Vocal Concert 09/21/13

Vocal Concert – Khayal, Thumari and Bhajans A disciple of Pandit Manas Chakraborty and Late Pandit Ram Ashraye Jha, Sandipan has developed a distinctive style of his own, which primarily embraces the nuances of the melodious Kirana Gharana. Gifted with an extremely mellifluous voice, Sandipan Samajpati is exceptionally adept at creating soulful improvisation of each raga which lends his renditions a rare emotional content and thoughtfulness, making him stand out amongst his peers. Recognizing this musical brilliance, numerous awards and accolades continue to come Sandipan’s way. He is the first recipient of the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Puraskar 2006, awarded by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the apex institution of performing arts in India. Very recently, the artist received the Sangeet Ratna Puraskar (2011) from the Salt Lake City Music Conference (Kolkata) in acknowledgment of his creative contribution. An “A-Grade” vocalist of Doordarshan (Indian National Television) and the All India Radio. He has extensively toured Europe, U.K., Australia, USA, Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) and Singapore, and has successfully catered to the global audience with his rich musical repertoire. Sandipan is also actively engaged in grooming the younger generation of music-learners through his scientific voice training methods, and rigorous musical discipline. Saturday, September 21, 2013 7:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013 Hindole has had his training from Sri Shibsankar Karmakar, a worthy disciple of late Ustad Karamatullah Khan and has been taking advanced talims from the Tabla Maestro Pandit Sankha Chatterjee of the Punjab Gharana. He has also been receiving training in the South Indian Rhythm style from Bidwan Pandit S. Shekhar, the great Mridangam exponent. Hindole has been appreciated by Tabla Maestros like Pandit Swapan Chowdhury, Pandit Kumar Bose, Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, Ustad Sabir Khan, to name a few. He is a regular artist of the All India Radio and Television (India). He has accompanied eminent musicians like Ud Shahid Parvez, Ud Shujaat Khan, Sri Partha Bose, Pandit Ganesh Mohan, Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Ud Aashish Khan, Pt Kamal Mallick, Pt Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, Alam Khan; Veena Sahasrabudhe, Tanima Thakur, Sanjeev Abhyankar, Sandipan Samajpati and several others. He has travelled extensively throughout India and abroad. He has travelled to countries like Singapore, Malayasia, Sultanate of Oman (Muscat), Germany, France, and England to name a few. He has also been regularly travelling to the USA and Canada for teaching assignments and concerts. Hindole has rendered performances in the different prestigious classical music conferences.

India Dance Festival This concert is in part sponsered by the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) India Dance Festival will present several fine dance performances by some of the leading artists featuring Kathak styles. Kathak, the dance style from north India has the charm and subtlety associated with miniature paintings. Nurtured in the holy precincts of the Hindu temples Kathak was further enhanced with Persian influence during the Mogul reign in India. Over the centuries, it has attained refinement and enriched itself by the establishment of distinct styles and gharanas. Saturday, September 07, 2013 7:30:00 PM UniversiUniversity Theater – University of Texas at Dallas (UTD)ty Theatre, UT-Dallas Madhu Natraj is a performer, choreographer, educator and leading arts entrepreneur in Kathak and contemporary Indian dances. Madhu was chosen as one of India’s 50 young achiever’s by ‘ India Today’. She has received several awards, recent amongst which are the ‘Bismillah Khan Yuva puraskar’ from the central Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Mohan Khokar award for excellence in dance. She studied Kathak from her mother Dr Maya Rao and from Smt. Chitra Venugopal. Although she trained in contemporary dance in New York, Madhu returned to India with a vision to create a unique dance company with its own distinctive contemporary Indian dance identity – the Natya STEM Dance Kampni. A graduate of commerce, journalism & choreography, She has also trained in Indian