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Connecting You With Music and Culture

VISION

Create a culturally vibrant community by expanding entertainment, education, and imagination through arts and culture of Indian heritage.

MISSION

IAA Houston's mission is to bridge cultural divides by showcasing the rich heritage of the Indian subcontinent through multidisciplinary performing arts, cultural, educational and artistic expressions.

GOALS

  • Promote and preserve Indian performing arts.
  • Nurture creativity by providing a platform for artists.
  • Spread appreciation of Indian performing arts throughout Houston communities.

INCLUSIVITY

The Indo-American Association is committed to championing policies and practices of cultural equity that nurture a just, inclusive society creating harmony and understanding amongst multi-ethnic communities.

IAA Artistic Advisory Council

Dr. L. Subramaniam

Dr. L. Subramaniam

Indian violinist, composer and conductor

World-renowned violinist blending Carnatic classical music with global orchestral traditions.

Dr. L. Subramaniam is a world-renowned Indian violinist, composer, and conductor known for his contributions to Carnatic classical music and global fusion music. Often called the "God of the Indian Violin," he has performed on international stages and collaborated with musicians from many different musical traditions. Through his innovative compositions and orchestral works, he has successfully blended Indian classical music with Western musical styles, helping to bring Indian music to audiences around the world.

Kavita Krishnamurti

Kavita Krishnamurti

Indian playback and classical singer

Renowned Indian playback singer celebrated for her melodious voice, versatility, and timeless contributions to Indian cinema and classical music.

Kavita Krishnamurti is a renowned Indian playback and classical singer known for her melodious voice and versatile singing style. She has recorded thousands of songs in Hindi as well as many other Indian languages for films, devotional albums, and independent music. Throughout her illustrious career, she has collaborated with some of India's greatest composers and musicians, including Laxmikant-Pyarelal, R. D. Burman, A. R. Rahman, and Ilaiyaraaja. Her exceptional vocal range and expressive performances have earned her numerous prestigious awards and widespread recognition. Her remarkable contribution to Indian music has established her as one of the country's most respected and celebrated playback singers, inspiring generations of music lovers and aspiring artists around the world.

Shujaat Khan

Shujaat Khan

Indian sitar maestro

Internationally acclaimed sitar virtuoso of the Imdadkhani Gharana, celebrated for his soulful performances and innovative collaborations.

Shujaat Khan is a world-famous Indian sitar maestro renowned for his extraordinary artistry, emotional depth, and expressive style of performance. He belongs to the legendary Imdadkhani Gharana, one of the most distinguished lineages of Indian classical music, carrying forward a rich musical tradition that has flourished for generations. In addition to his mastery of Hindustani classical music, Shujaat Khan has collaborated with celebrated musicians from around the world, creating innovative musical experiences that bridge Eastern and Western traditions. His performances are admired for their technical brilliance, lyrical beauty, and ability to deeply connect with audiences. Through concerts, recordings, and international collaborations, he has played a significant role in introducing the timeless beauty of the sitar and Indian classical music to audiences across the globe, earning widespread respect as one of the finest musicians of his generation.

Abby V

Abby V

Canadian-Indian singer, songwriter, composer & music producer

Award-winning vocalist and music producer known for blending Indian classical traditions with contemporary global music.

Abby V is a Canadian-Indian singer, songwriter, composer, and music producer celebrated for seamlessly blending Indian classical music with contemporary and global musical styles. Raised in Toronto, he received formal training in both Carnatic and Hindustani classical music, giving him a unique musical foundation that bridges tradition and innovation. He gained international recognition through his viral "73 Ragas with Abby" performance, which showcased his remarkable vocal versatility and deep understanding of Indian classical music. Since then, Abby V has released original music, performed at prestigious venues around the world, and collaborated with renowned musicians across multiple genres. In addition to his independent work, Abby V has established himself as a playback singer in Indian cinema, lending his voice to major productions including Indian 2 and Kantara: Chapter 1. His innovative approach, technical excellence, and passion for introducing classical music to modern audiences have made him one of the most exciting young artists on the international music scene.

Leadership


Sheetal Bedi

Executive Director & CEO

Board of Directors


Shatish Patel (Chairperson)


Veena Kaul (Treasurer)


Atul Bhatia (Secretary)


Radhika Day


Leela Krishnamurthy


Alpana Loyalka

Sakina Ali


Sheetal Patel

History


The Indo-American Association (IAA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1993 to promote cultural arts of the Indian subcontinent. 

Historically, each year IAA has presented a thoughtfully curated season of 8-10 live shows. Each season’s line-up has included a blend of art disciplines of India - music, dance, and theatre.  At the same time, cross-cultural collaborations between artists from India, US and other countries have been showcased over the years. The events are targeted at multi-cultural audiences which have grown with each passing year. IAA today is regarded as a leading cultural arts organization presenting world-class talent in Houston and other North American cities. In its 33 year journey, IAA has celebrated many firsts. Notably, IAA was the first Indian arts organization to:


-  promote World Music of Indian origin at Houston's finest arts venues, 
-  receive regular arts grants 
-  offer an annual season with subscription options
-  present cultural arts of India in Houston in collaboration with mainstream American organizations
-  launch a successful digital platform and stream live virtual concerts in Houston in 2020, as a result of COVID.


IAA has a track record of hosting legends and the "who's who" of Indian music, dance and theatre to entertain and enthrall captive audiences. Over the long history, IAA has proudly hosted legends of Indian music, dance and theatre. Amongst them were:


Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar Dada Saheb Phalke Award winning filmmaker Adoor Gopalkrishnan
Aftab-e-Sitar Vilayat Khan Padma Vibhushan Ustad Ali Akbar Khan Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
Pandit Jasraj Pandit Shivkumar Sharma Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia
Pandit Birju Maharaj Kelucharan Mohapatra Balamurali Krishna
Padma Bhushan L. Subramaniam Ustad Zakir Hussain Lalgudi Jayaraman
T.N. Krishnan Sultan Khan Shabana Azmi
Naseeruddin Shah Pandits Rajan and Sajan Mishra Girija Devi
PadmaShri Vishwa Mohan Bhatt Kavita Krishnamurthy Ustad Shujaat Khan
Ajoy Chakrovarty Kumar Sanu Gangadhar Pradhan
Ileana Citaristi Ustad Shahid Parvez Ustad Rashid Khan
Shankar Mahadevan U.Srinivas Vikku Vinayakam
Hariharan Usha Uthup Shubha Mudgal

Among featured are all three Grammy winning musicians of Indian origin – Ravi ShankarZakir Hussain, and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.

Anushka Shankar, Gulzar Saab, Padmashree Aruna Mohanty, Padmashri Kailash Kher, Pt. Shubendra Rao and Vidushi Saskia Rao - de Haas have also been presented on IAA’s stage.


In this new digital age, IAA continues the tradition of bringing top artists to Houston audiences on its virtual platform enabling audiences to enjoy the arts even during Covid times


In 2020 and 2021, with the entire annual season being cancelled due to COVID, IAA pivoted very quickly and launched multiple social media platforms. With great pride, IAA supported and continues to support a record number of artists while bringing high caliber shows to patrons in the comfort of their homes. The digital content can be viewed on IAA’s YouTube.


The Board of Directors and leadership of IAA Houston thank the patrons, the City of Houston, Houston Arts Alliance,Texas Commission on the Arts, the media partners including the Houston Chronicle and KUHF Radio for getting IAA’s message to the multicultural audiences of Greater Houston, and the Indian media for keeping IAA in public focus as well as the various corporate sponsors and partners over the years.  We could not have done this without you!


IAA History

About IAA