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Ustad Ali Akbar Khan - Sarod
In Tribute to Ali Akbar Khan
25th June 2009
By Anoushka Shankar
"Dear Friends,
I write this column with difficulty, for my heart is heavy, and my mind distracted. This week has been nothing short of a tragedy for the music world. Two legends (Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Michael Jackson) have been taken from us, just seven days apart, and we are all reeling. It’s impossible to reflect on the combined loss the death of these two legends from such vastly different spectrum of music has caused.
Last week, the great sarod maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan passed away at age 87 due to kidney failure. As a classical Indian musician I was obviously deeply affected by his passing. But it runs deeper than that. From way back in the 1930’s, my father and he were guru-bhais, studying music together under Khansahib’s father, the legendary Baba Allaudin Khan. For many years they were brothers-in-law through my father’s first marriage. Together, they pioneered a method of playing classical duets that had never been seen before, and has been widely imitated ever since. In many ways, my father and he were considered the twin pillars of the Maihar gharana of music, and they were only two years apart in age. So as you can imagine, Khansahib’s death has hit my father very hard, and I have been affected in turn. I flew to San Francisco over the weekend to be at Khansahib’s funeral, and while it was a beautiful service, and I was grateful to be present, it was also incredibly sad.
Then, four days after returning, this tragic news! How can it be? The truth is, although I’m sad, I’m also trying to find it in myself to be glad for both these men. In the last few years of his life, Khansahib suffered a lot from his physical ailments. And though at the young age of 50, Michael’s death came as a shock to us all, I think we all have an idea of the ways in which he suffered emotionally at the end of his life. All we can do is feel glad that they are both now at peace, and feel tremendously grateful that we were alive in their time, to benefit from their genius and experience their glorious music.
In loving tribute".Zakir Hussain - Tabla
April 27 2009 - A conversation with musician Zakir Hussain, widely considered the world's best tabla player interviewed by Charlie Rose in New York during his 4 days performance at Carnegie Hall.
For those of you who missed Zakirji's interview:
http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10258
May 1 2009 - The NY Times - Review of Wednesday night's performance:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/01/arts/music/01huss.html?emc=tnt&tntemail0=yMilind Tulankar - Jaltarang
Milind Tulankar is one the finest Jaltarang players from India. Milind's Grandfather and Guru, the late Pt. Shankarrao Kanhere, was an accomplished Jaltarang player from Maharashtra, India. As graded artist of all India Radio, Milind played in numerous concerts all over India and popularized the unusual dying instrument. The late Pt. Dattopant Mangalwedhekar from Pandharpur trained him in music. Milind has written a book on the Jaltarang, published by Sanget-karyalay, Hatharas.
One of those rare instruments from India, Jaltarang is one of the oldest instruments in the world and one of the most rarely heard instruments today… Jaltarang consists of china bowls filled with water and struck by means of two cane sticks. Earlier, since china clay bowls weren't available, artists used to play this instrument with metal bowls. Each bowl can be tuned to the desired frequency by varying the quantity of water in it. These bowls are placed in a semi-circle arrangement around the player and played.
Ramdas Palsule - Tabla
Ramdas Palsule has developed his career as a talented, promising young tabla player. He is a disciple of eminent tabla player & Guru Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. He is a good soloist as well as versatile accompanist. He has traveled widely all over India and abroad to USA, Germany, Gulf Countries, Australia, Africa etc., for his tabla performances. He has accompanied many artists, which includes the late Pandit Jeetendra Abhisheki, Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar, Ustad Shahid Parvez, Ustad Sulatan Khan, Pandit Vishwamohan Bhatt, Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya, Dr. N. Rajam, Pandit Ronu Majoomdar, Mrs. Malini Rajurkar, Mrs. Veena Sahastrbuddhe…Partha Chatterjee - Sitar
Maestro sitarist Pandit Partha Chatterjee is a leading exponent of the Semia gharana founded by Baba Allaudin Khan. After hearing Pandit Nikhil Bannerjee performing, Partha Chatterjee sought to train under him, and gained acceptance after much perseverance. His views on music present a great devotion towards its ability to elevate the human consciousness. This is reflected in the deep mood established by his alaps. His style of playing exposes each raga in an aesthetic form entrancing listeners in its emotionality.
Pandit Partha Chatterjee took up assignment in Indonesia from 1988 to 1991 teaching in the J.Nehru Indian Cultural Center under the Indian Councing for Cultural Relations, Government Of India. He has taught as a visiting teach in the Ali Akbar College of Music, San Rafael CA from 1996 to 1998, in AACM Fremont from 1994 to 2000, and a Visiting Professor of Music for the Winter quarter in the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Pandit Kaivalya Kumar - Vocalist
Pandit Kaivalya Kumar is a leading young exponent vocalist of the Kirana Gharana with a rich
multigenerational lineage. He was trained by his father Pandit Sangmeshwar Gurav. His grandfather Ganpatrao Gurav, studied under 2 legends: Pandit Bhaskarbua Bhakle and Ustad Abdul Karim Khan. Due to this ancestry, Kaivalya Kumar is a treasure house of unusual compositions (Bandish). Kaivalya Kumar has performed at every prestigious venue in India including Dover Lane, Sawai Gandharva, and Harvallabh etc. He is a master at demonstrating the various vocal techniques. He is a dazzling performer and an eloquent and learned communicator. www.classical-concepts.comNitin Mitta - Tabla
Nitin Mitta is one of the most sought after tabla players of his generation. He has performed with some of India’s most celebrated musicians, including Pandit Jasraj, Pandits Rajan and Sajan Mishra, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Ustad Nishat Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez, Pandit Nayan Ghosh and Ustad Irshad Khan.
Nitin received his early training in Hyderabad from Pandit G. Satyanarayana and later from Pandit Arvind Mulgaonkar of Mumbai. Both his Guru's are disciples of the legendary Tabla maestro representing the Farukhabad Gharana, Ustad Amir Hussain Khan.
Nitin has collaborated with 2011 Grammy Nominee Pianist Vijay Iyer and Guitarist Prasanna in an exciting new trio project called “Tirtha.Soumitra Lahiri - Sitar
Soumitra Lahiri (Sitar)
In the esoteric realm of classical music, Soumitra Lahiri is a name held in high esteem by the connoisseurs. He took to the Guitar at a tender age inspired by his parents, Sangeetacharya Susanta Lahirri and Rekha Lahiri. Later, at the age of seven, Soumitra switched over to Sitar beginning his training under Pandit Gokul Chandra Nag and his celebrated son Pt. Manilal Nag. In fact, his actual strength lies in presentation of the Ragas without compromising their pristine character.
