In Restrung, Vijay chronicles the extraordinary journey of a gifted musical prodigy: his dazzling rise, relentless ambition, devastating unraveling, and profound renewal. It is a story about music, but ultimately, it is a story about human connection, survival, and the possibility of transformation.

Raised by deeply devoted Bengali immigrant parents whose high expectations shaped his musical journey, Vijay rose with astonishing speed through the exacting world of classical music. He became the youngest musician ever to join the Los Angeles Philharmonic, entering a world of extraordinary accomplishment, discipline, and expectation. Yet beneath the brilliance of his success, he was quietly unraveling, grappling with burnout, isolation, and a profound sense of disconnection.

His path toward renewal began in an unexpected place. In 2011, Vijay founded The Street Symphony, a nonprofit organization that brings world-class music and meaningful human connection to people experiencing homelessness, incarceration, and recovery throughout Los Angeles.

Through the people he encountered, particularly on Skid Row, Vijay began to understand music in an entirely new way. The music he had spent a lifetime mastering was no longer simply an artifact of high culture or a form of entertainment. For people living through addiction, homelessness, incarceration, and profound adversity, it could become something far more essential: a lifeline, a language of connection, and an expression of survival itself.

Vijay will share reflections from Restrung in conversation with Helena Hansen, MD, PhD, psychiatrist-anthropologist, Professor and Interim Chair of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, and Interim Director of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.

The evening will also feature a live performance by Vijay, bringing his remarkable story to life through several beautiful musical selections.

Together, conversation and music will offer a powerful exploration of how art can cross boundaries, restore connection, build resilience, and open unexpected pathways toward healing.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music, meaning, and the transformative power of human connection.

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Thank you for your continued support of The Friends. We look foward to seeing you there.

To watch videos of our past Open Mind programs, please visit our YouTube Channel