martial arts, ritualistic/folk dance traditions, pedagogy and Yoga. She believes dance is a potent medium for change in the public domain. Ranging from education, social issues, creativity, documentation to healing, her projects aim to materialize this philosophy. Madhu has created over 75 choreographic works (short pieces & productions) in the 16 years of the Kampni’s existence. She is also a Panellist at important Design, Cultural and Academic institutions and is often invited to perform, design programs and Choreographic works for prestigious cultural institutions and festivals. Rita Mitra Mustaphi has been teaching and performing dance in the Twin Cities since 1978. A graduate of Rabindra Bharati University of Performing Arts in Calcutta, India she is a disciple of the living legend Pandit Birju Maharaj in Kathak style of Indian classical dance. Mustaphi, in her 27 years of professional dance, has choreographed more than 50 new works and performed locally, nationally and internationally. Her selected awards include two McKnight Fellowships for choreography, dancer fellowships, and cultural collaboration awards from Minnesota State Arts Board and leadership award from the Council of Asian Pacific Minnesotans, 2011 Lifetime achievement award from the India Association of Minnesota and 2012 Education Award from the Ordway Center of Performing Arts in the category of Excellence in Vision. In 1997, Mustaphi has performed as a troupe member of Pandit Birju Maharaj at Carnegie Hall, New York. She performed at the prestigious international Kathak Dance Festival, New Delhi, India in 2003 organized by the Kathak Kendra, the National Institute of Kathak dance in India. Her presentation of Sudha’s Story, a poetry enactment was reviewed by India Today, the newsmagazine as ‘poetry in motion – the piece de resistance’. Hindustan Times in India writes ‘From Minnesota with magic in her steps she creates a spirit that sets her apart at the festival’. Mustaphi is also a roster artist for Minnesota State Arts Board and COMPAS, the organizations that promote global education of multicultural arts. Anurag Sharma has a passion for dance that inspired him to start learning from Rita Mustaphi in September of 2004. Anurag attended International Kathak Festival at Chicago in October 2004 and attended Kathak workshops from Pandit Birju Maharaj, Saswati Sen, Pandit Chitresh Das, Smt Anjani Ambegaokar and Smt. Kumudini Lakhia. His performance credits with Katha Dance Theater include The Ramayana Project, Black Candle, Sadhana to Sufism, Dots & Feathers, Katha – The Story, Soul to Sole, and Retrospect. He also performed as a lead male dancer for Anila Sinha Foundation in th production of Raj-Nartaki.

Magic of Mohan Veena This concert is in part sponsered by Encore Enterprises, Inc. Creator of the Mohan Veena and the winner of the Grammy Award, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt has mesmerized the world with his pristine pure, delicate yet fiery music. 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 indianization 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. Being a powerhouse performer, Vishwa’s electrifying performance always captivates the audience whether in the United States of America, Europe, Gulf countries or his motherland India. Vishwa Mohan has become the cultural ambassador of India by carrying the Herculean task of glorifying and popularizing Indian culture and music throughout the world. It was no surprise that Vishwa Mohan with his sheer virtuosity and limitless supply of melodies won the highest music award of the world, the Grammy Award in 1994 along with Ry Cooder for their World Music Album, ‘A Meeting By The River’ enhancing his celebrity status not only as a star performer but also as an improviser and a soulful composer. Saturday, May 18, 2013 7:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013 Subhen Chatterjee will accompany on Tabla. Subhen Chatterjee 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 has also created India’s leading fusion band, KARMA, which is still the only of its kind from the eastern part of India. Subhen’s recent collaboration with renowned percussionist, SIVAMANI, has enabled him to form another unique fusion band called FRIENDS OF DRUMS whose main objective is to help the lesser known yet very talented musicians sharing stage with renowned ones.

