Hindustani Santoor Recital 11/04/17

Hindustani Santoor Recital – Celestial Strings Sandip Chatterjee, a disciple of Pt Tarun Bhattacharya and vocal maestro Pt Ajoy Chakraborty, is a rich and accomplished Santoor player of our time. He has been heralded as the torch bearer of two Gharanas at the same time – MAIHAR and PATIALA. Sandip has been extensively performing in many music festivals and concerts all around the globe. And, he has also collaborated with many overseas musicians across genres such as Jazz, Rock, Contemporary and Fusion. His collaborations in ‘Calcutta Express’ with famous Jazz Guitarist Guy Strazz; ‘Shanti’ with famous Saxophonist Claudio Gigilio and afro-Cuban percussionist Fulvio Farkas; ‘Emotion’ with Swedish Jazz saxophonist Elin Larsson; ‘Feelings’ with guitar player Giuliano Modarelli have been very much acclaimed in Jazz & contemporary world music genre. His collaboration ‘Calcutta Express’ has been nominated as finalist in the Indo Acoustic Project’s “Best CD’s of 2006” award in the World Music category. He has 21 CD’s to his credit. His ethnic aesthetics had also won him many awards and laurels such as “President of India Award”, “Jadubhatta Award”, “Sangeeth Ratna Award”“ Abhinaba Kala Sanman” etc. His expertise has also been utilized by renowned music directors like A.R. Rehman, Jatin Lalit, Gulshan Kumar, Ravindra Jain, Pt. V.Balsara and others. Saturday, November 04, 2017 4:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013 Subhajyoti Guha was introduced to tabla at an young age by his father Dr S R Guha and later since1983 he has been training under tabla maestro Pt Sankha Chatterjee. Subhajyoti received the President’s award in 1989 and presently is a grade A artiste of AIR and TV and performs regularly in major concerts worldwide. Over the last 15 years he has accompanied many musical stalwarts such as Ud Shahid Parvez, Pt Vishwamohan Bhatt, Pt Ronu Majumder , Pt Nayan Ghosh, Vidushi Purnima Chaudhuri and Vidushi Kala Ramnath. Subhajyoti has also extended his horizons into the experimental music scenario and performs with other genres and with his band AMEYA based out of Toronto. Academically he holds a masters degree in applied mathematics but is living his dream of teaching and performing worldwide as a tabla player.

Music Festival of India – A Medley of Instrumental & Vocal Recitals Samarth Nagarkar is a Hindustani classical vocalist, known for his captivating performances and a traditionally rich music. Samarth features in several prominent music festivals and venues around the world. He has two albums titled ‘Pravah’ and ‘Pranali’ to his credit and has published a book tilted ‘Raga Sangeet’. Samarth is Guru and Director of Academic Affairs at Chhandayan Center of Indian Music in New York and also frequently presents lectures and master-classes at schools/universities like MSM and NYU. Trained under two of India’s most respected gurus and performers, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar and Pt. Dinkar Kaikini, he is a former scholar of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata. Samarth was awarded a Fellowship by the Department of Culture, Government of India and was one of the youngest musicians to be adjudged winner of the prestigious All India Radio National Competitions at 19 years. Pursuing a full-fledged career as a performer, composer, teacher and author, Samarth is described by critics as one of today’s most prolific performers and a torchbearer to the traditions he represents. Saturday, September 23, 2017 4:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013 Josh Feinberg is the best-kept secret of the Hindustani music scene. Known and loved by top musicians and music lovers, he represents the future of sitar and the growing diversity of the Hindustani music field. Josh began his musical training at 4 years old with piano and western classical jazz bass in New York City, studying with some of the most accomplished musicians on the scene. He was hailed as a prodigy performing in jazz venues and concert halls across the New York area. In his teens, Josh became enamored with the music of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, and shifted his focus to sitar and Hindustani music. One of the first non-Indian musicians to be accepted as a leading performer, josh has learned with sarod maestro Ali Akbar Khan as well as Ud. Aashish Khan, Sri Alam Khan, Pt. Tejendra Majumdar, Dr. Peter Row, Dr. George Ruckert, Sri James Pomerantz, Sri Warren Senders and Smt. Vijaya Sundaram. Josh recorded his debut album, Homage, featuring tabla maestro Swapan Chaudhuri