Equipped with long years of devotion to the cause of music resulting in winning many prestigious awards and applause, Soumitra has hitherto successfully performed his journey on the path of music, encompassing both home and abroad.Sangeetacharya Mallikarjun Mansur Vocalist
Vocalist Sangeetacharya Mallikarjun Mansur was born on December 31, 1910 in a village in Dharwad district of Karnataka. He had four brothers and three sisters. His elder brother Baswaraj had his own theatre troupe. At the age of nine, Mallikarjun played a small part in a play. The experience fascinated him so much that he ran away from home and joined a touring drama troupe. Although his father brought him back home, the stage continued to fascinate him and he soon joined another touring theatrical company.
During a performance, Pandit Neelkantbuwa Jangam, a disciple of Pandit Balakrishnabuwa Ichalkaranjikar, renowned exponent of the Gwalior gharana, recognized his potential. Young Mallikarjun was taken to Meeraj and put through a grueling schedule of gurukul training. For 6 years his training began at 4 a.m. and continued for several hours. When he emerged from his training he was 18 and ready to perform at any concert.
The most memorable among his early concerts was the Ganesha Utsav concert in Mumbai, in which he sang for over six hours. In 1932, after a special audition by HMV, he cut his first gramophone record. But although he had made several discs for HMV when he was still in his early twenties, music did not become a paying profession to Mallikarjun until much later in life.
It was through the initiative of a friend that Ustad Manji Khan, son of Ustad Alladiya Khan of the Jaipur Gharana, noticed Mallikarjun. Already trained in the Gwalior style, Mallikarjun was able to absorb the rich Jaipur style. Unfortunately Ustad Manji Khan died prematurely in 1937. Ustad Alladiya Khan then asked his other son Ustad Bhurji Khan to continue Mallikarjun's training. Although Mallikarjun Mansur`s gayakee was a blend of both gharanas, the virtuosity of the Jaipur gharana was more evident in his style. He could cast a hypnotic spell on his audience with his astounding breath control, the absolute purity of his swaras and the wonderful way in which he employed various embellishments. He sang for more than sixty years and there was always a special intensity to his singing, a special urgency and earnestness in his treatment of melody.
He performed regularly on radio and television and participated in numerous music conferences. He was director of HMV for a few years. He later joined Dharwad Radio Station as Music Director. His musical excellence earned him the `Kalidas Samman`, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Padmashree, the Padmabhushan and several other titles.
Mallikarjun had always led a simple life. He worshipped music and wanted to share its purity and joy with all his listeners. Worldly success meant little to him. Struck by lung cancer, the end came on Saturday September 12, 1992. In a Doordarshan interview telecast after his demise, he had expressed satisfaction at the vastly growing interest in classical music saying, `In the olden days we had so many veritable colossi in music of the highest calibre, but the audiences were small, exclusive and limited. Today, there are mammoth audiences, but sadly very very few musical giants left.`
Partha Sarathi Chatterjee - Sitar
Parthasarathi Chatterjee belongs to one of the most famous musical family of Kolkata, his father being an eminent tablia, Shri Chandra Kumar Chatterjee,uncle Late Pandit Prasun Banerjee and aunty being Vidushi Smt. Meera Banerjee of famous Kasur Patiyala Gharana. Partha started his Taleem from Smt. Maya Mitra, a famous Veenkar from his age FIVE. Then from 1978 he was under the guidance of Late Pt. Indranil BhattacharyaSenia – Maihar Gharana, a direct disciple of Ustad BABA Allauddin Khan Sahab. Till his guru’s death in 2001 Partha was under his tutelage in true “ Guru – Sishya Parampara style” and the only GANDA-BANDH Sishya of his Guru. Over the years Partha matured into a full-fledged musician by accompanying his Guru on stage and playing his own solo concerts. Partha also took taleem extensively from his early childhood in Patiyala Gayakiang Style from his Aunt and Late Uncle. Partha has been conferred with “JADUBHATTA AWARD” in 2001, Young Talents Award” in 1988 as the best talented musician of the year in Kolkata.
An Honours Graduate in Accounts from Calcutta University, Partha is shy fellow who make friendship with his audience through his music.Ikhlaq Hussain - Sitar
Ustad Ikhlaq Hussain is an accomplished master sitarist
whose powerful yet sensitive style of playing has enthralled audiences worldwide. He is one of the leading musicians of his generation, exhibiting great proficiency and originality. Ikhlaq's lineage dates back to a centuries-long line of prominent musicians of the Delhi Gharana (school) of Hindustani classical music, including Sufi Saint Hazrat Amir Khusrao, the creator of the sitar and tabla in the 13th century. Ikhlaq's musical education was acquired from his father, the eminent artist Ustad Imdad Hussain in Karachi and subsequently Ustad Kabir Khan. In 1991, Ikhlaq was awarded a scholarship from the Indian government to study with Pandit Ravi Shankar in India.