Singing Strings – Sitar & Violin Jugalbandi Pandit Nayan Ghosh is acclaimed in India and around the world as one of India’s foremost musicians, with an unusual dimension – the only maestro with superlative command on two diverse instruments the Sitar and the Tabla. Artistic brilliance, rich repertoire and a magnificence of tone are his hallmarks. Deeply loved by the senior most stalwarts of the music scene like Pt. Ravi Shankar, Yehudi Menuhin, Ud. Vilayat Khan, the legendary Ud. Ahmedjan Thirakwa and many others besides enjoying an unusually high level of respect from all his contemporaries and younger musicians, he is already held as an important reference source for a whole new generation of music seekers. Son and disciple of the 20th century Tabla wizard Pt. Nikhil Ghosh and nephew of Pt. Pannalal Ghosh, “the Father of Indian Classical Flute”, Nayan has inherited the rich and learned legacy from his five or six predecessors and carries it with a dignity and grace that is rare. His sitar recitals sparkle with intense melodiousness and rich delineations, bringing out the depth and the true spirit of the raga. He has performed at all major festivals in India and toured extensively US, Canada, Europe, Australia, Far East, North Africa, etc. Presently, as Director of India’s leading music academy, the SANGIT MAHABHARATI in Juhu, Mumbai, Nayan is imparting advanced training to numerous young aspiring musicians. He is also presently a Distinguished Guest Professor at IIT-Bombay, teaching tabla, sitar, vocal and musicology at the Cell for Human Values. Nayan has played a vital role in the completion of his late father’s magnum-opus THE OXFORD ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF THE MUSIC OF INDIA, which was published worldwide in 2011 after a full 50 years of intensive and extensive research. Saturday, April 20, 2013 7:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013 Praveen Sheolikar an exceptionally talented violinist of India. Steeped in Gayki-Ang, in Praveen’s hands the violin expresses itself in an utterly sensitive and emotive manner. Praveen hails from a family with a musical tradition. His granfather Pt. Rambhau Sheolikar of Raipur was a great musician and his father Pt. Vasantrao Sheolikar is a well known violinist of Madhya Pradesh and a recipient of the coveted “SHIKHAR SAMMAN” which is the highest award conferred by the M.P. government in the field of performing art. Praveen started taking lessons from his grandfather at the age of 9 years and then mastered the technique and subtleties of violin under the watchful eyes of his father. Praveen has given many successfull performance all over India and Rome (Italy). He is an ‘A’ Grade artist of All India Radio. He has also performed in prestigious Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan held in Udaypur 2006. He has presented his diverse repertoire at numerous music concerts at many prestigious music festivals. Born in 2000, in a family steeped in music, Ishaan Ghosh took to Tabla naturally and gave his first brief solo tabla performance at the age of 2-1/2. In 2008, Ishaan played Tabla Jugalbandi concerts with his father and Guru Pandit Nayan Ghosh in Switzerland, France and Spain at International Music Festivals. At 9, he was invited to perform along with his father in the Indo-Occidental Symbiosis “Jugalbandi Festival” at the Kala Mandir in Kolkata and the Sangeet Natak Academy-organized “Tabla Samaroha” in Kolhapur. In 2010, he accompanied his father on an extensive concert tour of USA, Hawaii and Mexico. Of recent in 2012, Ishaan has also performed at prestigious venues in India like the Sangeet Research Academy (SRA), the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA), the 150th birth anniversary of Ustad Allauddin Khan in Maihar, the Pannalal Ghosh Birth Centenary Celebrations at Mumbai’s Nehru Centre auditorium. It is rare to see a child of this age with an unusual level of musical instinct and maturity in musical thought. He continues to pursue the study of the Tabla and devote time to its practice, in addition to academic studies at Mumbai’s prestigious Jamnabai Narsee School. He is simultaneously receiving training in Sitar and vocal music from his father.

