Darshan Trio: The Art of Fugue

Darshan Trio derives its name from the Sanskrit word for “seeing beyond”. The vibrant Los Angeles-based ensemble’s fresh take on the classical piano trio creates transcendent musical connections – sparking curiosity via electrifying performances, innovative boundary-breaking presentations, and a radical commitment to engagement both on and off the stage. As both a collaborative of musical explorers and a laboratory for creative experimentation, the ensemble’s uniquely collaborative approach is defined by the belief that working with others changes how we see ourselves.

Formed in 2021 by pianist Dominic Cheli, violinist Vijay Gupta and cellist Yoshika Masuda, Darshan Trio’s inaugural programs weave together music, storytelling, and multimedia in bringing the audience along for journeys of discovery which vividly engage the senses. Mosaic juxtaposes works by Reena Esmail, Peteris Vasks, Arvo Pärt, and others in a “musical tasting menu” pairing works across centuries, cultures, and genres. This signature program creates new paths for experiencing the piano trio repertoire, with the ensemble pioneering immersive presentations that fully engage the senses.

See Yourself, a program including works by Robert and Clara Schumann and the towering Opus 8 Trio of Johannes Brahms, opened the 2023 season of Music Worcester with multidisciplinary collaboration with dancer Yamini Kalluri and the Worcester County House of Correction. This project involving a formerly incarcerated poet affirmed the ensemble’s commitment to going beyond the traditional concert space and experience to create meaningful engagement for the whole community. Their presentations at Yale’s new Schwarzman Center activated innovative lighting design in forming a new hub for student life and the arts. The ensemble has also incubated new programs via their residency at Idyllwild Arts Academy and performances at the Sierra Madre Playhouse.

An American Story features first entirely US-trained composer Arthur Foote alongside Antonin Dvorak’s Dumky Trio, forging unexpected connections between Dvorak’s songs of mourning and the influence of gospel songs. Darshan Trio’s most recent program, Art of the Hymn, centers a new arrangement of Bach’s monumental Chaconne by ensemble pianist Dominic Cheli, alongside works by Charles Ives and Felix Mendelssohn which quote from the vast canon of communal singing.

As well as being acclaimed soloists, chamber musicians and recording artists, Dominic, Vijay and Yoshi are deeply committed to the power of music to connect, heal, and inspire. Darshan Trio is the ensemble in residence at Street Symphony, a nationally recognized leader in community engagement, presenting workshops and performances in Skid Row shelters, clinics and county jails.

Dominic Cheli serves on the faculty of the Colburn School, and is the Head of Piano for the education and media company: tonebase. He is described as an “inspired keyboardist” (artsfuse) whose playing is “spontaneous yet perfect” (Symphony Magazine).

In addition to being the founder and artistic director of Street Symphony, Vijay Gupta is a sought-after speaker, forthcoming author, and 2018 MacArthur Fellow. He has been hailed by the New Yorker as a “visionary violinist…one of the most radical thinkers in the unradical world of American classical music.”

Yoshika Masuda is currently the Assistant Professor of cello and Director of String Studies at Chapman University. His critically acclaimed debut album, Hidden Flame, was released in 2024 and he has been praised for his “undoubted artistry” (The Strad).

Darshan Trio’s debut album Mosaic was released in Fall 2024.  Learn more at www.darshantrio.com.