Ikhlaq's expressive playing has enthralled audiences in many cities in India, Pakistan, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. In addition to concert recitals, Ikhlaq Hussain is committed to preserving and disseminating his rich musical heritage through concerts, performances and teaching. www.ragasitar.comKala Ramnath - Violin
Kala Ramnath, Violin
“the girl with a singing violin”—Times of India.Kala Ramnath, the contemporary torchbearer of the Mewati Gharana, is among today’s most outstanding instrumental artists in North Indian classical music. Ramnath’s violin playing is characterized by her immaculate technique. An innate artistry and technical brilliance—combined with a rare and exquisite emotional quality—are defining hallmarks of her style. Ramnath produces a sound so close to that of vocal music that she has completely revolutionized the technique of violin playing.Krishna Bhatt - Sitar
Pandit Krishna Bhatt was born into a family of musicians,
poets and Sanskrit scholars who for five generations upheld their tradition in Rajasthan. Krishna was introduced to the musical traditions of Senia school by his father, who was a distinguished sitarist of his time, the late Pt. Shashi Mohan Bhatt. In his teens, Krishna’s musical grooming was further enhanced by many years of study under the tutelage of his Guru Pt. Ravi Shankar, and legendary musicians Pt. Nikhil Banerjee and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, who had a strong impact on Krishna's musical growth. While developing his own individual style, Krishna’s music was greatly influenced by twentieth century stalwarts such as the vocalists Amir Khan, Bade Gulam Ali Khan, Abdul Karim Khan, Begum Akhtar, Shobha Gurtu as well as renowned folk singers of Rajasthan. Krishna’s repertoire in performance includes a wide variety of rare and old traditional compositions from these masters of music. He has performed in major festivals all over the world. http://www.krishnabhatt.com/
Esha Bandyopadhyay - Vocalist
Born and raised in a family noted for its contribution to the
world of art, Vocalist Esha Bandyopadhyay, even as a child of nine, showed a natural inclination to Music.... Creative family atmosphere and a melodious voice found Esha effortlessly assimilating initial lessons from her mother painter Maitreyi Banerji. Later, intensive training under reputed masters moulded Esha's musical personality. The last 20 years has found Esha Bandyopadhyay - an accomplished classical vocalist, based in Kolkata, performing in many prestigious music festivals in India. Reputed organizations including Sutanati Parishad, Salt Lake Music Conference, Government College of Fine Art & Crafts, ABC Academy (Varanasi), ICCR, Jhankar Music Circle, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Culture, Bhawanipur Sangeet Sammilani, Haldia Music Conference,and others have featured Esha's vocal recitals,which have been appreciated by the critics and the audience.Esha had the opportunity of presenting a program of Bhajans (devotional songs) on Kolkata (Calcutta) Television. Her conception and delineation of this form of art has made Esha a successful teacher. She has founded 'Shaili', an academy of music and creative arts in Kolkata and also holds special classes and workshops for her students in Europe and America. http://www.eshavocal.comKumar Das - Tabla
Kumar Das-Tabla is a New Yorker who has performed Internationally from his native Bangladesh to Japan and throughout the US. He has been instructed and mentored from the age of 3 by his father, then by world-class master musicians, and is presently a disciple of Pandit Samir Chatterjee. Kumar has multiple National Artist's Gold Medal Awards in Classical Tabla music. He performs classically and he has also taken his musicianship to Branson, MO, where he played with Bluegrass Music greats, to studio work with Hip Hop stars, and with contemporary Jazz musicians in prestigious clubs and Jazz festivals. He has a current CD of classical performances, "Atlantic Seaside", and is currently working on a new recording with his Jazz group, Sudar. http://www.kdasmusic.com/
Smt. Soumya - Vocalist
A Carnatic musician by profession, Smt. Soumya has been a life soaked in melody from the very beginning. Growing up in a traditional South Indian family, she had her initial tutelage in music from her father Dr. Srinivasan, a Chemical Engineer with an enduring passion for Karnaataka Sangeetham. Later she was singularly fortunate to be taken under the wings of Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. S. Ramanathan - exemplary musician, esteemed musicologist and extraordinary human being. She received further training from Smt. T. Muktha, of the legendary Brinda-Muktha duo. She owes all her success and achievements till today to these individuals and to the bountiful blessings of her beloved Ambal, the Goddess Kamakshi of Kanchipuram. Her desire to propagate the traditions of South Indian music worldwide led her to establish Carnatica, an institution dedicated to music & dance instruction, archival, talent search and other related activities. Pandit Anindo Chatterjee - Tabla
Pandit Anindo Chatterjee is a living legend, and regarded
today as one of the most versatile Tabla Maestroes of India. He is not only a leading exponent of the Farukhabad gharana, but has also incorporated tabla repertoire from Lucknow, Delhi, Ajrada, Benaras and Punjab gharanas. His ability to deliver rare and difficult compositions with uncompromised clarity and remarkable speed has placed him as one of the great tabla artists of history. At the tender age of 5, Pandit Padmabhushan Gyan Prakash Ghosh accepted him as a disciple, and helped shape the young talent into a mature musician of the highest caliber. Anindoji won the All India Radio music competition at the age of seventeen and has also received the Sangeet Natak Academy Award from the President of India. Pandit Anindo Chatterjee has performed the world over, both as a solo artiste and with legendary masters including Pt. Nikhil Banerjee, Pt. Amjad Ali Khan, Pt. Ravi Shankar, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma, Late Ustad Alla Rakha and Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia. http://www.anindochatterjee.com/Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan - Shehnai
Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan, the premier shehnai maestro of eastern India, is one of the last of the great shehnai players. His instrument, an Indian oboe, is commonly associated with weddings and outdoor celebrations, and was developed into an important and popular instrument in the North Indian classical repertoire by the late Ustad Bismillah Khan. Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan is from a family of renowned shehnai exponents from Benaras, and is known for his innovative style and mastery over the classical and semi-classical and folk music repertoire. Ali Ahmed Hussain Khan – one of the veterans and maestros of shehnai– an instrument that is a very integral part of Indian Classical musical culture. The importance of shehnai cannot be overlooked. This instrument is played at every joyous occasion be it marriage, puja or a musical conference. Ali Ahmed Hussain Khan has been instrumental in taking the Indian classical musical culture to various international destinations. He has applied his unique and innovative style and literally reinvented the form of shehnai by way of its application in gayki, sur meend, pukaar, tantkari, baat ki taan,sapat ki taan and joud and jhala. www.aliahmadhussain.com/index.html
Subhen Chatterjee - Tabla
Subhen Chatterjee on Tabla bases his style of playing to Lucknow Gharana that he learnt from his illustrious Guru tabla maestro Pandit Swapan Chowdhury. Not restricting himself to one single Gharana-Subhen went on to learn the intricacies & beauty of other Gharanas that he introduced in his playing & which has made his style of playing so unique & distinctive.
Subhen, one of the finest tabla players of this generation, has already accompanied such outstanding musicians as Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Smt. Girija Devi, Pt. Jasraj, Smt. Sobha Gurtu, Pt. V. G. Jog, Pt. Rajan-Sajan Misra, Ustad Rashid Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez, Pt. Viswa Mohan Bhatt, Ustad Ashish Khan, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Pt. Manilal Nag, Ustad Ali Ahmed Hussain Khan, Sri Ronu Mazumder and many others and has earned a very good name both from the audience as well as the press. Subhen is also a very fine soloist. www.subhenchatterjee.com/
Gundecha Brothers - Vocal Dhrupad
Pt. Ramakant and Pt.Umakant Gundecha
Shri Akhilesh Gundecha on Pakhavaj (percussion)
Dhrupad style of vocal is 5000 years old tradition of Indian classical music, and the Gundecha Brothers are amongst the most respected and active vocal performers of the Dagar tradition of Dhrupad. They studied under the eminent gurus, Zia Mohiuddin and Zia Fariduddin Dagar and Srikant Mishra.They possess gifted voices with strong lower registers, and sing with a less aggressive style than typical Dagar singers, perhaps inherited from Zia Mohiuddin, the great Rudra veena player, who championed very slow music. The Brothers have worked to expand the Dhrupad repertoire by incorporating texts by Hindi poets, such as Tulsidas, Padmakar and Nirala; they are probably the most recorded Dhrupad singers in India. The Gundecha Brothers have come to be regarded as a third force, on par with the senior and junior Dagars. Akhilesh Gundecha learned pakhawaj playing from Shrikant Mishra and Raja Chhatrapati Singh JuDeo. He has also received scholarships from Ustad Allauddin Khan Sangeet Academy, Bhopal, and the government of India.
