Join us for two performances presented by our Pennsylvania chapter:
Performance 1:
Hindustani Vocal - Kalawati (Carmen Dumitrescu)
Tabla - Ashish Sinha
Harmonium - Ayan Rivu Sinha
Performance 2:
Bharatnatyam Dance - Paushaly Sau
Kalawati
Carmen Silvia Dumitrescu, lovingly called Kalawati, discovered and grew into the depth of Indian classical music once she came across the spirituality of India, through Sahaja Yoga meditation. She was nurtured into music from a tender age, when she started learning western classical violin in Romania.
A double-graduate of the Bucharest University (Faculty of Foreign Languages, Hindi specialization ) and Prayag Sangeet Samiti (BA & MA in Hindustani classical music), Carmen was awarded Sangeet Suvarna Mani, Sangeet Shiromani Award and Sangeet Ratna Sammann, and is recognized as one of the first Indian classical vocalists of foreign origins.
Her first performance happened at the age of 7, at the Christmas celebration of her music school. At the age of 13, once she started meditating, by the Grace of H.H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, she developed a special sensitivity for the ancient music of India, and was truly fascinated by its depth, beauty and magic.
A few years later she had the great fortune to participate in an art summer camp in Romania, where she joined the Indian classical music workshops of vocal and violin. Shortly her talent was noticed by the teachers, who encouraged her in pursuing this great music. It was then when she decided to dedicate herself to it, as she that classical music of India was all contained within her, and she just needed to find a way to express it.
In the years to follow, she attended international workshops of Indian classical music in Italy, Cabella, from 2006-2009.
In 2007 she received the Indian name “Kalawati”, which indeed bestowed the blessings of Shri Saraswati on her. 2009 marks an important moment in her musical journey, as she was awarded the ICCR scholarship for Indian classical music. Carmen spent the next 10 years of her life living with and learning Hindustani classical vocal in New Delhi, under able guidance of her music Guru, the Patiala Gharana vocalist Smt. Mahua Mukherjee, in the ancient Guru-Shishya Parampara tradition.
During her ongoing musical journey, through her dedication and hard work, Carmen has imbibed the depth of the Indian classical music, being therefore one of the first musicians of non-Indian origins who've proved having the caliber and asset to explore and bring forward the Hindustani classical vocal music as a performer.
Ashish Sinha
Asish Sinha is a student of Pt. Samir Chatterjee of the Farrukabad gharana. He is the coordinator for the Pittsburgh chapter of Chhandayan music school. He has accompanied many famous artists from India. He is also a founder of the Saptak Music School where he teaches tabla and promotes Indian music among the younger generations. He accompanies many US and international visiting artists on a regular basis. Asish is a Metallurgical Engineer by profession but he has a great love for tabla.
Ayan Rivu Sinha
Ayan Rivu Sinha is a disciple of Padma Shri Honored Pandita Tripti Mukherjee-ji and Pandit Rattan Mohan Sharma-ji at the Pandit Jasraj Institute of Music (PJIM) in the USA. Ayan was initiated into Hindustani Classical Music by his mother, Smt. Nidrita Mitra-Sinha at the age of 5, and has been learning Hindustani Classical vocal from PJIM since the age of 9. He has been fortunate to receive special guidance from his Bade Guruji, Sangeet Martand Padma Vibhushan Pandit Jasraj-ji on several occasions and he continues to receive blessings from him. Ayan was born and brought up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He has completed his high school education in Pittsburgh. Currently, he is at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, completing his senior year with a BS in Nutritional Biochemistry and a minor in Chemistry.
Additionally, Ayan has studied Tabla for a few years from Chhandayan under the guidance of Pt Samir Chatterjee-ji. Also, Ayan has studied Piano for 6 years from the Carnegie Mellon University Music Department.
Paushaly Sau
Paushaly is a final-year student at the University of Pittsburgh studying Biology and History. She has been studying Bharatanatyam for the past fifteen years, and she completed her Arangetram in 2017 under the tutelage of her Guru Smt. Nandini Mandal. Paushaly has also trained in Rabindranritya, Navanritya, and Loknritya styles under her Guru. Additionally, Paushaly has also trained in Manipuri and Navanritya styles under Guru Sanjib Bhattacharya. As a student and assistant teacher at Nandanik Dance Academy, based in Pittsburgh, PA, she has participated in numerous dance programs such as Dance for Cure, India Day at the Cathedral of Learning, Vilaya, and the Dhirana Gala. Furthermore, Paushaly has performed in dance dramas such as Chandalika, Shyama, and Card Country. Paushaly is also a member of the University of Pittsburgh’s premier classical dance competitive team, Pitt Nrityamala.