Biography

A Voice in Strings,
A Life in Music

Sayan Ghosh carries the living flame of the Etawah–Imdadkhani Gharana — one of the most celebrated lineages of Hindustani classical music. His mastery of both sitar and surbahar is rooted in the gayaki ang, the vocal style that breathes human emotion into every string.

From an intimate house concert in North Carolina to the grand stage of the G20 Cultural Summit & IPL 2025 with Shreya Ghoshal, Sayan has carried this ancient tradition to audiences who had never heard a sitar before — and left them transformed.

His "Tagore on Sitar" project — a technical and emotional feat on a fret instrument — merges the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore with classical raaga interpretation, creating a unique space where two great traditions of Bengal meet.


Gharana Etawah–Imdadkhani
Instruments Sitar & Surbahar
Academy Founded 2017 · Kolkata
Awards Best Composer 2024

100+

Concerts
across 30+ cities

150+

Students over
9 countries

30+

Workshops
online, offline

0.5M

YouTube views
& growing

100+

Concerts
across 30+ cities

150+

Students over
9 countries

30+

Workshops
online, offline

0.5M

YouTube views
& growing

Performances

Event Highlights

G20
2023 · Sur Vasudha, India

G20 Cultural Summit

A landmark performance of surbahar at one of India's most prestigious diplomatic cultural platforms.

USA Tour
4 Tours · 12+ Cities

American Concert Series

Boone, Raleigh, Austin, Houston, Atlanta, Rochester and beyond — pioneering the sitar in landmark American venues.

Sayan Ghosh Academy

Learn the Art.
Carry the Tradition.

Founded in 2017 in Kolkata, the Academy offers deeply personal sitar education — for learners aged 3 to 80, whether you're a curious beginner or an advanced student refining your raaga.

01

Individual Mentorship

One-to-one guidance in the traditional guru-shishya spirit, adapted for modern learners worldwide.

02

Online & In-Person

Branches in Dunlop and Konnagar, plus global online classes connecting students across 12 countries.

03

Gayaki Ang Style

Teaching the vocal-instrumental approach that sets the Etawah gharana apart — music as human expression.

Register for Classes
Students from
India Nepal United States Canada Australia United Kingdom Switzerland Mauritius Trinidad & Tobago Slovakia Afghanistan Bangladesh
150+
Students worldwide
Student Reviews

What Students Say

Sayan sir has an extraordinary ability to make complex raaga theory feel intuitive. His patience and passion are genuinely infectious — I am a far better musician than I was a year ago.

AM
Asha M.
London, United Kingdom

I started learning sitar at 55 with zero background in Indian classical music. Sayan's approach made it accessible without ever dumbing it down. The depth is real, and so is the warmth.

DL
David L.
North Carolina, USA

The Tagore on Sitar project moved me to tears. I had heard Rabindra Sangeet all my life, but hearing it on the sitar through Sayan's interpretation was an entirely new experience.

PB
Priya B.
Zürich, Switzerland

Learning the surbahar under Sayan's guidance has been the most profound musical journey of my life. His knowledge of raaga grammar is encyclopaedic, yet he teaches with such simplicity and joy.

NK
Nisha K.
Mauritius

I joined the online academy from Bratislava not knowing what to expect. Two years later I perform at local cultural events. Sayan sir's dedication to each student is unlike anything I have encountered.

MH
Marek H.
Bratislava, Slovakia

As a professional musician myself, I was sceptical about online lessons. Sayan changed that completely. His ear is impeccable and his feedback precise — every session pushes me meaningfully forward.

TJ
Thomas J.
Houston, Texas, USA

My daughter enrolled at age 6 and Sayan sir made her fall in love with music instantly. His warmth and ability to connect with young learners is a rare gift. She now performs at school concerts.

SR
Sunita R.
Kolkata, India

I discovered Sayan through his Tagore on Sitar recordings and immediately enrolled. His interpretations carry such emotional intelligence — and that same quality comes through in how he teaches.

FA
Farrukh A.
Kabul, Afghanistan

Three years with the Academy and I can honestly say it has transformed not just my playing, but my relationship with music itself. The gharana tradition feels alive and accessible under Sayan sir's teaching.

LC
Leila C.
Port of Spain, Trinidad