Samanwaya Sarkar - Sitar
Sitarist Samanwaya Sarkar is presently disciple of the legendary Padmabhusan Girija Devi ji of Benaras Gharana. Firstly, he was taken to a stalwart of ‘Senia Gharana’ Pt, Sasanka Bandopadhyay at the age of only four. Then he went under the able guidance of Pt. Manilal Nag of ‘Bishnupur Gharana’ from whom he learnt for twelve long years. Then again from another stalwart of ‘Senia Gharana’, Pt.Shyamal Chattopadhyay and from the late exponent of ‘Agra Atrauli Gharana’, Pt. Kumar Prasad Mukhopadhyay. Presently, he is an ‘A’ graded artiste of All India Radio.Debapriya Adhikary - Vocal
Vocalist Debapriya Adhikary , disciple of the legendary
Padmabhusan Girija Devi ji of Benaras Gharana. He received his primary lessons from his mother, who later took him to the stalwart vocalist of ‘Senia Gharana’ , Pt. Samaresh Chawdhury from whom he learnt for fifteen years. Since 2005, Debapriya has been receiving the Jnana Pravaha scholarship and also getting guidance of Pt.Vijay Kichlu of Agra Gharana. But one man whom Debapriya recognizes as his Preceptor, who changed his entire approach for music is the late exponent of Agra Atrauli Gharana Pt. Kumar Prasad Mukhopadhyay.Samir Chatterjee - Tabla
Samir Chatterjee is a virtuoso Tabla player of India. He
travels widely across the world throughout the year performing in numerous festivals as a soloist or with other outstanding musicians from both Indian and western musical traditions. Samir performed at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway on December 10th, 2007. His compositions are widely acclaimed as well as his writings.
Chatterjee began his studies early with Pandit Bankim Ghosh, Pt. Balaram Mukherjee, Pt. Rathin Dhar and Mohammad Salim. His later formation as a musician occurred under the guidance of Pt. Amalesh Chatterjee (since 1966) and Pt. Shyamal Bose (since 1984). All of Samir's teachers have been from the Farrukhabad Gharana (school) of Tabla-playing, which he now represents.
Samir Chatterjee is an A-rated artist of the national radio and television of India. He can be heard on numerous recordings featuring as soloist, accompanying many of India's greatest musicians and in collaboration with western musicians of outstanding caliber. In concert Samir has accompanied many of India's greatest musicians including Pt. Ravi Shankar, Ud. Vilayat Khan, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Nikhil Banerjee, Pt. V.G. Jog, Pt . Shivkumar Sharma, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, M. S. Gopalakrishnan, Ud. Amjad Ali Khan, Ud. Salamat Ali Khan, Smt. Lakshmi Shankar, Ud. Ashis Khan, Ud. Shujat Khan, Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty, Ud. Rashid Khan, Pt. Tejendra N. Mazumdar, Pt. Debashish Bhattacharya, to name only a few.
Samir Chatterjee lives in New York-New Jersey area. He is the Founder-Director of CHHANDAYAN, an organization dedicated to promoting and preserving Indian music and culture. He is the author of a comprehensive 654-page book entitled ‘A Study of Tabla’ and a guide book to Indian music titled ‘Music of India’. He is on the faculty at Yale University, Manhattan School of Music, University of Pittsburgh, New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and University of Bridgeport in CT. He also contributes to several newspapers and periodicals. He won gold medal for his proficiency in a musical examination (equivalent to B.Mus.). He has two master degrees, in English and History.Dibyarka Chatterjee - Tabla
Dibyarka Chatterjee is a young and promising Tabla player from the Farrukhabad Gharana. His natural inclination towards music became evident shortly after his birth, and at the age of five he was initiated by his father Pandit Samir Chatterjee, a world-renowned Tabla maestro. Since then he has been going through the rigorous discipline of lessons and practice according to the ancient guru-shishya parampara (master-disciple tradition). He has performed with many imminent classical musicians and has collaborated with groups like the Dance Theater of Harlem in 'South African Suite', Battery Dance Co. in “Songs of Tagore”, and with fusion musician/composers like Salman Ahmad (Junoon), Gary Lucas, Najma Akhtar, Douglas Cuomo etc. He has composed music for, and performed in, two off-Broadway theatrical productions. He recently performed at the Indian Consulate, City Center, Lincoln Center & Asia Society in NYC, Place des Arts (Montreal) and the Google Amphitheater (Palo Alto). For more info, visit: http://www.tabla.org/dc.html
Kedar Naphade - Harmonium
Kedar Naphade received preliminary training in
Hindustani Classical Music from his grandfather, Shri Dadasaheb Naphade and from Shri Arvind Gajendragadkar.Since he was 10 years of age, Kedar has had the great good fortune of training under the loving and expert guidance of Pt. Tulsidas Borkar, one of the topmost harmonium players in India today. Under his nurturing guidance, Kedar has imbibed the unique style of solo harmonium performance developed by Pt. Borkarji’s guru, Madhukar Pednekar or P. Madhukar. P. Madhukar was a genius with tremendous mastery over the instrument that is to date unsurpassed. His glorious tradition that exploits the strengths of the harmonium to the extreme, is presented to the connoisseur today by his stalwart disciples like Pt. Tulsidas Borkar and Pt. Anant Kemkar and the next generation of disciples consisting of Sudhir Nayak, Seema Mestri-Shirodkar, Kedar Naphade and others.
Kedar has also had the privilege of training under Smt. Padmavati Shaligram-Gokhale, a veteran singer of the Atrauli-Jaipur gharana. She played a pivotal role in his musical development and sowed in him the seed that developed into a passionate love for the vocal art form. As such, Kedar’s music derives inspiration from the stylistic genius and dexterous wizardry of P. Madhukar as well as the character of the traditional hindustani vocal art form, especially the Gwalior and Jaipur gharanas.
