Recently, ON the eve of World Music Day on June 20, Austrian Cultural Forum in association with Spandan Communications and Chandigarh Tourism organised an enthralling musical evening by Austrian Band Nim Sofyan - a multicultural and interdisciplinary jazz group. A rare jugalbandi was also seen during the concert with the band and Indian classical musicians Sanjeev Shankar (shehnai) and Anand Shankar (tabla). On this occasion Gudrun Hardiman -- Pollross (director, Austrian Cultural Forum), Anshuman Pandey (director, Spandan Communications), Munish Bahal (deputy director, Austrian Cultural Forum), Kamal Modi and many others were also present there.

This was for the first time this year that a musical evening was orgranised during the World Music Day celebration in Delhi NCR. Unity in diversity through God's direct gift to the mankind - music, is quite evidently reflected in the compositions of this exceptional band.

Austria often termed as the 'land of music' has generated a broad contribution to various forms of art, most notably among them music. Austria has been the birthplace of many famous composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, Anton Bruckner, Johann Strauss Sr., Johann Strauss Jr and Gustav Mahler as well as members of the Second Viennese School such as Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern and Alban Berg and conductors like Felix Weingartner, Clemens Krauss, and Herbert von Karajan, are just a few who have enriched Austrian cultural life. The Vienna Boys' Choir and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra are celebrated organisations. Music in all its format and facets still continues to enjoy a special place in present day Austria.