Join musician Cassius Khan and a variety of highly accomplished musicians and tea specialists as they immerse you in the cultures of the world, bringing you connection to generations past through songs and experiences that have endured for thousands of years.

On April 21, join Cassius and oboist Fleur Sweetman for an illuminating afternoon of music and refreshments. This event is free and welcome to all.

About Cassius Khan
Canada’s most recognizable Indian Classical musician, the globally renowned Cassius Khan is a performer of combining the Classical styles of Ghazal/Thumri singing and the Tabla, the North Indian pair of drums and presents both, simultaneously. He is the senior disciples of the late Malika e Tarannum Mushtari Begum (Dec 25th 1934-March 14th 2004) and Tabla maestro Ustad Rukhsar Ali, who belongs to the Delhi Gharana of Tabla playing. Combining Indian Classical singing with Tabla, for a single artist, is a first in Indian classical music. Many noted Indian Classical Music gurus have proclaimed that singing and playing Tabla in unison is a difficult feat to master as Tabla playing requires skill and strength, as well as an absolute concentration on the kaleidoscopic rhythm patterns of the repertoire, and singing requires absolute skill in the execution of notes and vibrations of the voice and excellent breathing control. Khan’s trademark is performing the extremely rare and difficult “Tarannum Ang Gayaki style” in which the lyrics share a different metre from the rhythm but they join at the Sum point in a certain phrase.

About Fleur Sweetman
Fleur Sweetman is an oboist currently working and living in Vancouver, BC. She received a Masters Degree in Music Performance from the University of British Columbia where she studied with Beth Orson. She also holds a Bachelor of Music Performance with Honours from Wilfrid Laurier University where she studied with Jim Mason and a certificate in Arts Administration from Capilano University. In addition to playing the oboe, Fleur is also the Performing Arts Programming Director at the Massey Theatre and Arts & Culture Liaison for the Anvil Theatre in New Westminster, BC.

As an orchestral musician, Fleur has performed across Canada including locally with orchestras such as the Vancouver Island Orchestra, Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, Prince George, Kamloops, and Okanagan Symphonies. As a chamber musician she regularly enjoys performing with a range of groups from duos to small chamber orchestras.