Kedar has performed harmonium solo and has accompanied vocalists at numerous concerts in India, Europe and in the U.S. including prestigious festivals and venues such as the Alladiya Khan Smruti Samaroha, Dadar Matunga Cultural Center, Lincoln Center, and Symphony Space. He has accompanied artists of high caliber such as his guru Smt. Padmavati Shaligram-Gokhale, Pt. Phiroz Dastur, Pt. Jasraj, Smt. Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, and Smt. Laxmi Shankar.
Kedar continues to train from Pt. Tulsidas Borkar and maintains an active concert schedule in the U.S
Nivedita ShivRaj - Vocalist & Veena
Nivedita ShivRaj is a talented carnatic music professional and hails from a family of musicians. She is the great-granddaughter of Puducherry Rangaswami Iyer - a great music composer honored by the King of Venkatagiri.
Nivedita ShivRaj was initiated in carnatic music by her maternal grandmother, Smt. A.Saraswathi - a vocalist and a violinist. She started learning Veena when she was five years. Her paternal grandmother Smt. Kokilamba was also a talented vocalist. Nivedita ShivRaj is the disciple of renowned musicians Shri. Thanjavur Lakshmanan and Shri. V.Raghavan. She has also taken advanced lessons from Dr.Chittibabu.
She has been performing for more than 20 years, in various sabhas, temples and cultural organizations in India and the USA. She was an All India Radio artiste. She has won many medals and prizes in various competitions. She was the first Indian musician to be featured in the Spiral Music series of the Rubin Museum of Arts, New York.
She has conducted workshops on carnatic music in the New York City Public Schools organized by Carnegie Hall. In these workshops, she discussed Indian music and the important aspects of carnatic music and also the distinct features of the South Indian string instrument, the Veena. She teaches vocal music and veena in New York.
Nivedita ShivRaj is also a trained Bharathanatyam dancer. She provides vocal and veena support for Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi dance performances and dance productions. She has created two unique productions "Veena Melodies" and "Veena Isai Thendral" blending classical music with western rhythms and modern technology. Her music on the veena is accompanied by a live vocal chorus which is unique in carnatic music.
Nivedita Shivraj is an active volunteer at the Hindu Center, Tamil associations and other community organizations.www.niveditashivraj.com
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Aashish gave his first public performance at the age of 13, with his grandfather, on the All Indian Radio “National Program”, New Delhi, and in the same year, performed with his father and his grandfather at the “Tansen Music Conference”, Calcutta. Besides his virtuosity as a traditional sarodist, Aashish was a pioneer in the establishment of world music genera, as founder of the Indo-American musical group “Shanti” in 1969/70 and later, fusion group, “The Third Eye”; and composed a Sarod Concerto in “raga” form. | ||||
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international repute currently involved in researching the folk roots of classical rāgas in Hindustani music and specializing in traditional Mānd singing and folk rāginis of Rajasthan. He comes from a prominent family of musicians in Jaipur. His father, the late PanditShashi Mohan Bhatt, an acclaimed sitarist and a professor at the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur trained many renowned musicians in the family including Krishna Bhatt, Manju Mehta of Ahmedabad and ‘Padma-Shri’Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.
Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar - 
Dhrupad Vocalist was honored by the President of India with the Padma Shri award in 2010. The Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilan award in India. Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar represents the 20th generation of dedicated dagarvani, dhrupad singers in the Dagar family. He is the nephew of Ustad N. Zahiruddin Dagar and son of Ustad N. Faiyazuddin Dagar, the legendary younger "Dagar Brothers". Though traditionally his family has always performed dhrupad as a duet (jugalbandi), Wasif (shortened name) successfully presents the dynamic of a duet in a solo performance by maintaining the distinct musical approaches and styles of both his father and uncle. Wasif's early training was with his uncle Ustad N. Zahiruddin Dagar, and his father Ustad N. Faiyazuddin Dagar. Wasif also had the good fortune of the tutelage of his grand uncle Ustad Rahimuddin Khan Dagar, a dhrupad exponent and his grandfather's younger brother. Other elders including uncles Ustad N. Aminuddin Dagar, and Ustad N. Mohiuddin Dagar (renowned vina virtuoso) have also greatly influenced him. Wasif continues to benefit from the knowledge, experience and guidance of his uncles Ustad. R. Fahimuddin Dagar, Ustad Z. Fariduddin Dagar, and Ustad. H. Sayeeduddin Dagar. Since the demise of his uncle Ustad N. Zahiruddin Dagar in 1994, Wasif has been carrying on the tradition of Dagarvani solo.
Ravikiran -
Chitravina & Vocal
Hailed as "perhaps the greatest 
slide player in the world" by Radio National, Australia, Ravikiran's name is synonymous with the Chitravina and is known worldwide as Chitravina Ravikiran.
Ravikiran's fascination for the Chitravina (earlier called Gotuvadyam), which was also the chosen medium of expression for his grandfather and father, began at the age of two. Against the background of his earlier musical accomplishments, Ravikiran was soon able to paint his musical ideas on the Chitravina. His maiden instrumental performance was in 1979, at age 12. His unique manner of playing even 3-5 minute long phrases without using his right hand have left musicians as well as music lovers speechless the world over.
His accomplishments on the exquisite Chitravina (20/21-string-slide instrument) have made a striking impact in the arena of slide instruments as a whole. The distinctiveness of his style stems from his vocal training, which have enabled him to forge new techniques - especially the microtonal oscillations and fast phrases that combine grace and force - that have extended the overall scope of slide instruments.
After his widely publicized appearances as a prodigy, Ravikiran moved on to become a vocalist under the careful guidance of his father, Narasimhan. Ravikiran debuted as a vocalist in 1972, at Coimbatore, India, at age five. Over the next couple of years, Ravikiran acquired a repertoire approximating to 500 compositions, and was also trained in the deeper and improvisational aspects of Carnatic music, including the ragam-tanam-pallavi. From 1986-96, Ravikiran had the rare privilege of learning from the celebrated vocalist T Brinda, widely acknowledged as a musicians' musician. His interaction with her added a whole new dimension to his perception of the microscopic nuances of music.
Snehashish Mazumder - Mandolin
Snehasish Mozumder comes from the established Indian classical musicians of India who has mastered the art of mandolin. His style perfectly blends North Indian classical music with any other style or genre of music.
