Born into rhythm, Hiren Chate was introduced to the Tabla when he was just 15 days old. His father, a sitar player and devoted music practitioner, instilled both discipline and deep respect for the art from an early age. By seven, Hiren began formal training, what started as his father’s passion soon became his life’s calling.

At 18, his pursuit of mastery took him to England, where he trained under the legendary Pandit Yogesh Samsi and collaborated with the renowned Complicité Theatre Company. Exposure to a wide spectrum of global artists across music and dance profoundly shaped his perspective, helping him see tabla as not just a percussive instrument, but a language that can converse with any form of music.

His ensemble, Circle of Naad, is an exploration of this very language, how the rhythmic vocabulary of tabla can translate into dialogues with other instruments, cultures and genres. Through this project, Hiren aims to inspire younger audiences to experience the vastness of Indian classical music in new, exciting ways, to see how tradition can evolve when curiosity leads.