Vocal Recital 01/13/11

Vocal Recital Shounak Abhisheki is the gifted son and disciple of the Maestro Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki. Shounak a leading vocalist of young generation has a beautiful combination of Agra and Jaipur styles of Hindustani Classical Music. Already considered a young maestro , this sought after young vocalist had the privilege of training under Smt. Kamaltai Tambe of the Jaipur Gharana and of course under his illustrious father. Shounak has carried forward his father’s musical legacy, giving it new dimensions. Shounak’s voice is a great combination of power and emotion which is enhanced by his impressive diction. He also performs special programs like Swarbhishek, Tulsi ke Ram & Kabir and Marathi Abhangwani. Not only has he performed in all the major music festivals in India,but also for a series of concerts in USA, UK, USSR, the Arabian Gulf, Thailand, etc.. Shounak has been recorded by reputed recording companies. Sunday, March 13, 2011 4:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013 Shounak will be accompanied on Harmoium by Uday Kulkarni. Uday had started training in music from his father Late Shri.Govind Kulkarni. After that he started taking advance lessons from Shri.Pramod Marathe. He has done “Sangeet Visharad” from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. He is also a graded artist on All India Radio. He has accompanied many artists like Pt. Ajay Pohankar, Devaki Pandit, Shounak Abhisheki, Manjiri Alegaonkar etc. Shounak will be accompanied on Tabla by Harshad Kanetkar. Harshad began his initial training in Tabla at the age of five with Shri Mukhade. For the past twelve years he has had intensive training under Shri Palsule and Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. He has accompanied many leading artists like Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Birju Maharaj, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Ud Shahid Parvez, Veena Sahastrabuddhe, Shama Bhate (Kathak), Aarti Tikekar, Sanjeev Abhyankar, Ashwini Bhide, etc. in prestigious music conferences all over India. He has traveled and performed extensively in the US, Canada, Europe, China and Middle East. His recordings include solo works and fusion of musical traditions of the East and West.

Santoor Recital Dr. Dhananjay Daithankar is one of the most renowned Santoor artists in the world. At the age of 10, he started learning tabla from Pt. G.L. Samant in Pune, India. Learning Tabla provided him strong foundation of tala and rhythm. While studying Ayurved medicine the scintillating sound of Santoor attracted him. In 1977, he built Santoor for himself and presented it to Pt. Shivkumar Sharma. Looking at his strong desire towards Santoor; Shivji suggested learning initial lessons from Pt. Ratanlal Tikkoo (Disciple of Pt Shivkumar Sharma). In 1981, very much impressed by his devotion, hard work and skills, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma invited him as a disciple and started shaping his musical talent. Since then Dr. Dhananjay is learning Santoor in Guru-Shishya parampara for more than 30 years. Shivji encouraged him to take up Santoor as a career after recognizing his ability and command over the instrument. Representing rich tradition of Banaras Gharana his recitals offer audience a wonderful exemplification of purity of Raga. His extra-ordinary ability to express different emotions through creation of own compositions in different raga, offers music lovers a unique experience. His command over Layakari, improvisation and exploration of raga take audience to musical paradise. Apart from being a national scholarship holder he has been awarded by “Surmani” kitab, Pune ki Aasha Puraskar, Dattopant Deshpande award. For last 26 years Dr. Dhananjay is performing on the most prestigious platforms throughout the world. Concert with Pt. Shivkumarji Sharma, Sawai Gandharva Festival, NCPA, Goa Kala Academy, Tansen Sangeet Samaroh, Vishnu Digambar Jayanti Samaroha New Delhi, Pune Festival, Maniram-Motiram Festival, Kesarbai Kerkar Music festival are few of them. He has also offered rich musical experience to audience in US, Europe, and Middle East. Saturday, December 11, 2010 7:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013

Kathak Dances by Archana Joglekar Archana Joglekar is a celebrated Kathak Dancer of India. Born a child prodigy, she was schooled in detailed nuances of Lucknow & Jaipur Gharana by her mother and ‘Guru’ Asha Joglekar. This multi-talented dancer was honored with titles “Shringar Mani’ by Sur Singar Samsad and ‘Nritya Bharati’ by Hindi Sahitya Parishad, Prayaag. Her perfection, capacity to perform intricate footwork with unbelievable ease, Abhinaya of par excellence, uncanny ability to move from one character to another within a flicker of an eye has won over the pundits, critics as well as masses at home and abroad. She is the first Kathak dancer to perform at The Elephanta Festival, Mumbai, the first and perhaps the only Indian classical dancer to perform at the Reikjawik Art Festival in Iceland. Besides, various prestigious art festivals in India she has won over applause around the world. She is an accomplished choreographer in the field of live stage shows, feature films and television.Her choreography like “Ritu Rag Dershan”- the ballet, “Saura – Sukta”: based on the Sanskrit verses(Richas) from Rig-Veda, “Ganapathy Atharvasheersha”- Sanskrit Shlokaas praising Lord Ganesha, “Ardha-nari Nateshwar”- the half woman-half man form of Lord Shiva, have been highly acclaimed by the critics. Archana is a well known film actress and has featured in several Hindi films as well as other Indian language films. She has won many awards such as ‘Best Actress Award’ for her performances in feature films as well as TV serials. Behind the camera, she is a successful director, and a producer of TV serials. Saturday, November 13, 2010 7:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013