Snehasish comes from a musically oriented family having started on the tabla before he picked up the mandolin under the guidance of his grandfather, late Sri Bibhuty Ranjan Mozumder, followed by his father Sri Himangshu Mazumder and his uncle, late Sri Ranjan Mozumder. He continues to train under his cousin Sri Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, a well-known sarode player.
The in-depth study of his art extended to the late Ajoy Sinha Roy, a disciple of Baba Allauddin Khan, the founder of the Maihar Gharana/school of music in Varanasi. His laykari/playing techniques are a salute to Anil Palit, the senior most disciple of Kishan Maharaj. The melodious voice brought out of his instrument comes from his mentorship with Ajoy Chakraborty in Kolkata.
Snehasish tours extensively across Europe and North America and has been leaving an impression of excellence amongst music lovers.
Past Festivals:
2009-September 22, US, Chicago World Music Festival
2009-August 13 US, US, Lincoln Center
2009-July 10-12 Canada, Vancouver Island Music Festival
2008-August 22 Canada, Edmonton Raga-Mala
2008-August 15-17 Canada, Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival
2008-August 12 Canada, Victoria, Alix Goolden Hall
2008-August 8 Canada, Hornby Festival
2005-July 24-26, Canada, Calgary Folk Music Festival
2005-July Canada, Festival Place
2002-November UK, Concert for George, Royal Albert Hall
Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan Vocal
ist
Distinguished exponent Vocalist of the Kirana Gharana lineage of North Indian vocal music, Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan is related by blood to many of the most distinguished luminaries in that tradition. He displays great invention and vocal agility in his recitals. He is a walking encyclopedia of traditional compositions ("bandishes") and has an erudite concept of ragas and a keen understanding of the various aspects of the Kirana style, which emphasizes numerous creative permutations of the notes of the raga. An A-grade artiste of All India Radio, he has performed in numerous festival and conferences all over India and abroad. Khan Sahib is currently a senior vocal guru with the prestigious Sangeet Research Academy in Calcutta, passing on his musical heritage to new generations of musicians. Read more at www.mashkooralikhan.com
Sanjoy Banerjee Vocalist
Sanjoy Banerjee has enthralled audiences at home and abroad to great critical acclaim. As a scholar at the Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata, Sanjoy's gurus were the late Pandit A. Kanan of the Kirana gharana and Sangeet Vidushi Malabika Kanan. He has received many awards and honors including from the Government of India. He is also a successful music director, and was invited to the UK to work on the prestigious Three Cities Project "Kahani Diwali" involving Leicester, Nottingham and Derby, where he was honored by the mayors of those three cities. Read more at www.sanjoybanerjee.com.
VIJAY KUMAR KICHLU - VOCALIST
Pandit Vijay Kumar Kichlu is a distinguished exponent of the Agra Gharana, who was first groomed by the senior Dagar Brothers and later by his guru, Ustad Latafat Hussain Khan. A deeply learned musician, Pandit Kichlu later served as the Executive Director of the prestigious Sangeet (Music) Research Academy (SRA) in Kolkata, India, where he nurtured and guided many of the most prominent musicians in recent generations. Pandit Kichlu is well-known for his eloquent introductions and lectures which are enriched by decades of experience as a practitioner, educator and mentor in the field of music.
SUBHRA GUHA - VOCALIST
Vidushi Subhra Guha is a distinguished exponent of the Agra Gharana, and is today accepted as one of India's leading female singers. Subhraji possesses an extremely melodious voice and a vast repertoire of ragas and compositions. She has been trained by Shri Satish Bhowmik, Pandit Sunil Bose, Pandit K.G. Ginde, Pandit D.T Joshi, and Pandit Vijay Kichlu. In addition to classical singing, she is expert in various semi-classical styles such as thumri, dadra, kajri, tappa, etc. She is a regular artiste of the A.I.R and television and has given memorable performances all over India and abroad.
SABINA ISLAM - VOCALIST
Having studied music from the age of five under various teachers, Sabina Islam came to the Sangeet Research Academy as a scholar in 1997, studying first with Pandit Sunil Bose of the Agra gharana (lineage) and then with her guru, Vidushi Subhra Guha, with whom she now lives in Kolkata in traditional "guru-shishya parampara" (guru-disciple relationship). In addition to Khyal, Sabina also sings Light Classical music like Thumri, Dadra and Tappa, which she has inherited from her guru in the perfect style of "Poorab Ang." Her style of rendition displays a mellow blending with vidya, devoted learning, raagdari and rich gaikee that is both creative and aesthetically appealing. Sabina has performed from many prestigious platforms in India and received numerous awards.
Vishwa Mohan Bhatt - Mohan Veena
Creator of the MOHAN VEENA and the winner of the GRAMMY AWARD, Vishwa Mohan has mesmerized the world with his pristine pure, delicate yet fiery music. It is due to Vishwa's maiden mega effort that he rechristened guitar as MOHAN VEENA, his genius creation and has established it at the top most level in the mainstream of Indian Classical Music scenario, thereby proving the essence of his name VISHWA (meaning the world) and MOHAN (meaning charmer) and indeed , a world charmer he is. Being the foremost disciple of Pt. Ravi Shankar, Vishwa Mohan belongs to that elite body of musicians which traces its origin to the Moughal emperor Akbar's court musician TANSEN and his guru the Hindu Mystic Swami Haridas. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt has attracted international attention by his successful indianisation of the western Hawaiian guitar with his perfect assimilation of sitar, sarod & veena techniques, by giving it a evolutionary design & shape and by adding 14 more strings helping him to establish the instrument MOHAN VEENA to unbelievable heights. With blinding speed and faultless legato, Bhatt is undoubtedly one of the most expressive, versatile and greatest slide player s in the world.
http://www.vishwamohanbhatt.com
Indrajit Roy-ChowdhuryIndrajit- Sitar
Indrajit Roy-Chowdhury is a disciple of the 
sitar maestro Pandit Subroto
Roy-Chowdhury. Groomed in the Veen-kar style of the Senia Gharana, which maintains the Dhrupadi origins of Indian Classical music, Indrajit strives to innovate while keeping a firm connection with the past. While completing his undergraduate studies at Duke University, Indrajit received the Bennenson Award for the Arts to further his study of Indian Classical music. Since then he has taken the profession of a full-time sitarist and has performed on stages across the world including such prestigious venues as Gyan Mancha (Kolkata), Hammerstein Ballroom (New York), Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.) and has had his concerts telecast by Doordarshan (Indian National Television). In addition to his solo work Indrajit has had the fortune of sharing the stage with and accompanying such stalwarts as the ghazal maestro Ustad Ghulam Ali and bhajan samrat Anup Jalota. www.indrositar.com
Deepak Kumar- Vocalist
Born in Rajasthan, India,
Deepak 
Kumar
is a quintessential romantic singer, songwriter and guitarist. His repertoire covers light classical North Indian vocal music as well as a wide spectrum of devotional music styles. Deepak first studied with his father, Shri P.N. Vyas, and later with Ustad R.F. Dagar, Ustad Moinuddin Khan and Shri Mohinderjit Singh. He is accomplished on several musical instruments including harmonium, tamboura, guitar and keyboard. As a faculty member of the East-West School of Music, Deepak Kumar offers regular performances and monthly vocal music classes.