and released his second album, One Evening in Spring, in November 2014 featuring tabla maestro Anindo Chatterjee. Josh was a featured performer in the 2016 Chicago World Music Festival joined with Pt. Anindo Chatterjee. Josh’s new album with Pt. Anindo Chatterjee, A Fallen Blossom in the Thorns was released in early 2017. Josh has also accompanied Sri Alam Khan, the son of Ust. Ali Akbar Khan, in the US and India at prestigious venues such as the Saptak Festival in Ahmedabad, and the Dover Lane Music Conference in Kolkata. Josh has a Bachelors in Music from New England Conservatory, and a Masters of Fine Arts from Goddard College. Josh currently teaches at Lewis and Clark College, Reed College and Marylhurst University in Portland, and has offered courses at the University of Oregon. Kedar Naphade, a Hindustani Classical Instrumentalist, is one of today’s leading exponents of the art of Harmonium Solo and Accompaniment. Kedar has performed both as a soloist as an accompanist across India, Europe and the U.S. including prestigious festivals and venues. After receiving preliminary training in Hindustani Classical Music from his grandfather, Shri Dadasaheb Naphade and from Shri Arvind Gajendragadkar, he has been a leading disciple of Pt. Tulsidas Borkar, arguably the most acclaimed harmonium player in India today. Kedar has also had training from Smt. Padmavati Shaligram-Gokhale, a veteran singer of the Atrauli-Jaipur gharana. Kedar also plays the semi-classical forms of Marathi Natyasangeet (Stage Music), Bhajans, Thumri, Dhun etc, and maintains an active concert schedule in the U.S. Nitin Mitta, is one of the most sought after tabla players of his generation. Apart from being a dynamic soloist, he is a highly sought after accompanist, who has performed worldwide with some of India’s most celebrated Indian classical musicians. In 2010, Nitin joined forces with Grammy Nominee, Pianist Vijay Iyer and electric guitarist R. Prasanna, to produce a studio album titled Tirtha. Born and brought up in Hyderabad, Nitin had his training in Tabla under Gurus’ Pandit G. Satyanarayana and Pandit Arvind Mulgaonkar of the Farukhabad School of Tabla. He maintains a busy schedule of performances and tabla workshops, traveling throughout the U.S, Europe, Canada and India. He has performed at several prominent venues including the Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Museum of Art In New York. He is an acclaimed accompanist who has performed with some of India’s most celebrated musicians including Pandit Jasraj, Pandits Rajan & Sajan Mishra, Pt. Debashish Bhattacharya, Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Ud Nishat Khan, Ud Shahid Parvez and Pt Nayan Ghosh.

Hindustani Vocal Recital – Khayal Sangeet Pandit Jayateerth Mevundi is considered to be the doyen of Kiraana Gharaana by connoisseurs of music. Jayateerth Mevundi hails from the musical land of no snitch, Hubli-Dharwad of Karnataka. Sri Mevundi, the gem was unearthed and gifted to the realm of music by Pt. Arjunsa Nakod and chiseled by Pt. Shripati Paadegar, who himself was the prime disciple of the legend Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi. An efficient singer with melodious voice, Jayateerth Mevundi is credited with ‘A’ grade by All India Radio and Doordarshan. One of the most sought after young artists of the country, Jayateerth has set his own scales of standard in the Hindustani classical, Santavaani and Daasavani streams. His live concerts are mind blowing, recorded CDs provide an excellent panacea for frustration. Jayateerth Mevundi is role model for the wannabe musicians, thanks to his of talent and hard work. This melodious singer was awarded with “young maestro in music” by the past president of India, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalaam besides the recognitions akin to Pt. Jasraj Gourav Puraskar, Pt. Basavraj Rajguru Puraskar and Aditya Birla Sangeet Kala Kiran. The glitterati among these is the “Swar Bhaskar Puraskar” the first ever award given in the name of Bharth Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi. Probably Jayateerth Mevundi is the only young vocalist who is blessed by 3 legendary musicians Bharath Ratna Pt. Ravishankar, Bharath Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and Bharath Ratna Lata Mangeshkar after listening to Jayateerthji’s singing. The most popular music director A.R. Rehman recently appreciated Pt. Mevundi’s singing in a an exclusive interview conducted by Peoples Magazine. When asked by journalists “Have you ever been awestruck while meeting another famous personality? Then A.R replied “among musicians, there is Hindustani Classical singer Jayateerth Mevundi from Hubli who sings like electricity. He can put any one to shame. Jayateerth has performed at all major music festivals in India and toured extensively many countries abroad. Saturday, September 09, 2017 4:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013 Narendra Nayak is a disciple of harmonium maestro Pt. Vasanth Kanakapur. He is a musician and a proficient Harmonium player from childhood. He is also a graded artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan. He has accompanied leading vocalists of India including Pt. Rajan Mishra & Pt. Sajan Mishra, Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan, Pt. Venkatesh Kumar, Pt. Jayateerth Mevundi ,Pt. Vinayak Torvi, Vidushi Arati Anklikar, Vidushi Piu Sarkhel, Pt. Kaivalya Kumar Gurav & many more to give concerts in India and abroad. Mr.Nayak is the vice president of Sangeet Bharati Foundation, Mangalore which has been organizing many music concerts of legendary musicians. Mr.Nayak is also the Chairman of Expert Educational & Foundation, Mangalore. Keshav Joshi is a desciple of Pt. R H More. He hails from Bagalkot and now settled in Bangalore. One of the finest solo and accompanist, Sri Joshi has accompanied renowned musicians of India including Pts. Rajan & Sajan Mishra, Pt. Venkatesh Kumar, Neeladri Kumar (Sitar), Pt. Jayateerth Mevundi, etc. He has also availed higher level of training in tabla from Pt. Ishwarlal Mishra of Banaras and Pt. Suraj Purandare. This young tabla player is a busy artists having performed in and abroad is a B High graded artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan.

India Dance Festival 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. Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dance. This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathakars or storytellers. Its form today contains traces of temple and ritual dances, and the influence of the bhakti movement. From the 16th century onwards it absorbed certain features of Persian dance and Central Asian dance which were imported by the royal courts of the Mughal era. There are three major schools or gharana of Kathak from which performers today generally draw their lineage: the gharanas of Jaipur, Lucknow and Varanasi; there is also a less prominent Raigarh gharana which amalgamated technique from all three preceding gharanas but became famous for its own distinctive compositions. Saturday, August 26, 2017 7:30:00 PM University Theater, University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), Richardson, TX

Hindustani Vocal Recital – Khayal Sangeet Pandit Ram Deshpande has a rich musical tradition. He is a renowed vocalist of present generation and an artist of commendable talent. He was initiated into classical music by Shri. Chepe, Shri. Panake and Pt. Prabhakar Deshkar. Under the guidance of Pt. Yashwantbua Joshi and Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, he has risen to greater heights as vocalist of the traditional Gwalior and Jaipur Gharanas. He has also received guidance of Agra Gharana from Pt. Babanrao Haldankar and “Bhatkhande Parampara” from Pt. Yashwant Mahale. He is a Doctorate in Music. He has won a Gold medal in M.A music from Nagpur University. The Sangeet Research Academy Kolkata honoured him with the “Best Vocalist Award”in 1991. He has also been honored by the prestigious “Vidyasagar Award” by music forum. He was awarded “Aditya Vikram Birla Kalakiran Puraskar” in 2005. He has performed at the prestigious conferences in India like Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsava, Pune, Tansen Sangeet Samaroh, Gwalior, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, Vishnu Digambar Jayanti Samaroh, Delhi NCPA, Nehru Center, MumbaiI, ITC Sangeet Sammelan, Kolkata and many more. He has performed abroad and enthralled the audience in countries like USA, UK, Holland, Germany, Dubai, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Kenya, etc. Ram Deshpande is director of GANDHAR MUSIC ACADEMY. He is music director of short film “Gaanyogi” of Pandit D. V. Paluskar and Guru Para Brahma music album by Red Ribbon Company. He has composed “Vande Mataram” in Raag Mala consisting of 24 Ragas. Sunday, June 04, 2017 4:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013 Ajay Joglekar is one of the leading harmonium players in the country. He was introduced to music by his mother. His passion, dedication and practice resulted into an individual style and technique. Later he was trained by the renowned Harmonium maestro Pandit Tulsidas Borkar. The encouragement and guidance from Pt. Ajoy Chakrabarty has helped him in enhancing his skills. Ajay has performed frequently in many music concerts in India and Abroad. He has accompanied renowned Vocalists like Pt. Ajoy Chakrabarty, Pt. Jasraj, Smt. Kishori Amonkar, Bharat-ratna Lata Mangeshkar, Smt. Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Smt. Kaushiki Chakravarty, Pt Sanjeev Abhyankar and many others. Ajay is very popular amongst tabla players and dancers for lehra accompaniment. He has accompanied renowned tabla Players like Ustd Zakir Hussain, Pt. Kumar Bose, Pt. Anindo Chatterjee, Pt. Yogesh Samsi. He also has accompanied renowned Kathak maestro Pt. Birju Maharaj. Ajay is also a music composer and music arranger. He has recorded a number of audio CDs and albums. Sanjay Deshpande is a talented Tabla Player based in Pune, India. He was born in a music loving family and was introduced to the art of playing Tabla under Late Pt. Sabade at Pune Bharat Gayan Samaj. Later he took Taleem (lessons) from the renowned Tabla player Pt. Suresh Talwalkar of Delhi-Farookabad Gharana, in a Guru Shishya Parampara for 6 years. He also had the privilege of understanding the beauty of Punjab Gharana under the guidance of world renowned Tabla maestro Ustad. Alla Rakha Khan Saheb. At present he is taking guidance from Shri. Yogesh Samsi and Pt. Vivek Joshi. Sanjay is recipient of the coveted “Ahmedjaan Thirakwaa Scholarship” for Solo Performance. He has accompanied renowned artists like Smt. Vasundhara Komkali, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Pt. Smt. Malini Rajurkar, Pt. Jasraj, Dr. Prabha Atre, Pt. Dinkar Kaikini, Dr. Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande , Smt. Veena Sahastrabudhe and many others. He has performed in major conferences such as Sawai Gandharwa Music Festival Pune, Paluskar Smarak Conference, Shankarlal Samaroha in New Delhi, I.T.C. Sangeet Sammelan . Dowerlane Conference, Kolkata. Sanjay has performed abroad in countries like USA, UK, UAE, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Russia, Holland, Qatar, Sri Lanka, South Korea etc. He has also participated in the “World Vocal Festival” in Sweden. He is empanelled as guru at the Lalit Kala Kendra, University of Pune. He has number of recordings released. His fusion album “Wind From Ayuta” with Korean musicians won the Best album award of the year – 2002 in South Korea.

Hindustani Vocal Recital – Khayal Sangeet Pandit Ram Deshpande has a rich musical tradition. He is a renowed vocalist of present generation and an artist of commendable talent. He was initiated into classical music by Shri. Chepe, Shri. Panake and Pt. Prabhakar Deshkar. Under the guidance of Pt. Yashwantbua Joshi and Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, he has risen to greater heights as vocalist of the traditional Gwalior and Jaipur Gharanas. He has also received guidance of Agra Gharana from Pt. Babanrao Haldankar and “Bhatkhande Parampara” from Pt. Yashwant Mahale. He is a Doctorate in Music. He has won a Gold medal in M.A music from Nagpur University. The Sangeet Research Academy Kolkata honoured him with the “Best Vocalist Award”in 1991. He has also been honored by the prestigious “Vidyasagar Award” by music forum. He was awarded “Aditya Vikram Birla Kalakiran Puraskar” in 2005. He has performed at the prestigious conferences in India like Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsava, Pune, Tansen Sangeet Samaroh, Gwalior, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, Vishnu Digambar Jayanti Samaroh, Delhi NCPA, Nehru Center, MumbaiI, ITC Sangeet Sammelan, Kolkata and many more. He has performed abroad and enthralled the audience in countries like USA, UK, Holland, Germany, Dubai, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Kenya, etc. Ram Deshpande is director of GANDHAR MUSIC ACADEMY. He is music director of short film “Gaanyogi” of Pandit D. V. Paluskar and Guru Para Brahma music album by Red Ribbon Company. He has composed “Vande Mataram” in Raag Mala consisting of 24 Ragas. Sunday, June 04, 2017 4:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013 Ajay Joglekar is one of the leading harmonium players in the country. He was introduced to music by his mother. His passion, dedication and practice resulted into an individual style and technique. Later he was trained by the renowned Harmonium maestro Pandit Tulsidas Borkar. The encouragement and guidance from Pt. Ajoy Chakrabarty has helped him in enhancing his skills. Ajay has performed frequently in many music concerts in India and Abroad. He has accompanied renowned Vocalists like Pt. Ajoy Chakrabarty, Pt. Jasraj, Smt. Kishori Amonkar, Bharat-ratna Lata Mangeshkar, Smt. Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Smt. Kaushiki Chakravarty, Pt Sanjeev Abhyankar and many others. Ajay is very popular amongst tabla players and dancers for lehra accompaniment. He has accompanied renowned tabla Players like Ustd Zakir Hussain, Pt. Kumar Bose, Pt. Anindo Chatterjee, Pt. Yogesh Samsi. He also has accompanied renowned Kathak maestro Pt. Birju Maharaj. Ajay is also a music composer and music arranger. He has recorded a number of audio CDs and albums. Sanjay Deshpande is a talented Tabla Player based in Pune, India. He was born in a music loving family and was introduced to the art of playing Tabla under Late Pt. Sabade at Pune Bharat Gayan Samaj. Later he took Taleem (lessons) from the renowned Tabla player Pt. Suresh Talwalkar of Delhi-Farookabad Gharana, in a Guru Shishya Parampara for 6 years. He also had the privilege of understanding the beauty of Punjab Gharana under the guidance of world renowned Tabla maestro Ustad. Alla Rakha Khan Saheb. At present he is taking guidance from Shri. Yogesh Samsi and Pt. Vivek Joshi. Sanjay is recipient of the coveted “Ahmedjaan Thirakwaa Scholarship” for Solo Performance. He has accompanied renowned artists like Smt. Vasundhara Komkali, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Pt. Smt. Malini Rajurkar, Pt. Jasraj, Dr. Prabha Atre, Pt. Dinkar Kaikini, Dr. Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande , Smt. Veena Sahastrabudhe and many others. He has performed in major conferences such as Sawai Gandharwa Music Festival Pune, Paluskar Smarak Conference, Shankarlal Samaroha in New Delhi, I.T.C. Sangeet Sammelan . Dowerlane Conference, Kolkata. Sanjay has performed abroad in countries like USA, UK, UAE, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Russia, Holland, Qatar, Sri Lanka, South Korea etc. He has also participated in the “World Vocal Festival” in Sweden. He is empanelled as guru at the Lalit Kala Kendra, University of Pune. He has number of recordings released. His fusion album “Wind From Ayuta” with Korean musicians won the Best album award of the year – 2002 in South Korea.

Sarod Jugalbandi – Footsteps Indian Sarode Maestro Pandit Tejendra Narayan Majumdar is one of the most popular Indian Classical Maestros touring across the globe. One of the best known students of Sarode Legends Swara Samrat Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Ustad Bahadur Khan, Tejendra had first set foot on the soil of USA almost three decades ago for his first ever US Concert Tour. He did not have to look back since then. He has come to USA for numerous times every year for his Solo Concerts, Duets, Collaborative Projects, Workshops and Classes. Being awarded the President’s Gold Medal (for winning All India Radio Competition in his teens), Sangeet Mahasamman (the Highest Civilian Honor in the field of Music in the state of West Bengal), Banga Bhushan (the Second Highest Civilian Honor in the state of West Bengal), Tejendra is undoubtedly one of the best Sarode maestros of our times. One of his arranged albums was shortlisted for the Grammy Awards in 2010. For the FIRST TIME EVER, Pandit Tejendra Narayan Majumdar would be touring USA with his Son, Indrayuddh in SPRING 2017. They would be presenting scintillating duet performances reverberating the exquisite feel of Indian Classical Music reflected through the Guru-Shishya Parampara. Saturday, May 06, 2017 4:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013 Indrayuddh Majumder, the son of Pandit Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, has been learning Sarode from his father since he was five years old. He has also been learning from his mother, Vidushi Manasi Majumder, who is a renowned Indian Classical Vocalist. He had developed keen interest in every genre of music right from his childhood. He has taken up Sarode as his primary choice because of his sheer love for the instrument. He concentrates on maintaining the purity of Indian Classical Music coupled with his smart presentation in his concerts. He had also the privilege to perform in front of Dr. Manmohan Singh (the former Prime Minister of India). An MBA in Marketing, Indrayuddh is also the Co-Founder and CEO of a booming Indian startup, ShowVelvet, which serves as an interactive platform for Artists and Fans all over the world. Title #1 Item content. Click the edit button to change this text. Title #2 Item content. Click the edit button to change this text. Title #3 Item content. Click the edit button to change this text.

