Joya Biswas (Sitar)

Ms. Joya Biswas is a highly acclaimed Sitar player. She is acknowledged as an outstanding musician and Sitar player of India for the last three decades! She hails from the culturally rich Bose family of Calcutta. She studied under the great maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar. Joya Biswas has performed the world over from Russia to France, England, the United States of America and Asian countries. She completed graduate studies in History, Economics and journalism.

She is well known in India for her television and radio performances. She has been awarded by someoutstanding personalities such as Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi, Duke Ellington and Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa's remark was "Joya is a brilliant sitarist of India, Joya's music touches her listeners with sweetness and technical brilliance." She is married to a top Indian nuclear scientist and mother to a son of eqaly talent. Joya Biswas has held posts as member and advisor in many Indian cultural committees of high level. She has lectured at many universities and colleges in India. Joya used be the Chairperson and Head of Faculty of the Indian Music School in Calcutta. She has been a member of the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO. She is an Executive Member of the West Bengal State Academy of Music in India.

Steve Gorn (Bansoori)

Steve Gorn is creating a new idiom, a music that combines the essence of classical Indian tradition with a contemporary world music sensibility. The strength of this music is grounded in a virtuoso mastery, generating a vibrant fusion, alive and accessible to western ears. In his astounding new solo album, Colors of the Mind, Steve infuses great mastery with a haunting, lyrical sweetness to bring the healing breath of the sacred to our demanding contemporary lives.

Steve’s first steps on this path were taken as a young jazz musician studying composition at Penn State. He noticed how John Coltrane and Charles Lloyd had begun to incorporate aspects of Indian music into their playing. He investigated modal music and listened to Bismallah Khan who played the shenai, (Indian oboe), and to Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan who were then only beginning to become known to Western audiences. Drawn by these sounds, he followed the music east and found himself in Benares, India in 1969, in a boat on the Ganges with the famous sarangi master, Gopal Misra, listening to his classical raga float out over the water in the evening light. In Benares, Steve studied shenai with a local teacher and then traveled to Calcutta where he was invited to meet the Bengali bansuri master Sri Gour Goswami.

Steve would eventually tour with Gour Goswami and go on to earn the praise of the most demanding of Indian audiences and reviewers. Returning to the U.S., he brought his elegant bansuri sound to American pop music, influencing a wide range of musicians, recording with Paul Simon, Richie Havens, Paul Winter, Jack DeJohnette, Glen Velez, and many others. Deepak Chopra, Krishna Das, Coleman Barks, Jai Uttal, Jerome Robbins, and Julie Taymor are among those who have sought out his virtuoso bamboo flute. He has composed for film, television, dance and theatre, and performed in concerts and festivals throughout the world, drawing from classical Indian, jazz and world music to create a distinctive signature sound.

His landmark world music recording, “Asian Journal,” and the unique “Wings and Shadows” have become cult favorites, and his acclaimed cd, “Luminous Ragas,” was named one of the top ten recordings of the year by Los Angeles Reader.

Describing his 1996 performance in Mumbai at the Sangeet Research Academy's Indian Music and the West Seminar, SRA West Chairman, Arvind Parikh has said, "Steve Gorn's concert was widely appreciated for its outstanding musicianship.... and has won him a host of admirers." In 1998, Steve returned to India performing to enthusiastic audiences at The Nehru Center, NCPA, and the Dadar Matunga Music Circle in Mumbai.

Ramesh Misra (Sarangi)

A glaring example of total dedication, depth and maturity, Pandit Ramesh Misra is a phenomenon in the field of Indian classical music.Mastering over one of the most difficult and unique string instruments 'Sarengi', Ramesh Misra is acclaimed as an outstanding artist of India. Ramesh started his initial intensive training at a very tender age from his father Pt. Ramnath Misra and acquired further knowledge and training from some of the finest musicians of Beneras Gharana such as Pt. Hanuman Prasad Mishra and Pt. Gopal Mishra. Presently he is under the tutelage of the legendary maestro Pandit Ravi Sankar.

