A vision rooted in generosity
Powered by a Board of Directors and Lead Instructor, Sonny
The Board Members founded Riyaaz Academy (a 501c3, registered nonprofit) to facilitate the learning of music, poetry and its surrounding culture. Not focused on classical music, the Academy aims to focus on music that sits in the folk, spiritual and "semi-classical" category.
The arts do more than entertain, they bring people together. We empower artists with a deeper connection to poetry, heritage, and meaning so they can spark belonging, pride, and collective healing.
For generations, artists have challenged systems, amplified silenced voices, and inspired civic engagement. Riyaaz Academy continues this legacy, equipping artists to use their craft for awareness and positive cultural change in the Greater Houston Area and beyond.
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Lead Instructor at Riyaaz Academy
Mr. Sonny K. Mehta is the founder of the only American qawwali ensemble Riyaaz Qawwali. He has performed professionally for 17 years. Uniquely, his love for qawwali began in Texas, not in Pakistan or India!
Growing up, he lived - as immigrant kids do - straddling two different worlds: his South Asian home life juxtaposed with his American schooling. He spent his summers and sometimes winter breaks in South Asia. He used the time to soak in as much music and cultural knowledge about popular genres of the north Indian subcontinent, including qawwali, bhajan, kirtan, ghazal, classical and thumri. It's precisely this American upbringing and hybrid identity that allows him to be poised so well to teach across America. Today, as a full-time music entrepreneur, he divides his time between teaching, performing and creating new music.
Sonny has guest lectured at schools, universities and museums for over a decade. These include Harvard University, Dartmouth College, University of Chicago, Asia Society, Cummer Museum, Getty Museum and several elementary & high schools. He has been awarded commissions from music organizations, grants from the city and national funders, as well as media coverage from NY Times, NPR and Huffington Post.
