Tharini Nagarkar - Vocal
Abhay Kulkarni - Tabla
Srikar Ayyalasomayajula - Harmonium
Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening of Hindustani Vocal music performed by up-and-coming artiste Tharini Nagarkar, accompanied by Abhay Kulkarni on tabla and Srikar Ayyalasomayajula on harmonium. The performance will also be streamed live.
Tharini Nagarkar
Tharini Nagarkar began her musical training under Vidushi Amrutha Deshpande, the senior-most disciple of Pt. Vinayak Torvi, and currently continues her advanced training under the tutelage of Pt. Torviji and Sri Dhananjay Hegde. Her vocal style is shaped by training in both the Gwalior and Kirana gharanas, the synthesis that serves as the hallmark of Pt. Torviji’s distinguished musical lineage.
Tharini has performed across India and the United States at prominent venues and festivals, including the Ramaseva Mandali Trust, Sapthak, Naadabrahma Sangeet Sabha in Bangalore, Gaanabharathi in Mysore, the Philadelphia Ganesh Festival, and the Ustad Amir Khan Music Festival in California. Her music has also reached global audiences online through recorded features on the Mihir Thakore YouTube channel. Alongside her musical pursuits, Tharini is a third-year medical student at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Abhay Kulkarni
Abhay Kulkarni started learning the art of tabla under the tutelage of his father, Vidwan Amrutesh Kulkarni and then started advanced training under Pandit Satish Hampiholi in Bengaluru, India. He has achieved the “Alankar” (M.A. in music) from Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya, Miraj, and the “Vidwath” exam with distinction from the Government of Karnataka, India. His accolades include the “Baala Prathibe,” “Karnataka Kalaashri,” “Award of Excellence” by Canara Bank, and the “Prathiba Puraskaara” by Sadguru Music Academy and many more. He also receives music scholarships from the Kannada and Culture Department and CCRT - Government of India. His album, Avarthana—a tabla jugalbandhi with Sri Amith Bhat—was launched by the stalwart musician Pandit Omkar Gulwadi under his guru Dr. Satish Hampiholi.
In addition to excelling in music, Abhay holds a Master of Engineering in Electronics and currently works as an electronics engineer at Automated Precision Inc., MD, USA.
Srikar Ayyalasomayajula
Srikar Ayyalasomayajula grew up in central New Jersey and currently lives in Brooklyn. He has learnt Harmonium from Guru Sri Hemant Kulkarni in New Jersey for over ten years. Srikar has performed harmonium solo pieces in a number of concerts and competitions in harmonium growing up, including winning first prize in national competitions conducted by Marathi Vishwa, Academy of Indian Music and Fine Arts, Bharat Sevashram, etc. Apart from solo performances, Srikar has also provided dynamic as energetic Harmonium saath to artists from around the world regularly for over a decade. Srikar was also the Music Chair of Michigan Sahana, the premier Indian Classical Music and Dance Organization at the University of Michigan and had been organizing and performing in their concerts throughout his time at the university. After graduating, Srikar had been continuing to be a part of both classical accompaniment and fusion collaborations across the country. Apart from music, Srikar currently works at Google as a Software Engineer in New York City.