Alumni Spotlight: Galen Passen

Galen Passen (IBA ‘16), sitarist and composer, has devoted himself to the study of hindustani music for the past decade, training intensively in New Delhi for much of that time. He now resides in NYC, continuing his training with Abhik Mujherjee. His compositional work reflects his investment in global hybridity, experimentalism, and social practice. He is the creator and leader of Folk Song, an emergent ensemble creating new music based on the traditions of hindustani and Irish traditional music.

Five of his phenomenal collages and sketches were donated to the Alumni Council’s Silent Auction in June 2020. For more information about Galen and his work, you can follow him on Instagram: @galenpassen and @folk_song_project.