(Above): Rita Sahai.

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The Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame will celebrate its 20th Anniversary by honoring 10 new inductees at a luncheon. “Each of these outstanding inductees contributes to life in our community in ways that help make Alameda County a place that is second-to-none in terms of its vibrant culture and the rich diversity,” said Alameda County administrator Susan S. Muranishi, an event co-chair.

Sahai is the director of the Hindustani Music Ensemble at UC Davis, administrates her own school OSMJ music and contributes to her community by lecturing and performing for schools, hospitals and non-profit organizations.

Rita’s musical virtuosity has garnered her many awards in India and the United States including the Isadora Duncan Award for Musical Excellence. Her commitment to honoring multiculturalism and our environment has led Sahai to create Vasundhara - An Ode To Mother Earth, her 40-voice multicultural choir consisting of men, women and children, offered as a unified prayer to evoke awe and love for the earth on which we live and for our fellow human beings.

Such a large-scale choir is unprecedented in Hindustani Music and was born from Sahai’s belief that “Music is the universal language, the mission of Vasundhara is to bring healing to our world.”

The purpose of the Women’s Hall of Fame is to recognize outstanding women for their achievements and contributions to the overall well being of our county and its citizens.

Sahai will be accepting this prestigious award during the 2013 Alameda County Women’s Hall of Fame inductees Awards Ceremony and Luncheon, March 23, at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Oakland, Calif.

Interested readers can get more information at www.ritasahai.com and at www.acgov.org/cao/halloffame.