2026 marks the 15 year anniversary of the South Asian Music Ensemble (SAME), originally founded as the South Asian Vocal Ensemble (SAVE) in 2011.
In its early years, SAVE primarily performed a cappella, with voice training as the central premise of the ensemble. Instrumentalists eventually found their way into the group, which began to encompass a wider community from Hyde Park and the greater Chicagoland area, and the ensemble was officially renamed to SAME to reflect this broader breadth of musical participation.
Members of SAME consider the ensemble not just a musical outlet, but an important site of community and connection. As SAME co-director Pramantha Tagore notes, "In many ways, SAME functions not just as a performing ensemble, but as a refuge for musically inclined practitioners as well as those enthusiastic about performance and about being part of a larger totality that brings us together in working toward a common goal. We perform music while feeling and being South Asian, and we also welcome those without roots or heritage in the subcontinent to experience its sound worlds. I felt even then that I was entering something special, a place shaped by those who came before and sustained by those who will come after."
Read more reflections from SAME members below.
SAME will celebrate their 15 year anniversary at their spring performance on Sunday, April 26, 2026. Learn more.
SAME Reflections
"SAME has been a beautiful way for me to return to my roots. After twelve years of living away from Bangladesh, I have found a community with whom I can sit on the floor and sing and play freely as I used to when I was a child. I am also grateful for the lovely members of the ensemble who welcomed me with open arms."
Teerath Majumder, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Audio and Music
Columbia College Chicago
“I was introduced to SAME when I visited the University of Chicago as a Fulbright Fellow in 2021 to 2022. At the time, Tomal Hossain was co-director, and he introduced me to Minu Pasupathi, both of whom welcomed me into a musical family, especially for those away from home.
In thinking about SAME’s journey from SAVE, which brought people together even in its name, to SAME, we celebrate not only community building through music and the preservation and advancement of repertoire from South Asian traditions, but also the many co-directors who have shaped the ensemble over the years alongside Minu Pasupathi. This includes Rehanna Kheshgi, Ameera Nimjee, Bertie Kibreah, and Tomal Hossain.
Here is to many more years, and to many more meaningful and successful seasons as an ensemble!”
Pramantha Tagore
SAME co-director, 2025-26
“Having SAME in the Hyde Park community is valuable for many reasons. These include tapping into the cultural heritage of the South Asian student body and community members, providing an outlet for instrumentalists and vocalists to perform, and promoting South Asian Classical and folk music to the wider Hyde Park community. Having studied tabla in New York City and India, it is great to be able to find a community of like-minded musicians with which to continue to grow on my musical journey right here in Hyde Park!”
Randall Jamrok
Percussionist, music teacher, & educator
“I was first introduced to SAME when I did an online search for events in the City of Chicago for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. When I found out I did not have to be a student or faculty member of U of C, I decided to audition for the ensemble the following year. Prior to SAME, my only knowledge of South Asian music was via a tabla class and a bhangra class. Minu and Bertie made me feel very welcome. I never felt out of place in the ensemble. I must admit, singing was quite a challenge for me because not only do I not know any South Asian languages/dialects, but I also have an auditory disease that makes hearing and repeating certain sounds difficult. But, it did not matter as Minu was very patient. SAME was definitely an extended family. When I asked if members of the group could perform for my high school's AAC showcase, there was no hesitation. I am grateful to have been a part of SAME, as music acts as a universal language that allows people from diverse backgrounds to connect.”
Marlita Sanders
Science teacher
De La Salle Institute