Vocal Concert – Khayal Sangeet Anand Bhate is recognized as one of the top vocalists of the younger generation of the great Kirana tradition. Anand has been a disciple of the great classical vocalist, Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, doyen of the Kirana gharana. Anand has performed all over India and abroad in many prestigious music conferences like Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav, Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki Sangeet Samaroha, Learnquest Music Conference, etc. Recipient of numerous awards he has many published albums to his credit. He won the National Award for Best Playback Singer for the movie Balagandharva. He shows a remarkable versatility in presenting a wide variety of music, from the Khayal gayaki to the semi-classical exponents like Thumri, Natyageet and Bhajans/Abhagas. Anand was a gifted child prodigy. Connoisseurs were spellbound by Anand’s luminous rendering of Balgandharva’s gayaki and affectionately conferred on him the ‘title’ Anand Gandharva at an early age of 10. Meanwhile, Anand had also begun his initial training in classical music with Pandit Yashwantrao Marathe. Anand became a disciple of the great Pandit Bhimsen Joshi in 1988. Under Bhimsenji’s guidance, Anand has emerged as a notable Khayal-singer of the younger generation is the torch bearer of the Kirana gayaki. Saturday, March 09, 2013 7:00:00 PM Jonsson Performance Hall, University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) Suyog Kundalkar is an established harmonium player of the younger generation. He studied under the guidance of Smt.Ranjana Godse initially and since 1997 he has been a devoted student of the renowned harmonium soloist, accompanist and musicologist Dr. Arawind Thatte. He has accompanied maestros like Dr. Gangubai Hangal, Pt. Balasaheb Poochwale, Gaansaraswati Kishori Amonkar, Girija Devi, Dr. Prabha Atre, Malini Rajurkar, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Ud Rashid Khan, Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande, Pt.Mukul Shivputra, Pt. Madhup Mudgal , Arati Anklikar-Tikekar, Sanjeev Abhyankar, Jayateerth Mevundi, Manjiri Asanare, Anand Bhate and others. He has toured extensively all over India and abroad. He is recipient of many awards; among them are the prestigious “U.Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar” given by Sangeet Natak Academy and “Rasikagrani Dattopant Deshpande Puraskar”. He is a graded artist of the All India Radio and Doordarshan. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in music from ”Lalit Kala Kendra” (Centre for Performing Arts- Pune University) and is on their panel as a Guru. Bharat Kamat is well known for his sensitive Tabla accompaniment that reflects his deep musical understanding. Born in a family steeped into the tradition of music, Bharat is the grandson of the late Master Shantaram Kamat who was an accomplished singer and a famous ‘Natya Sangeet’ artist. He was introduced to the tabla at the age of four by his father, Pt. Chandrakant Kamat before coming under the tutelage of the well-known tabla maestro, Late Pt. Samta Prasad. Over the years, Bharat has accompanied several eminent artists of Hindustani music including the late Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki, late Pt. Mallikarjun Mansur, Vi. Kishori Amonkar and Pt. Jasraj. He has extensively accompanied Pt. Bhimsen Joshi to whom he attributes his musical refinement and maturity. Winner of the Akashvani Music Competition award (1991), Bharat has several recordings to his credit. Bharat has performed in leading music festivals in India and has toured abroad.

The Art Stage 2012 Performing musicians: Sohni & Mihir Patel (Violin duet), Amie Maciszewski (Sitar), Ritu Trivedi (Kathak), Meerambika Kulkarni (Kathak), Chittranjan Mohan Gupta (Vocals), Himanshu Koshe (Vocals), Rajshree Gore (Vocals), Kiran Sathaye (Vocals), Kalindi Sathaye (Harmonium), Mahesh Ruikar (Tabla), Neel Bhatt (Tabla), Neerav Dalal (Tabla) and Shantanu Bhattacharya (Tabla). Saturday, December 01, 2012 3:30:00 PM DFW Hindu Temple – Youth Center 1605 N. Britain Rd, Irving TX 75013 Complimentary dinner & refreshments will be served at end of the concert. ICMC presents a unique program presenting a medley of several short vocal, instrumental and dance performances, by performing and amateur musicians of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. This event is arranged in a baithak style concert format, where one will truly enjoy wide variety of musicians in an intimate manner. This event is FREE to general public. If you have interest in performing at this or similar events in future, please send an e-mail to webmaster@icmcdfw.org. All participants are required to have an active ICMC membership through June 30, 2013. The primary reasons for this concert are to bring awareness about Indian classical music in the community and also to stage upcoming talent. Since its inception in 1983, ICMC has built the most comprehensive concert series and is regarded as the premier producer of Indian classical music and dance in Dallas/Fort Worth and the surrounding area, by consistently presenting more than seven culturally diverse concerts a year for the sole benefit of its members and the general public. ICMC’s mission is to entertain, to interest, to educate, to train and to provide spiritual nourishment to its members and the general public, and to significantly contribute to the multiethnic heritage and the cultural vitality of the city, through its concerts.