Ramesh's high aesthetic sense and artistic sensibilities along with his inner soft nature brought him recognition both in home and abroad as an eminent soloist as well as an adept accompanist. His music enthralls the global audience. Besides a receiving the prestigious Sangeet Natak award,Ramesh has also been honored with Geetanjali, Uttam, Deshari from different musical organizations. In 1959 Ramesh was sent as a cultural delegate to Pakistan by the then Prime Minister of India Jawharlal Nehru. Pandit Ramesh Misra traveled all over the world accompanying internationally reputed artists.

In addition to his appearance in most of the major music festivals of the world he has featured in numerous recordings including his own solos and earned a niche in the hearts of millions of music lovers.

Pandit Ramesh Misra is a very high-ranking and gifted artist, whose music takes the audience to a divine world, a world of pure music.

Allyn Miner (Sitar)

Allyn received her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin where she majored in South Asian studies. On the Wisconsin Year in India Program and subsequently supported by Fulbright and Rockefeller grants she lived and studied in Varanasi, India for most of the eleven years between 1971 and 1982, where she studied under sitarist Thakur Raj Bhan Singh. She performed in a number of cities in India and on All India Radio before her return to the U.S. in 1982.

In 1985 she began advanced training under Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and became his formal disciple in 1990. She performs in Indian classical music circles, chamber and world music music series, universities, and private venues in the U.S. and regularly returns for performances in India. Her sitar style reflects her long training and experience in India and the guidance and aesthetic influence of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. She is one of seven Hindustani instrumentalists featured on the CD "Rainbow" (Neelam, 1998).

Mitali Banerjee Bhawmik (Vocal)

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 came 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 USA. To name a few, in USA, she has performed at the Ali Akbar College of Music in California, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Yale University in Connecticut, Princeton University, Rutgers University in New Jersey, Chhandayan All Night Concert, other universities in US and also at several locations in New York and New Jersey area. 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 Kolkata, 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 "raga's" have won her numerous acclaims and appreciation from the listeners. Besides Khayals, Mitali also specializes in semi classical music like Thumris and Bhajans.

Mitali has two CDs “Vandana”, where her Guru Pandit V. G. Jog has accompanied her on the violin. She has another album, named “ Rasiya” where she has been accompanied by Pt Ramesh Mishra on Sarengi and Pt Samir Chatterjee on tabla. Mitali is the director of Ethnomedia Music Studio where she teaches Hindustani Classical Music to several students in the area. Mitali along with her students has won the prestigious New Jersey Council of the Arts grant for four years.

Kedar Naphade (Harmonium)

Kedar Naphade is a promising young exponent of the art of harmonium solo and accompaniment.

Born on January 10, 1972, Kedar received preliminary training in Hindustani Classical Music from his grandfather, Shri Dadasaheb Naphade and from Shri Arvind Gajendragadkar. For over 15 years, he has been a leading disciple of Pt. Tulsidas Borkar, arguably the most acclaimed harmonium player in India today.

Kedar has also had the privilege of training from 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, like his guru, 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.

In addition to classical music, Kedar also plays the semi-classical forms of Marathi Natyasangeet (Stage Music), Bhajans, Thumri, Dhun etc.

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 in Mumbai, The Lincoln Center in New York, The Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C etc. He has also been featured on NPR. He has shared the stage with luminaries such as his guru Smt. Padmavati Shaligram-Gokhale, Pt. Jasraj, Smt. Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Smt. Prabha Atre, Smt. Laxmi Shankar, Pt. Phiroz Dastur etc.

Kedar continues to train from Pt. Tulsidas Borkar and maintains an active concert schedule in the U.S.

Swagata Chakraborty (Vocal)

Swagata Chakraborty is a recognized musical talent from Kolkata, West Bengal. She has performed extensively throughout India and in the US. Her talent has won her many awards including the National Academy Award (Delhi, 1996), HMV Golden Talent Awards (2001), Rajya Sangeet Academy Award (Kolkata, 1996) etc. Swagata received many years of training in Hindusthani Classical Music under the tutelage of Pandit Amiya Ranjan Banerjee, Pandit Samaresh Choudhury and Pandit Mohanlal Mishra. She specializes in vocal Hindusthani classicals and light classicals such as Bhajan-s, Thumri-s, Hori, Jhula etc. For the latter genres, she has received extensive training from Smt. Purnima Choudhury of the Benaras gharana. She also performs Rabindra Sangeet, Najrul-geets and modern Hindi and Bengali songs.