Pt. Vikas Kashalkar - Vocalist
Pt. Vikas Kashalkar is a well-known artist of the Gwalior Gharana. He 
hails from a family of musicians. His initial training was under his father Adv. N. D. Kashalkar, a renowned musicologist & writer. He was groomed in Gwalior Style under the tutelage of Pt.Gajananrao Joshi, a stalwart. His music also has a deep influence of Jaipur, Kirana and Agra styles.
He has the Sangeetacharya - Doctorate Degree (PhD), and is associated with many prestigious musical institutions. He is also an A Grade Artist of All India Radio. Blessed with a mellifluous, deep voice & pleasing presentation style rooted in tradition, his imagination knows no boundaries. Accentuated with a splendid sense of rhythm, skillful layakari, intricate Taans and melodic balance, every concert is a divine experience. With numerous concerts all over India and on television channels Pt. Vikas Kashalkar has acquired the repute of a creative musical genius.
Pandit Ramesh Mishra Sarangi
A glaring example of total 
dedication, depth and maturity, Pandit Ramesh Mishra is a phenomenon in the field of Indian classical Music.
Mastering over one of the most difficult unique string instruments ' Sarangi', Ramesh Mishra is today acclaimed as an outstanding artist of India. Son of great sarangi maestro Pt. Ramnath Mishra, Ramesh started his initial intensive training at very tender age from his father and acquired further knowledge and training from finest musicians of Benaras Gharana Pandit Hanuman Prasad Mishra and late Pandit Gopal Mishra. Presently Ramesh is under the tutelage of the legendary maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar. Ramesh's high aesthetic sense, and artistic sensibilities along with his inner soft nature gave recognition both in home and aboard as an eminent soloist as well as an adept accompanist. His perfect restrained tuneful music enthralled the global audience. Besides a recipient of India's most prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar (Akademi Awards) for the year 2008 for his outstanding contribution in the field of music (sarangi), Pt. Ramesh Mishra also received of Sangeet Natak Award of Uttar Pradesh 1992, honored with Geetanjali, Uttam, Dishari Award, Jhadhu Bhatta award from West Bengal in 2007 and various other awards from different musical organizations. In 1959 Ramesh was sent as a cultural delegate to Pakistan by late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India. Both as soloist and accompanist, Pandit Ramesh Mishra traveled all over the world accompanying internationally reputed artists.
Smt. Venna
Sahashrabuddhe
Vocalist
Veena Sahasrabuddhe is widely
acclaimed today as a performer of the khayal style of Indian classical singing and of moving bhajan devotional songs. She is regularly invited to perform at the most prestigious events all over India. Labels including HMV (EMI), BMG-Crescendo and Sony have published a total of 40 albums of hers. Her music appeals to other musicians, elders with decades of listening experience and schoolchildren alike, because her music respects traditional values and is yet very personal. Her father, Pt. Shankar Shripad Bodas was a disciple of the legendary Pt. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar. He and brother Pt. Kashinath Shankar Bodas are her two gurus. She has a Bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance, Sanskrit Literature, and English Literature from Kanpur University (1968), a Master's degree (Sangeet Alankar) in Vocal Performance from A.B.G.M.V. Mandal (1969), and also Master's degree in Sanskrit from Kanpur University (1979). A.B.G.M.V. Mandal conferred on her a doctorate in vocal music (Sangeet Praveen) in 1988. She follows the ragas through the most complicated harmonic twists and turns, adding stunning displays of note-changing vibrato that will leave you absolutely breathless. A member of the prestigious Gwalior gharana, Veena ji's style is direct and complex, and draws lightly on other traditions to supplement her own rich teachings. She is one of the best-known and most favored classical Hindustani singers performing in India and all over the world today.
http://www.it.iitb.ac.in/~hvs/Veena/bio.html
Pandit Yogesh Samsi - Tabla
Pandit Yogesh Samsi is one of 
those rare tabla players whose reputation has been built on his consummate artistry in both fields of accompaniment and solo playing. The son of the renowned vocalist Pandit Dinkar Kaikini, Yogesh
Samsi was initiated into tabla by his father at the tender age of four, and later received guidance under Pandit H.Taranath Rao. However it was under the gifted tutelage of the legendary Ustad Alla Rakha that Yogesh received intense training for twenty three years and, matured into a fine young tabla
player. Yogesh has accompanied almost all the top ranking instrumentalists and vocalists and dancers of India, including Ustad Vilayat Khan, Pt Dinkar Kaikini, Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Pt Shivkumar Sharma, Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Pt Birju Maharaj. Apart from accompaniment Yogesh has
performed numerous memorable solo performances in India and abroad. He has also had the privilege of accompanying his teacher Ustad Alla Rakha and
his son the great maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain in their solo performances. Besides performing Yogesh has a sound scholastic approach to the subject and has taken several successful workshops in world music centres in India, U.S.A, U.K, South Africa and Japan. He is also a highly respected teacher, creating a syllabus for learning tabla designed specifically for teachers in the West, an initiative which is sure to have great benefits for the advancement of tabla worldwide. Yogesh has also worked on an instructional CD-Rom about tabla which is now available for students.
With the growing influences of modern and fusion music, Yogesh Samsi strives to keep up his revered Guru's word of preserving the tradition in the presentation of tabla solo.
Pandit Samar Saha Tabla
Born and raised in Kolkata, 
Pandit Samar Saha showed great promise at a very young age. Samar's initial training started at a very tender age under the guidance of his father Sri Sudhansu Bhusan Saha and brother Sri Tarak Saha, who was himself a Tabla player of repute. His formal training started under the tutelage of Sri Satchidananda Goswami and then flowered under the able guidance of Sri Krishna Kumar Ganguly (Natubabu) of Banaras Gharana.
