Trinidad-born tabla virtuoso Avirodh Sharma is set to appear alongside classical Grammy-winning, India-born singer Falu at Carnegie Hall on March 27.
Speaking to Karen Dass on 103.1FM, Sharma said he is excited to perform with Falu, whom he praised for crossing cultural and genre barriers.
“She’s crossed the barriers and I’m honoured to represent our people on the day, and it will be an emotional performance because I always think of my ancestors before I go up on stage—the struggles they made,” Sharma said.
Sharma became the first Indo-Caribbean American to join the Recording Academy as a voting member in July 2025.
“It’s a very prestigious and honourable role,” he said, “Basically, my role is to critique albums that are submitted for the Grammys.”
Sharma, who attended Montrose Vedic School in Chaguanas, credits the tabla with having healing, meditative and transformative power.
“If you listen closely enough, you can really enter a trance. If you listen with all your devotion, with all your focus and concentration, it becomes a kind if meditation,” he said.
The Central Trinidad-born tabla virtuoso emphasised the importance of preserving cultural identity while adapting to modern musical spaces.
“Your philosophies have to be consistent, and when you enter these spaces,” he said.
Sharma encouraged listeners to be honest and sincere in anything you do and he believes these qualities open to door to opportunities for growth and advancement.
“I think opportunities open up when people start believing and seeing what you represent.”