Music Festival of India – Vocal & Santoor Recitals Pandit Shantanu Bhattacharyya is foremost among the young maestros of Hindustani classical vocal music. President’s Gold Medal winner Shantanu is a Top graded artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan. Possessing the rare feat of having won simultaneous top positions in Khayal and Thumri at All India Radio music competition, Shantanu Bhattacharyya’s singing has been described by senior maestros including Guruma Vidushi Meera Banerjee, as a true reflection of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Shantanu groomed in music first by his mother Ira Bhattacharyya and then Sri Amalendu Pal, Sri Bhismadev Bhattacharyya, Sri Sukhendu Goswami and Sri Sudhir Banerjee; Shantanu in subsequent years learned expansively from worshipped names of the Patiala-Kasur Gharana; Pandit Prasun Banerjee, Vidushi Meera Banerjee and Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty. Associating also with other great artists while a scholar at Kolkata’s ITC Sangeet Research Academy in the ‘90s, he perfected himself into a musician aiming to combine the best of all styles, focusing centrally on the gayaki of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Shantanu has performed at numerous festivals & venues in India, United States, Canada, Italy, United Kingdom, Finland, France, Germany and Singapore. Saturday, September 29, 2012 7:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013 Kunal Gunjal is a young and promising santoor artiste of the young generation. Having a musical background from his father, Shri.Ulhas Gunjal who is a disciple of internationally renowned santoor exponent, Padmavibhushan Pt.Shivkumar Sharma, Kunal started learning santoor from Dr. Dhananjay Daithankar (Senior Disciple of Pt.Shivkumar Sharma).Kunal is now learning under the guidance of Pt.Shivkumar Sharma and is his Youngest Disciple, striving to make a name amongst the Cognoscenti who have made invaluable contributions to the metamorphosis of Indian Classical Music. Besides having performed with Pt. Shivkumar Sharma on stage, Kunal has performed in various prestigious music festivals and conferences like Pune Festival, 17th Devnandan Ubhyakar Yuva Sangeet Utsav, National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) and MUSIC TODAY to name a few. Kunal’s outstanding mastery over melody and rhythm has helped him leverage the uniqueness which the Santoor can offer to create a unique experience for eclectic audiences. Effortlessly and deftly, Kunal draws out a wide range of emotions from the 100 strings of the Santoor ranging from the introspective to the resounding. Durba Bhattacharya is promising vocalist and accomplished harmonium artist. Imbibing music from her parents, her mother Tapati Banerjee being a vocalist, Durba Bhattacharyya was nurtured in the basics of Hindustani vocal music at a very early age by Ustad Mazhar Ali Khan of Patiala gharana. She joined ITC-SRA in 1987, aged 12, receiving tutelage from Pt. Ajoy Chakrabarty, first as a general class student and later as a scholar between 1992 and 1996. Durba also took specialized lessons from Vidushi Meera Banerjee, the veteran musician who was a shagird of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan. Since her marriage in ’97, she has been learning from Shantanu Bhattacharyya, her Gurubhai-turned-husband, who was also a former scholar here. Rhythm represents life. Music also becomes lively and enjoyable with the help of the rhythm. The slow and fast tempo in soft or bold tones brings tremendous variety to an otherwise monotonous musical event. A matured musician therefore needs a matured percussionist without whom his recital does not bloom. One such percussionist is Pandit Samar Saha. Numerous musical performances by renowned artists started throbbing with life with the magical touch of his fingers on the tabla. He belongs to the Benaras gharana. Born in Calcutta, Samar’s initial training started at very tender age under the guidance of his father Shri Sudhanga Bhusan Saha and brother Shri Tarak Saha – a tabla player of repute. His formal training started under the tutelage of Shri Satchidananda Goswami and then flowered under the able guidance of Shri Krishna Kumar Ganguly (Natubabu) of Banaras gharana. At a very young age Samar showed to be a performer of great promise. Frequently featured on Radio and TV in their musicals, Samar has participated in almost all the prestigious music conferences in India, USA, Canada, various countries in Europe and Asia. Samar Saha is a full time faculty member of Sangeet Research Academy since its very inception in 1978.

India Dance Festival India Dance Festival will present several fine dance performances by some of the leading artists featuring Odissi and Kathak styles. Kathak, the dance style from north India has the charm and subtlety associated with miniature paintings. Nurtured in the holy precincts of the Hindu temples Kathak was further enhanced with Persian influence during the Mogul reign in India. Over the centuries, it has attained refinement and enriched itself by the establishment of distinct styles and gharanas. Odissi, a recognized form of Indian classical dance, is from the eastern state of Orissa. Odissi dates back to 2nd century B.C. and is well known for its grace, fluid movements and strong footwork. Odissi postures can be seen in the sculptures of ancient Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist temples and caves of