offers an insight into collaborative dynamics, the discoveries can be carried far beyond the performance venue.
Documentary on the South Asian Symphony Orchestra
Bangalore-based production house, Maya Films, recently produced a documentary ‘Peace Notes: The Journey of an Orchestra’, tracing the journey of the South Asian Symphony Orchestra. The film elucidates SASF’s mission to bring young people from across South Asia and the diaspora together to collaborate, cooperate, converse, and create music together. The film was shown at the Bangalore International Film Festival in 2024 and won an award at the Noida International Film Festival 2024. Please enjoy the documentary linked below.
Written by Aditi Bharatee