The Art Stage ICMC presents its annual event 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 FREE to general public. 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. Saturday, April 22, 2017 2:00:00 PM Next Gen Theater, Legacy Church 4501 Legacy Drive, Plano, TX 75024

Hindustani Sitar Recital – Singing Strings Pandit Kushal Das is one of the iconic maestros of Indian Classical Music across the globe. He plays Sitar and Surbahar. He is a Top-grade musician at All India Radio and Doordarshan. Kushal Das was born in a highly enriched musical family of Kolkata. His grandfather Late Shri Bimalchandra Das was a renowned ‘Esraj’ player and his father & uncle were both sitarists of high repute. His father Late Shri Sailen Das was a disciple of Late Pt. Lakhsman Bhattacharya & Bharat-Ratna Pt. Ravi Shankar. His uncle Late Shri Santanu Das was a disciple of Swar-Samrat Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. He started his training at a tender age of five under the guidance of his father and uncle. Later he received intensive & rigorous training in advanced sitar techniques and the art of creating music, under the affectionate guidance of Pt. Sanjoy Banerjee. Kushal is also proud for having the privilege of learning from great musicians like Late Pt. Ajoy Sinha Roy (a disciple of Ud. Allauddin Khan), vocal lessons from Late Pt. Manas Chakraborty and Late Pt. Ramkrishna Basu. Kushal Das has performed at all major music festivals and music conferences in India. He has been touring all over the world extensively for past two decades. He has many commercial albums to his credit. Saturday, April 08, 2017 4:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013 Ramdas Palsule has been recognized as one of the most senior disciples of world famous Tabla Maestro Taalyogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. Being an accomplished soloist as well as a versatile accompanist, he has performed widely in all the eminent music festivals of India. Outside India, he has performed practically all over the world including USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, Africa and the gulf countries. His Tabla accompaniment ranges from distinguished vocalists to prominent instrumentalists and also to renowned Kathak dancers of the country. He has accompanied with almost all the top notch musicians & dancers of today. Besides performances, Ramdas imparts training to the younger generation of students of Tabla. He is also appointed as a Guru in the Center for Performing Arts of the University of Pune, for last almost 20 years. Ramdas has been instrumental in conception of AVARTAN GURUKUL, which has now commenced this year in Pune..Stalwarts like Taalyogi Pt. Suresh Talwalkar, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Pt. Uday Bhawalkar, Pandita Shama Bhate , Pandita sucheta Bhide Chapekar & Ramdas himself are the Gurus of this Gurukul.

Hindustani Vocal Recital – Khayal Sangeet Brajeswar Mukherjee is one of the most promising young vocalists of Hindustani Classical Music and a foremost disciple of the great Guru Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty. He is a regular artiste of All India Radio & Television and currently working as a junior Guru at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata. He has performed at several prestigious concerts in India and UK, USA, Canada, France, Greece, Middle East, Singapore and many more places. He has received the most Prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Puva Puraskar from Sangeet Naatak Akademi, Govt of India. He is also a recipient of Gaanwardhan award from Pune, Dhananjay Bhattacharya award from Calcutta University and National Scholarship from Govt. of India. Saturday, March 25, 2017 4:00:00 PM Allen Library Civic Auditorium, 300 N. Allen Drive, Allen TX 75013 Gourab Chatterjee is one of the best young Harmonium accompanists of India and a very versatile artiste of Hindustani Classical Music. He learnt vocal music from the eminent Gurus like Shree Jainul Abedin, Late Pt. Sunil Bose and then after joining ITC SRA he started learning from Pt. Arun Bhaduri. With his natural gift of playing Harmonium he started playing with all the vocalists and became so popular within a very short time. He has accompanied with the stalwart musicians like Pt. Ajoy Chakrabarty, Ustad Rashid Khan, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Vidushi Girija Devi, Vidushi Kaushiki Chakraborty and many more in India and USA, Canada, Europe, Middle East. Gourisankar Karmakar, a leading tabla maestro of the present generation, studied tabla under the able guidance of his father, Pandit Shib Sankar Karmakar. Since 1979, he has been under the tutelage of the tabla Maestro Pandit Sankha Chatteriee. Gourisankar is an “A” grade Artist of All India Radio and Television. His talent and creativity are manifest in classical performances, experimental East-West World Music collaboration, and North- South musical interactions. He has performed with most of India’s eminent artists, as well as many famous artists from around the world. In 2008, Gourisankar established the “School of Indian Percussion & Music” in Austin, Texas. Many of his students have benefited from his teaching expertise, and perform regularly. He has joined University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) as a music faculty since 2014.