Ustad Irshad Khan (Sitar) – Live in Concert Ustad Irshad Khan is considered among the world’s best Sitar players and the leading Surbahar (Bass Sitar) player of his generation and among the finest instrumentalists of the world. His individual stamp in both these instruments ascends from the distinctiveness of his technique and mental prowess. Is renowned not only for his mastery of these two instruments, but for his unique presentation of the different genres of Indian classical music, and his mastery of the intricate “gayaki-ang”(vocal) and “tantra-ang”(instrumental) styles, makes Irshad Khan one of the most dynamic musicians of today. He is one of the most brilliant musical gems of the famous Etawah Gharana and belongs to the seventh generation of this musical lineage. His family has produced the most revered and influential figures in Hindustani Classical Music including the likes of Sahabdad Khan, Imdad Khan, Enayet Khan, Waheed Khan, Imrat Khan and Vilayat Khan. Irshad Khan is son and disciple of Sitar Legends Ustad Imrat Khan and nephew of Ustad Vilayat Khan. Irshad’s ancestors had been among the best musicians and leading sitar players of India and are credited for the introduction of the ‘gayaki-ang’ vocal style on the sitar. His family has been paramount in the evolution of the sitar into its present form. Whether he is performing pure classical, folk, or world-beat/new-age, audiences are stunned by his breathtaking virtuosity and profound musicality. This remarkable versatility allows him to transcend cultural barriers and turn each performance into a spellbinding and unforgettable experience for audiences everywhere. Through his performances and international press accolades and groundbreaking albums, he has proved to be an outstanding World musician. Saturday, August 28, 2010 7:30:00 PM University Theater University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), Richardson, TX

Vocal Concert – Khayal Sangeet Amongst the vocalists of the current generation of the Jaipur-Atrauli tradition of Khayal singing, Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande is an artiste of great caliber. Ashwini began her training at the age of five under the guidance of Pandit Narayanrao Datar. After graduating with a “sangeet visharad” from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, she started receiving guidance and meticulous attention from her mother, Smt. Manik Bhide, a great Khayal singer herself. Ashwini has inherited all that was best in her mother’s style and was able to add a lot to her repertoire with great sensitivity and intellect. Presently she is receiving guidance from Pandit Ratnakar Pai, a veteran of the Jaipur gharana. A resident of Mumbai, Ashwini is a graduate in Microbiology and also holds a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry. She has recently published a book of ‘Bandishes’ written & composed by herself. She has been performing in a number of prestigious music conferences in India for over fifteen years and has had successful concert tours of Europe as well as of North America. Saturday, June 12, 2010 5:00:00 PM Jonsson Performance Hall, UT – Dallas

Surshringar Concert – Ancient Strings The Surshringar is a combination of three stringed instruments, namely the ii’ ahati veena, the rabab and the kachchapi veena. The small gourd and the neck to which the strings are attached are features of the mahari veena; the finger-board with the metal plate is very much like the type of rabab; and the main body is similar to that of the kachchapi veena, popularly called the kachchapi sitar, with its flat gourd resembling the back of a tortoise. There are six main strings which are placed on a flat bridge and two additional strings for the drone and the rhythmic accompaniment. Pandit Joydeep Ghosh, a prof of Khairagarh University of India, is hailed as one of India’s leading Surshringar artistes of the present generation. He is a foremost torch bearer of the distinctive Sahajahanpur Gharana which was founded by the Great Sarod Maestro Late Ustad Mohammed Ameer Khan. He has developed an unbeatable mastery over his instrument and specialized in maintaining the purity of Ragas while displaying the most rare playable materials which are the assets of his own Gharana. He initiated his training in Surshringar & Sarod under the able guidance of the Maestros like Late Pandit Anil Roychowdhury, Late Pandit Radhika Mohan Moitra and Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta all belonging to Shahajahanpur Gharana. Subsequently Pt.Ghosh was under the tutelage of the versatile Master Pandit Bimalendu Mukherjee, a doyen of the famous Imdadkhani Gharana of Sitar & Surbahar. Under his brilliant guidance, Joydeep has adopted the typical aspects and the special features of Imdadkhani Gharana in his own style. In due course, Joydeep has developed the idea and the technique of playing Surshringar under the expert supervision of Pandit Bimalendu Mukherjee, the rudiments of which trace back to the Great Surshringar maestro, Late Ustad Mohammed Ali Khan of Senia Gharana and traditionally conveyed to Late Kumar Birendra Kishore Roychowdhury of Gauripur and later to his disciple Pandit Bimalendu Mukherjee. Saturday, May 01, 2010 7:00:00 PM TI Auditorium, School of Engineering & Computer Science, UTD, Richardson, TX