Orissa. Saturday, September 08, 2012 7:30:00 PM University Theater, University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), Richardson TX Shibani Patnaik is flourishing as one of the leading dancers in her generation today. She is an energetic dancer with a strong technical background who strikes the perfect combination of power and grace. Shibani has been extensively trained in Odissi by the Late Padmashree Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, Aruna Mohanty, Manoranjan Pradhan, and Yudhistir Nayak from Orissa Dance Academy in India. Shibani has performed extensively throughout North America and India. She has also performed and given lecture demonstrations at various dance festivals, fundraisers, universities, libraries and museums. Shibani and her sisters, known as the “Patnaik sisters” helped superstar Madonna choreograph a piece in Odissi style for the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards which was broadcasted to millions of viewers throughout the world. They also collaborated with Ricky Martin on an Odissi piece for his 2007 world tour. Shibani was awarded the 2006 Devadasi award in Orissa. Stanford University presented Shibani with the 2001 Asian-American Performing Arts Award, and the Chapell-Lougee Scholarship to conduct research in Orissa. In 2002, while Shibani was a student at Stanford University, she organized and introduced a four year Indian classical dance program to the official curriculum. Sunaina Rao has been training in the field of Kathak since the age of six. Her mother and guru, Akhila Rao, is a disciple of Guru Sri. Ganesh Hiralal and Guru Smt. Asha Joglekar of Mumbai. Sunaina has performed extensively in the United States as well as the in India at prestigious shows and venues. Sunaina was awarded the title of “Singaar Mani” by the Sur Singaar Samsad for her performance at the prestigious Kal-Ke-Kalakar Sangeet Sammelan in 2010 and “Natya Pravina” by Yuva Bharati. She has also attended workshops conducted by various Kathak maestros – Pandit Birju Maharaj, Smt. Kumudini Lakhia, Smt. Archana Joglekar and Nirupama Rajendra to name a few. She has completed her Upantya Visharad in Kathak with honors from the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, India. She is a partner and an assistant teacher at her mother’s dance school, Kathak Rhythms, based in Plano, TX. Besides pursuing her passion through Kathak, professionally, Sunaina is a 2013 Pharm.D. Candidate at The University of Houston College of Pharmacy. Anjali Magi has done her Kathak Nrityalankar (Masters in Kathak) from the prestigious Gandharva Mahavidyalaya under able guidance of guru Smt Radhika Sathe. She runs her own dance school called “Nrityanjali” and the motto of her school is to promote Kathak in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex. She has performed at various prestigious events in the DFW metroplex area like the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), Discover India festival, Kalamaalika, World dance conference conducted by the ICHF, and several others. She was actively involved in a project ‘Young Audiences’ where she visited various schools in Dallas and surrounding area to introduce the American kids to Indian dance culture. She has performed at various festivals and event in the US such as classical dance annual festival at Omaha, Nebraska; the Hindu temple in Oklahoma City, etc.. Anjali and her students perform at various charity events that sponsor various under privileged children in India. She has judged various dance competitions at the Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas.

Vocal Concert – Khayal Sangeet Pt. Vinayak Torvi is a well known artist for Hindustani vocal music, who has carved a niche for himself in the realm of music. Gifted with powerful resonant voice with rare rhythm and rich melody , he has been capturing music lovers all over. Born in the family of Keerankaars, he absorbed the ‘Sanskaaras’ of music. A child prodigy, blessed with parents loving encouragement and deep involvement in music, Vinayak began early lessons at a tender age of nine, from Vidwan Tammanna Gurav and then continued with Vidwans Narayanachar Dandapur and Narayan Rao Muzumdar of Dharwad. What groomed him into this perfect singer are his twelve years of gurukulavasa under Gayanacharya Gururao Deshpande who was the doyen of ‘Gwalior Gharana’. He absorbed the intense, intricate treasures of classical music in the Gwalior as well as Agra Gayaki, from Gururao. Torvi acquired Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music securing first rank, from Karnatak University, Dharwad. As a post graduate student at the university, he had the rare fortune of tutelage of stalwarts like Gangubai Hangal, Pt. Basavaraj Rajaguru and Pt. Mallikarjuna Mansoor. Talented Torvi well utilized this exposure to various styles of music and molded his singing to emerge as a versatile full-fledged musician. With his unique voice culture, he is proficient in presenting varieties of raagas with due justice. He has composed many Bandish and Taranas. He also excels in light classical music and bhakti sangeet in Kannada, Marathi and Hindi. He is an acclaimed AIR (All India Radio) and Doordarshan artist. He has participated in major music conferences and festivals all over India and toured abroad. Saturday, August 25, 2007 7:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013 Shantilal Shah was born and raised in the culturally and artistically vibrant city of Banaras, India. His basic taalim was under Pandit Mahadev Prasad Mishra of Banaras Gharana. He is a worthy disciple of Taal-Yogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. During his initial years as a Tabla player, Shantilal Shah remained a gold medalist from the Sangeet Natak Academy of Lucknow, and also won the National Talent Scholarship awarded by the Govt. of India. A Sangeet Prabhakar from the Prayaag Sangeet Samiti of Allahabad, he is also a graded artist of the All India Radio & Television. Shantilal Shah has been performing all over India and many western and Asian countries. He has had the opportunity to share the stage with some of the greatest names in Indian Classical music, like Sangeet Martand Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt. Jeetendra Abhisheki, Rohini Bhate, Pt. Rajan-Sajan Mishra, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Smt. Laxmi Shankar, Ud. Sujaat Khan, Bhajan Sopori, Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Padma Talwalkar, Arati Ankalikar, Shama Bhate and others. Shantilal Shah has proven himself to be one of the most successful Tabla-Gurus of the present generation. He began teaching in Pune in the early 80s under the banner of one of the leading performing art organizations of the city, Nad-roop. Later he moved to Tampa, Florida, USA to join the faculty of the Pandit Jasraj School of Music as the resident Tabla Guru. In 2003, Shantilal Shah moved to Houston, TX to join the Anjali Center of Performing Arts, and present he is the Tabla Guru with Swaralayam Arts Forum. Amit Kelkar’s musical education began at a very young age at home from his mother Smt. Suniti Kelkar and her father Shri. Narayan Gadgil. Amit taught himself to play the harmonium and performed for the first time on stage at the age of 14. He has provided harmonium accompaniment to several renowned artists over the years, including Pt. Sanjeev Abhyankar, Dr. Prabha Atre, Smt. Minoo Purushottam and Prasad Khaparde. Amit is also a versatile singer and music composer. He is currently learning hindustani vocal music from Dr. Mohankumar Darekar. Amit performs ghazals and light music frequently in the DFW metroplex. Amit holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and also has released three CD-albums released in the United States.

Flute and Mandolin Jugalbandi With music blown into his breath by father Pt. Malhar Kulkarni, Rupak Kulkarni has blossomed under the finest tutelage of flute maestro Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, to become an outstanding exponent of Maihar Gharana. As a ganda bandh shagird of Pt. Chaurasia since the tender age of 9, Rupak with arduous training and hard work, has mastered “Dhrupad, Khayal and Tantrakari ang” equally well. With concerts across the world in many countries such as Australia, America, Russia, Japan, Africa, etc. Rupak has acquired a dignified maturity in his playing at an early age. In India, Rupak has performed in all major music festivals -Sawai Gandharva (Pune), Tansen Samaroh (Gwalior), Bharti Vidya Bhavan (Kolkata), Gunidas Sammelan (Mumbai). Rupak has lent his musical prowess to many melodies hitting the chart busters. Has worked with renowned music directors from Bollywood. Films such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam (K3G), Fiza, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer and many more have him playing in not just the main songs but also in the background scores, arousing emotions varying from pathos to exuberance. Rupak has collaborated with many renowned musicians from the West as well. Saturday, April 21, 2012 7:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013 Snehasish Mozumder is among those few established musicians in India who has mastered the art of playing Mandolin, and has blended it perfectly into the style of Hindustani Indian Classical Music. He started his initial training at the age of four with Tabla and then Mandolin under the guidance of his grandfather late Sri Bibhuty Ranjan Mozumder and then he took training under his father Sri Himanshu Mozumder and his uncle late Sri Ranjan Mozumder. Gradually he switched over to his cousin Tejendra Narayan Majumdar who is a well-known sarod player. He continued his study under late Acharya Ajoy Sinha Roy who was a beloved disciple of Baba Allauddin Khan Saheb,the founder of Maihar Gharana and he takes lesson of laykari under the guidance of Pandit Anil Palit who is a senior most disciple of Pandit Kishan Maharaj. Finally he came under the tutelage of Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty. Snehasish, has performed many major festivals in India like Sankat Mochan Utsav of Varanasi, Swami Haridas Sangeet Sanmelan of Mumbai,Indian Habitat Centre of Delhi, Bhowanipur Sangeeet Sanmelan, GolPark Ramkrishna Mission of Kolkata and Saltlake Music Conference of Kolkata etc, and also he has toured Europe, UK and USA and made a very good name amongst the music lovers. He is the recipient of Surmani and Jadubhatta Awards. Subhen Chatterjee will accompany on Tabla. Subhen Chatterjee 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 has also created India’s leading fusion band, KARMA, which is still the only of its kind from the eastern part of India. Subhen’s recent collaboration with renowned percussionist, SIVAMANI, has enabled him to form another unique fusion band called FRIENDS OF DRUMS whose main objective is to help the lesser known yet very talented musicians sharing stage with renowned ones.