A highly sought-after Tabla accompanist, Samar has had the privilege of accompanying almost all the top ranking artists of Hindustani vocal and instrumental music. Frequently featured on All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan, Samar has participated in all prestigious music conferences in India. Samar has performed on the Tabla in several foreign countries as well, like Germany, USA and UK. Samar Saha is a full-time senior faculty member of ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata, since its very inception in 1978. He has toured the USA many times with ITC-SRA musicians.
http://samarsaha.com/
Shahid Parvez - Sitar
Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan is one of the finest sitar players alive today. 
His dazzling virtuosity and innovative genius have earned him a legacy as a giant of the sitar. Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan learned his craft from his father, Ustad Aziz Khan, and enjoys an impeccable pedigree. He is a seventh generation heir to the sitar's first family, the Etawah Gharana. Ustadji's global reputation as an awe inspiring performer is complemented by another rare gift - his ability to spread his music as a dedicated and loving guru. Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan sums up his mastery of this most intricate art form with a profoundly simple philosophy: "Music is my life".
Sukhvinder Singh Naamdhari - Tabla
Sukhvinder Singh Naamdhari
(Pinky) is one of the best tabla players from the Benaras Gharana and suitably emulates his Guru's style. He received his initial training in saath from Ustad Nihal Singh Ji, and went to Varanasi (Banaras) where for several years he received intensive training and guidance from none other than the legendary Pt. Kishen Maharaj, the best known and internationally acclaimed exponent of the Benaras Gharana of tabla playing. Sukhvinder is a shining star in the world of tabla accompaniment and tabla solo playing. He had performed with most of the leading artistes, such as Pt. Ravi Shankar, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez (Sitar), Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt. Rajan & Pt. Sajan Misra, Pt. Jasraj to name a few.
Mitali Banerjee Bhawmik Vocalist
Mitali Banerjee Bhawmik, an 
artiste of Hindustani Classical vocal music, was born in Nogaon, Assan, where she started her initial lessons in music at a very early age from Sri Ajit Dutta. Later she had the privilege of receiving extensive training in the different styles of Hindustani Classical vocal music from Sri Biren Phukan in Guahati, Assam. For further training, Mitali went to Calcutta in 1983 where she initially received lessons from Srimati Meera Banerjee, the noted vocalist. Since 1984 Mitali is under the tutelage of Padmabhushan Pandit V. G. Jog, the famous violin maestro. Pandit Jog's vast and extensive experience in the different musical styles and traditions have helped Mitali to blend the best of few styles (Gharanas) in her music in contrast to sticking to a single traditional Gharana style. This has been the essence of Pandit Jog's philosophy in music and training methodology. Mitali also received training in semi-classical (thumri, dadra, hori etc) music from Smt. Dahlia Rahut, a senior disciple of Smt. Girija Devi.
Mitali has performed in several concerts both in India and the USA. She has performed at the Ali Akbar College of Music in several states such California and New York, and in several universities including Southern Methodist University, Yale, Princeton, and Rutgers. In India Mitali has performed at the Sangeet Research Academy, Salt Lake Music Festival, Bhawanipur Sangeet Samaj, Dover Lane Music Conference periodicals, Calcutta School of Music, World Bengali Conference, SPIC-MACAY concerts, West Bengal State Music conference in Calcutta, Delhi habitat center, IIC Delhi, NCPA Mumbai, Varanasi, Rajkot & Surat & several others. She has also performed at the Nehru Centre and Stratford in London UK.
Her melodious voice and perfect rendition of the ragas have won her numerous acclaims and appreciation from the listeners. Besides Khayals, Mitali also specializes in semi-classical music like Thumris and Bhajans.
Pt. Debi Prasad Chatterjee
Sitarist
Pandit Debi Prasad Chatterjee is a distinguished name among Indian 
musicians as an outstanding Sitarist and a highly regarded teacher of Indian Classical Music. He is widely respected for his devotion to music and his control over the Ragas with systematic exploration which has placed him among the top instrumentalists of his era.
Born in Calcutta, hailing from a family of rich cultural and musical heritage that has produced musicians like Pandit Anindo Chatterjee (Tabla), he developed a distinct and unique style of his own after receiving extensive training from various Maestros. He learnt his first Sitar-lessons from his elder brother Late Pandit Biswanath Chatterjee and Late Pandit Aparesh Chatterjee. From 1965, he received extensive training from the Legendary Sitar Maestro Late Pandit Nikhil Banerjee for 20 years – while also receiving extensive training from Smt. Annapurna Devi. Since 1986, he became the “Ganda Bandhan Disciple” of the World Famous Maestro and Living Legend Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.
http://debiprasadchatterjee.com/
ANURAG HARSH - VOCAL
Anurag Harsh was born in the north 
Indian region of Kashmir. When he was 2 years old, he heard a bhajan by Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan on All India Radio. At the age of 3 he reproduced the tunes of that Bhajan he had heard a year back. This is when his parents discovered his latent talent and thus commenced his formal music training under his mother Mrs Asha Kaul, a renowned performing artist of Kashmiri film and radio. At the age of 4 he gave his first 45 minute solo concert in the city of Jamshedpur where he grew up. At 6, he formally started learning Hindustani classical music under Pandit Chandrakant Apte of the Gwalior gharana. During this period Anurag spent listening to various great artistes who visited his Guruji's home including Prabhakar Karekar, Ajay Pohankar, and Kumar Gandharva to name a few. After 11 years of formal theoretical classical music examinations, Anurag completed his Alankar (MA in Music) from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya at the age of 17.
Winner of India's most prestigious classical music contest finals organized by ITC's Sangeet Research Academy, Anurag Harsh is a versatile vocalist of the younger generation. At a recent sold out concert at New York's Carnegie Hall, Anurag received a standing ovation by both critics and listeners. He recently also performed the first ever Vocal-with-Santoor Jugalbandi with the maestro Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya in Raleigh's Fletcher Opera Theater (www.SantoorVocal.com).
With formal training in the Kirana and Gwalior gharanas of Hindustani music, Anurag's highly animated and involved style of concert performances have made him very popular among the music connoisseurs. With a deep and meditative voice, his taans are reminiscent of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi spreading across all three octaves. Anurag spent over a decade learning Pandit Bhimsen Joshi’s style and rendition. http://www.anuragharsh.com/
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