Sitar Concert “Kushal Das is one of those artists who appear once in a generation..”, commented tabla virtuoso Swapan Chaudhuri. The critics and connoisseurs have acknowledged Kushal Das as a worthy successor of his idol, the legendary maestro Late Nikhil Banerjee. Kushal Das, sitarist par excellence, is distinguished by his profound understanding of music and the aesthetics of knowledge of raga improvisation. His concerts are marked for their aesthetic appeal and insight with a fine command of technical expertise. Kushal Das, a north Indian solo Sitar & Surbahar artist was born to a highly enriched musical family of Kolkata, India. His grandfather late Sri Bimal Das was a renowned Esraj player while his father Sri Sailen Das is a sitarist of high repute. Kushal started his training at age of five and had the proud privilege of having learnt from great musicians – Pandit Manas Chakraborty, Sanjoy Banerjee, Ramkrishna Basu and late Ajoy Sinha Roy. The critic’s connoisseurs have acknowledged him as a worthy successor of his idol, the late maestro Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. His concerts are always marked for their aesthetic appeal and insight with a fine command of technical expertise. With maturity as his forte Kushal thus has the predominant virtue of Indian heritage & music. Kushal has participated in most of the major concerts all over the country. His tours abroad since 1987, covered USA, Canada, several European countries and Bangladesh and have been marked with great success and appreciation. Sunday, April 18, 2010 5:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013

Vocal Concert – Khayal Sangeet Jayateerth Mevundi hails from the land of great vocalists and maestros of Hindustani Classical Music, like Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Dr. (Mrs.) Gangubai Hangal, Pt. Mallikarjun Mansur, Pt. Basavraj Rajguru and Pt. Kumar Gandharva and so on. Born in the year 1972, Jayateerth, according to many connoisseurs and critics of Hindustani Classical Music, is considered to be a torchbearer of Kirana Gharana. Jayateerth received his initial training in music under the tutelage of Sangeet Ratna Pt. Arjunsa Nakod of Gwalior Gharana for about 10 years. Since the year 1994 on wards he has been receiving musical lessons under the able guidance of Pt. Shripati Padegar, who is a disciple of great vocalist Pt. Bhimsen Joshi of Kirana Gharana. Jayateerth Mevundi has won many accolades and awards , to name a few : Second prize in “AIR” Hindustani Classical vocal competition during 1988-89, at Ahmedabad.First prize in the competition held at Dharwad in 1989-90, organized by “Karnataka Kathak Kendra”. First prize in the competition organized by :“Sangeet Research Academy”, Calcutta.He was awarded a scholarship for 3 years (1986-88) by “Karnataka Sangeet Nrutya Academy”, Bangalore and Mrs. Yamunabai Shahane Shastreeya Gayana Shishyavrutti by “Gaanavardhan” in 1993, Pune. He is a recipient of “Pt. Jasraj Gourav Puraskar” for the year 1995. Mewati Gharana Sangeet Gourav Puraskar is also awarded to Jayateerth for the year 2000.Jayateerth has participated in several music conferences including the Mysore Dasara Festival, Sawai Gandharva Music Festival at Pune, Alladia Khan music conference, Kumar Gandharva Music conference etc. Saturday, March 20, 2010 7:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013

The Art Stage 2010 ICMC presents a unique program presenting a medley of several short vocal and instrumental 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. 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. 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. Saturday, March 13, 2010 4:00:00 PM Neighborhood Arts & Music School (NAMS) 8102 Stonebrook Parkway, Frisco, TX 75034 Art Stage – performing artists include:Vocals: Amit Kelkar, Lalitha Tekkalur , Farzana Alam, Yogesh Ratnaparakhi, Richa Purohit, Kavitha Srinivasan and Savithri Pattabhiraman Instrumental: Matt Gaskins (guitar), Neel Bhatt (Tabla), Shantanu Bhattacharya (Tabla), Amit Kelkar (Harmonium), Kaustubh Dharwadkar (Santoor), Ranak Alam (Tabla), Parth Kuntawala (Tabla), Divya Kasety (violin), Vijay Pattabhiraman (violin), Yaswanth Poondla (violin), Rohin Maganti (violin), Sruthi Tekkalur (violin), Divya Samy (violin), Revanth Poondla (violin), Sohni Patel (violin), Mihir Patel (violin), Jeevan Betigeri (keyboards), Yash Vyavharkar (Tabla), Paras Doshi (Sitar), Birinder Singh Nijjar (Tabla) and Sudhir Dave (flute)