Cultivating artistry, nurturing well-being, uniting through cultural resonance. Indian classical, semi-classical, devotional and Bollywood music — made welcoming for everyone.
Kalaakaar Society is a non-profit arts organization based in Edmonton, Alberta, dedicated to nurturing classical and semi-classical music traditions while creating new pathways for intercultural connection and community wellness.
Founded in 2024 by sitarist and educator Sharmila Mathur, Kalaakaar blends deep-rooted Indian classical traditions with inspiration drawn from Edmonton’s people, seasons and stories — through original compositions, collaborative performances and participatory events.
We work with universities, galleries, festivals, schools and community groups to make classical music approachable and alive for new generations. Our programming is free or low-cost and designed for audiences with no prior exposure to South Asian art forms.
Chai & Chant is our participatory music gathering, rooted in ancient call-and-response traditions. It brings people together through live, multilingual music that celebrates unity and belonging — paired with chai, samosas and conversation.
Trusted by universities, galleries, faith venues and festivals across Edmonton.
Music for the Council of India Societies’ celebration of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary.
Featuring Sharmila Mathur (lead sitarist) and Shruti Nair (lead vocalist).
Performing at the Council of India Societies’ Indian Independence Day celebration.
An outdoor Chai & Chant in Borden Park — supported by a City of Edmonton Festivals & Events Micro Grant.
Devotional music for the ISKCON Rath Yatra festival procession.
Chants, Bollywood songs and instrumental music on the mainstage of Edmonton’s multicultural arts festival, for a wide, intergenerational outdoor audience.
A large sitar ensemble with tabla and dholak on the University of Alberta’s flagship recital stage.
A full house for ragas Yaman, Darbari Kanada, Bageshree, Shankara, Pahadi, Desh and Ahir Bhairav — each with spoken context — on flute, sitar, tabla and voice.
Introductions to raga and rhythm with live performance amid the gallery’s exhibition spaces, for a visual-arts audience.
A symposium performance presenting each raga with its emotional and therapeutic context, inviting cross-disciplinary engagement on campus.
A mainstage performance bringing Kalaakaar’s classical ensemble to a film-festival audience in the city’s flagship concert hall.
Songs and instrumental music honouring Lord Krishna — sitar, tabla and vocals — co-hosted with CISE, with V4U Radio & TV Canada as media partner.
An uplifting community devotional afternoon of Indian classical music, group chant and conversation over chai.
Want to attend, perform, volunteer, partner with us, or book Kalaakaar for your venue? We’d love to hear from you.