Abhisek Mallik (Sitar)

Born in Kolkata, Abhisek is the disciple of Pandit Shyamal Chattopadhyay, who is the disciple of Late Ustad Md. Dabir Khan (the Last descendent of Mian Tansen) and then the legendary Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar. He was initiated into ”Tabla” from the very tender age of 4 years. At about 7 years he started learning ‘Sitar’ having the privilege to come under the tutelage of Pandit Shyamal Chattopadhyay, who has established Abhisek as one of the potential sitarist of this generation. He gave his first public performance in Sitar at the age of 8 years. He became a regular artiste of All India Radio, Kolkata, at the age of 10 years.

He has performed in many prestigious concerts like “Jaddu Bhatto Sammelon”, “Late Ustad Keramatulla Khan Conference”, “India Habitat Centre”, New Delhi, “Guru Purnima Festival”, Patna. He has also performed Sitar recital on different parts of Europe. He has also successfully accompanied his “Guruji” in so many renowned classical music conferences in Kolkata and around India. His performances have been acclaimed greatly by the critics.

He has won the “Rajya Sangeet AcademyAward”, “Pandit Ravi Kichloo Award”, “Saltlake Cultural Association Award” etc. He received the prestigious “President’s Award” from the Government of India, after achieving the first position in All India Radio (Hindustani Classical Instrumental) Music Competition in Sitar in the year 2003. He is also the worthy recipient of the award in the year of 2003 from I.T.C. Sangeet Research Academy organized by the ‘International Foundation for Fine Arts’, Mumbai, India. He was selected for the award of senior National Scholarship in the field of Hindustani Classical Music (Instrumental) in the year of 2003 from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Department of Culture, New Delhi, Government of India. He is at present a B-High grade artiste of All India Radio, Doordarshan and different electronics media channel.

Samir Chatterjee (Tabla)

Pandit Samir Chatterjee is one of the leading Tabla players of India. He began his studies early with Pandit Bankim Ghosh, Pandit Balaram Mukherjee, Pandit Rathin Dhar and Mohammad Salim. His later formation as a musician occurred under the guidance of Pandit Amalesh Chatterjee (since 1966) and Pandit Shyamal Bose (since 1984). All of Samir's teachers have been from the Farrukhabad Gharana (school) of Tabla-playing, which he now represents.

Pandit Samir Chatterjee appears frequently as a soloist and an accompanist throughout India and abroad. Since 1982 he has been regularly touring the different countries of the world. He can be heard on numerous recordings featuring as soloist and accompanying many of India's greatest musicians and in collaboration with western musicians of outstanding caliber. In concert Pandit Chatterjee has accompanied many of India's greatest musicians including Pt. Ravi Shankar, Ud. Vilayat Khan, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Nikhil Banerjee and others.

Dibyarka Chatterjee (Tabla)

Dibyarka Chatterjee is a young and promising Tabla player from the Farrukhabad Gharana. His natural inclination towards Tabla became evident shortly after his birth, and at the age of five he was initiated by his illustrious father Pt. Samir Chatterjee. Since then he has been going through the rigorous discipline of lesson and practice.

Dibyarka was born in Kolkata (and spent first 10 years of his life there), where he was already performing for the All India Radio as a child prodigy. Shortly afterwards, he moved to the U.S. with his family, he was recognized for his talent by music lovers and Tabla enthusiasts and started performing with his father and in group performances composed and directed by him. Beside these, he has also performed with the Dance Theater of Harlem, NYC, with the Battery Dance Co. in “Songs of Tagore”, with Janaki Patrick in “Ka-Tap”, with Smt. Lakshmi Shankar, Pt. Ramesh Mishra, Smt. Shubhra Guha, Sri Partha Bose, Sri Debojyoti Bose, Sri Snehasish Mozumder, Sri Anirban Dasgupta, Smt. Tripti Mukherjee, Steve Gorn, Hidayat Khan and others.

Amod Dandawate (Tabla)

Amod Dandawate was born and brought up in Hyderabad, where he was initiated into tabla by his father Dr.Vasant Dandawate. Later, he received training from Shafaatulla Khan on the art of accompaniment. He has also been learning from the well known Tabla Nawaz Zakir Hussain. For quite a few years now, Amod has been under the guidance of his second guru Samir Chatterjee. Amod holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering.