The 2026 All-night Concert will be held on October 24th. The venue has been finalized at the Northern Virginia Baha’i Center. The Event is supported by the RTOT tourism grant of Loudoun County, Virginia.

The event will also be streamed live.

Program:

• Tarini Nagarkar - vocal, with Abhay Kulkarni on tabla and Sheyash Ravi on harmonium

• Swarnendu - sarod, with Mallar Goswami on tabla

• Gauri Panthare - vocal, with Amod Dandavate on tabla and Shreyas Ravi on harmonium

• Taalvadya Kachari - Samir Chatterjee - tabla, Selvaganesh - Kanjira,

• Sanjoy Banerjee - vocal, Kedar Naphade on harmonium and Tejas Tope on tabla 

Samir Chatterjee 

Samir Chatterjee is a virtuoso Tabla player from India. He travels widely across the world throughout the year performing in numerous festivals as a soloist or with other outstanding musicians from both Indian and non-Indian musical traditions. Samir performed at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway in 2007. He also performed a few times at the United Nations General Assembly. His compositions are widely acclaimed as well as his writings. Samir is a firm believer in the transforming effect of music on the society and all aspects of his work reflects this conviction.

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

            Samir is rated ‘A’ as an artiste of Indian national radio and television. He can be heard on numerous recordings featuring as soloist, accompanying many of India's greatest musicians and in collaboration with western musicians of outstanding caliber. In concert Samir has accompanied many of India's greatest musicians including Pt. Ravi Shankar, Ud. Vilayat Khan, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Nikhil Banerjee, Pt. V.G. Jog, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, M. S. Gopalakrishnan, Ud. Amjad Ali Khan, Ud. Salamat Ali Khan, Smt. Lakshmi Shankar, Pt. Manilal Nag, Ud. Ali Ahmed Hussain, Ud. Aashis Khan, Dr. L. Subramanium, U Srinivas, Ud. Naseeruddin Sami, Smt. Veena Sahashrabuddhe, Ud. Shujat Khan, Ud. Saheed Parvez, Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty, Ud. Nishat Khan, Ud. Rashid Khan, Pt. Tejendra N. Mazumdar, Pt. Debashish Bhattacharya, Smt. Arti Anklekar, Smt. Kaushiki Chakraborty, to name only a few. 

            Samir Chatterjee lives in the New York-New Jersey area and has been a catalyst in the fusion of Indian and Non-Indian music, in his own creations and others as well. He performs with Pauline Oliveros, William Parker, Branford Marsalis, Ravi Coltrane, Joshua Bell, Yoko Ono Lenon, David Liebman, Oliver Lake, Dave Douglas, Ned Rothenberg, Mark Dresser, Mark Feldman, Jerome Harris, Eric Friedlander, Steve Gorn, Glen Velez, Boby Sanabria, Jin Hi Kim, Min Xiao-Fen, Dance Theater of Harlem, Boston Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, Ethos Percussion group, Da Capo Chamber Orchestra, Boston Musica Viva and other jazz, classical and avant guard musicians and ensembles. He also collaborates with Sufi-Rock singer Salman Ahmad of Junoon from Pakistan. He is the composer and director of Indo-Flame – a blend of Indian and Flamenco dance and music, Chhand-Anand - a world percussion ensemble, RabiThakur – a ballet on the life of Tagore, Meghadootam – a feature program of music and dance on an ancient Indian poem, and Dawn to Dusk and Beyond – on the effect of music on humans and nature. He performs with Sanjay Mishra on his CD "Blue Incantation" featuring Jerry Garcia as guest artist. 

            Samir Chatterjee has been teaching for the last 35 years and many of his students are established performers. He is the Founder-Director of CHHANDAYAN, an organization dedicated to promoting and preserving Indian music and culture. He has authored a comprehensive 654-page book entitled A Study of Tabla, a guidebook to Indian music titled Music of India and Those Forty Days, a journal of an austere practice regimen. He is on the faculty at Manhattan School of Music, University of Pittsburgh and New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. He also taught at the Yale University, Columbia University, New York University and Princeton University, among many other major institutions in the USA, Europe and India. He also contributes to several newspapers and periodicals. He won gold medal for his proficiency in a musical examination and has two master's degrees, in English and History.

          Since June 2008 Samir started working relentlessly towards the musical revival of Afghanistan. He made several trips to the country working with different levels of the society and administration and within a very short period of time was able to make a remarkable difference in the cultural life of the country. He is the recipient of several awards listed below:
         Sunshine award, Caribbean Award in 2016, Jadu Bhatta award from Salt Lake Music Conference, Acharya Varistha award from Pandit Jasraj Institute of Music, Taal Mani award from Council of Indian Classical Music, Delhi in 2018, Lifetime Achievement award from SMIPAC Trust, Delhi in 2018, Pt. V. G. Jog award from Raag-Rang, 2024.

Selvaganesh

        Selvaganesh was born in Chennai to Grammy-winner T.H. 'Vikku' Vinayakaram, a legendary musician and also a former member of the original Shakti. He is also the grandson of Sri T. R. Harihara Sharma, who founded the Sri Jaya Ganesh Tala Vadya Vidya Vadyalaya (Sri JGTV school) in Chennai.  Selvaganesh had his initial training at his grandfather's school and then under his uncle, Ghatam Vidwan Shri T H Subashchandran.  one of the leading musicians in the world of rhythm. Thumping into the musical world at an age as tender as 10, Selvaganesh has been mesmerizing the audience with his immaculate style and innate creativity. Selvaganesh is one of the leading musicians in the world of rhythm. He has been mesmerizing the audience with his immaculate style and innate creativity. Born into a family of musicians, it is no wonder that rhythm flows in his blood, which remains inseparable
        Selvaganesh’s tryst with the international music platform came in the early 90s in Masters of Percussion along with his Zakir’s father Ustad Alla Rakha and late 90's when he joined Shakti to play along with John McLaughlin and Zakir Hussain. The showman that he is, his long hair and nimble fingers had Shakti catapult to fame.
Apart from playing authentic Carnatic Music, he has performed in many Fusion, Jazz, Blues, Flamenco, Symphony Orchestra, Celtic Music, Latin Music, DJ Music, World Music, Talavadya (Percussion Ensemble) and Jugalbandhi concerts and has been part of numerous International Music Festivals with renowned Indian Musicians like Dr L Shankar, Dr.L.Subramaniam, Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, He has also worked with many leading music directors in India. He has performed at the prestigious Venue – Carnegie Hall in the US along with Shri T H Vikku Vinayakram and Ustad Zakir Hussain
        He was a child prodigy, with his concert career beginning at the age of 10. He established his right to be on the stage by playing with such dexterity that he was soon accompanying many famous vocalists in Carnatic music at the time, including Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna, M. S. Subhalakshmi, and others. 

        Selvaganesh gained world fame through tours with John McLauglin's group Remember Shakti. He helps his father, Grammy-winner T.H. Vikku Vinayakram, to run the Sri JGTV school and train a new generation of percussionists. He has also composed and produced albums and played with the Swedish bass virtuoso Jonas Hellborg and American guitar player Shwan Lane.
         His debut international solo album, Soukha was released in 2006 featuring all other regular members of Remember Shakti including John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain, U. Srinivas and Shankar Mahadevan, as well as sitar player Niladri Kumar and Selvaganesh's father T.H. "Vikku" Vinayakram. He has also formed a new group called Dr. JSM, with the UK-based Goan songwriter/producer Dr. Joel and the young Carnatic singer Mahesh. Their Indo-Celtic album entitled Turn on the dreams was released in the UK in 2005.  He performed in the Prestigious United Nations Day in New York in 2009. He has composed Rhythm for Mira Nair’s movies Vanity Fair and the Monsoon Wedding 
        While the kanjeera appears to be a simple instrument, in the hands of Selvaganesh, it produces a surprisingly large palette. “He has transformed the sound and identity of his instrument—he makes that thing sound like a huge drum kit—and all the actual playing is done with one hand.”  It is somehow fitting that the oldest instrument in the band is responsible for creating an almost techno vibe; the constant bell-like jangle of the kanjeera brings to mind the warp-speed jungle-groove of drum-and-bass music.

        His latest venture is in the field of Indian Film Music. His debut music for a regional language film “Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu” is already a super hit.  He has composed for a few more and had got a name for himself.  Adding feather to the cap is his Filmi work in the Telugu Movie industry as well, wherein his first movie was a musical hit and is in the process of composing a few more.

Sanjoy Banerjee
        Sanjoy Banerjee is a very famous musician from India and distinguished exponent of the Kirana Gharana of North Indian Vocal Classical  Music. With his sonorous and unwavering voice he has enthralled audiences at home and abroad, performing in UK, Germany, Bangladesh and USA. He was a scholar at ITC Sangeet Research Academy under the able guidence of Late Pt. A Kanan ans Sangeet Bidushi Late Malabika Kanan, who considered him as their worthy successor to their musical heritage. He has received many awards and honors including Surmani Award from Sur Sringar Samsad , Mumbai, National Scholarship from Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Government of India in 1993 and Junior Fellowship from Department of Culture, Govt of India in 1996. Apart from this Sanjoy Banerjee is a successful Guru teaching at his own institution Kolkata Surourchhana in Kolkata and been as a senior Guru at American Academy of Indian Classical Music, New York, producing students who have already earned appreciation from all corners of the society. 
          He has performed in many concerts all over India namely ITC Music Conference, Kolkata, Swai Gandharva Music Conference, Hubli, Karnataka, State Music Academy, Kolkata, Sangeet Piyasi, Kolkata, Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai, He has also performed in cities like Stutgurt, Balingen, Nuremburg, Aachen, Linich and Kiel in Germany. He has also extensively performed in places like, London, Birminghum, Derby, Leicester, Nottingham,Hull, Scunthorp in UK. He has also been in Canada for concerts.

        Also, he has been the Music Director in "Three cities project" involving the cities of Leicester, Nottingham and Derby in the year 2005 and 2006 in UK. He is also a visiting examiner at Visva Bharati University, Shantiniketan, West Bengal and Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), Department of Culture, Government of India. With great task lying in front of him, Sanjoyj seeks blessings from all.

Ms. Gauri Pathare

        Gauri Pathare is a name to reckon with amongst the present generation of Indian Classical Music. Having initially trained under the guidance of Pt. Gangadharbuwa Pimpalkhare of kirana gharana, Gauri has had the good fortune of imbibing musical knowledge from Late Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki & Pandita Padmatai Talwalkar for several years. Since 2010 Gauri has been receiving Jaipur gharana training under Pt. Arun Dravid. This wonderful opportunity of training under different Gurus has left an indelible mark on Gauri's singing style. She has skillfully picked the nuances of the 3 gharanas, viz. Jaipur, Gwalior & Kirana. 

        Her various accolades include being awarded the prestigious Smt. Kesarbai Kerkar scholarship conferred by the NCPA in 2000-2001. Gauri received the Surmani Puraskar in 2006 and the ‘Pt. Ramkrishnabuwa Vaze Yuwa Gayak Puraskar’ in 2007, amongst many others awards. The most coveted ‘Swara-bhaskar’ award instituted in the memory of late Pandit Bhimsen Joshi for the year 2012-13 was awarded to Smt. Gauri Pathare. Gauri was also conferred the equally prestigious Aditya Vikram Birla ‘Kala Kiran Puraskar’ for the year 2013. Gauri has performed at most of the prestigious classical music festivals in India including Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav, Tansen festival, Chandigadh sangeet Sammelan, Kesarbai Kerkar Sammelan, Pt. Kumar Gandharva sangeet Sammelan, etc. Gauri Pathare also hosts an annual Indian classical music festival in Mumbai called Parle Swar Vasant in month of February.

Gauri has frequently performed in UK, France, Switzerland, USA, Australia, Canada, Dubai, Singapore and many other countries. Universal records, Mystica music co. and many more companies have released Gauri's audio CDs and her album 'Tribute' was nominated for GIMA awards. 

        Gauri's music has the influence of 3 gharanas. An innovative artiste, Gauri chose to study the intricacies of Jaipur gharana gayaki (singing style) as well. Gauri has successfully blended Jaipur, Gwalior and Kirana gharanas gayaki to form her unique style of khayal presentation. Retaining emotional quotient of each raag while blending the gayaki is what Gauri believes in.

Swarnendu

        Hailing from Kolkata, India, Swarnendu is a 23-year-old prodigy, a Sarod virtuoso, and a master of Geology. Under the esteemed guidance of Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta, representing the Senia Shahjahanpur Gharana, he has seamlessly blended the rich traditions of Indian classical music with contemporary finesse.
        A senior scholar at the revered ITC Sangeet Research Academy under the guidance of Ustad Abir Hussain, Swarnendu has graced the world with captivating performances. Notable achievements include performances at the G20 Summit (2023) in Varanasi, ITC Sangeet Sammelan (2022), performance in Bhubaneshwar for Italian Consulate General (2022), and a remarkable first-place win at the All-Indian Universities Youth Festival in 2023.
        Beyond his native land, Swarnendu has embarked on impressive tours across Europe, enchanting audiences in Germany and Austria in 2022, including performances at Cologne Durgotsav, Music for Peace, and more. His music journey continued with concerts in Vienna, Linz, Berlin, and Konstanz, leaving an indelible mark on international music enthusiasts. He has also toured Taiwan in 2019 to perform at the Sports and Culture Ministry.
        Further highlighting his stature as a global musical ambassador, Swarnendu participated in a performance for the G20 Summit in Varanasi in 2023, a prestigious platform where he shared his music with world leaders and dignitaries, he also represented India in Asia Music Summit (2020).
        Back on home turf, Swarnendu's multifaceted talents extend to academia, with a bachelor's as well as master's degree in Geology from Jadavpur University. This fusion of science and art reflects his multidisciplinary approach to life.
        As of 2023, Swarnendu continues to ascend in the world of music and is also the recipient of the CCRT National Scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. He is also a graded artiste and regular performer at the All-India Radio and Doordarshan.
        He has also worked as music composer for several short films and documentaries, composed music for Video Game, did collaborative projects with many international musicians, wrote as a music critic also arranged music for several projects.  

Dr. Kedar Naphade

        Born on January 10, 1972, Kedar Naphade received preliminary training in Hindustani Classical Music from his grandfather, Shri Dadasaheb Naphade and from Shri Arvind Gajendragadkar. 

        Since he was 10 years of age, Kedar has had the great good fortune of training under the loving and expert guidance of Pt. Tulsidas Borkar, one of the topmost harmonium players in India today. Under his nurturing guidance, Kedar has imbibed the unique style of solo harmonium performance developed by Pt. Borkarji’s guru, Madhukar Pednekar or P. Madhukar.  P. Madhukar was a genius with tremendous mastery over the instrument that is to date unsurpassed. His glorious tradition that exploits the strengths of the harmonium to the extreme, is presented to the connoisseur today by his stalwart disciples like Pt. Tulsidas Borkar and Pt. Anant Kemkar and the next generation of disciples consisting of Sudhir Nayak, Seema Mestri-Shirodkar, Kedar Naphade and others.

        Kedar has also had the privilege of training under 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, 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 – especially the Gwalior and Jaipur gharanas. 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, Lincoln Center, Symphony Space etc. He has accompanied artists of high caliber such as his guru Smt. Padmavati Shaligram-Gokhale, Pt. Phiroz Dastur, Pt. Jasraj, Smt. Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Smt. Laxmi Shankar etc. Kedar continues to maintain an active concert schedule in the U.S.
 
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.

Tejas Tope
Tejas has been learning tabla from Pt. Samir Chatterjee for over 20 years, and has additionally taken training under Ud. Zakir Hussain for 15 years. Tejas has performed globally, as a soloist and highly sought-after accompanist. Tejas Tope has also studies Pakhawaj under Pt. Mohan Shyam Sharma, Pt. Manik Munde and Shri Pratap Awad.

Mallar Goswami
Mallar Goswami is a national scholar of CCRT and a senior disciple of Pt. Gobindo Bose. He has an M.A. degree in music from Rabindra Bharati University. He has worked as a percussionist on several audio albums, web series, and films. He is currently working on Doordarshan and many private TV shows.

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.

Amod Dandawate

Amod Dandawate has been primarily trained in the Farrukhabad style of Tabla playing. He was born and brought up in Hyderabad, India, and later migrated to the USA. He was initiated into Tabla by his father Dr. Vasantrao Dandawate, a disciple of the legendary Maestro Ustad Amir Hussain Khan. He started playing Tabla at a very young age but seriously pursued the art form only after completing his Bachelors degree in Engineering. At that point, he received initial guidance and encouragement from Shafaat Khan while performing as an accompanist and then spent some time taking lessons from Ustad Zakir Hussain. Having settled in New Jersey he has been receiving advanced training, since 2001, as a disciple of Pt. Samir Chatterjee, a well known Maestro of the Farrukhabad gharana (http://www.tabla.org).

Besides performing solo Tabla, Amod has accompanied several eminent artists and keeps a busy performance schedule. Amod also hold a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering.

Shreyas Ravi
Shreyas Ravi is a senior disciple of notable sitarist Pt. Ravi Chary. He has given numerous Harmonium & keyboard Solo & Duet performances across India & USA. He has been a recipient of the prestigious Pt. Vishu Digambar Paluskar Award & Pt. Omkarnath Thakur Award. Along with a thoughtful and robust solo, he has also been regularly accompanying vocal and tabla artists on the harmonium & keyboard.

Now that Chhandayan has its own concert venue, we will be presenting several All-night Concerts each year at CCIM in New York. These give the opportunity to hear some unusual late night and early morning ragas that are not often heard in the evening and afternoon time slots. The of these first will be held January 9-10, 2027. As we get closer to the event, we will finalize the performances. Check the website for updates.

The event will also be streamed live.

Program:

• Aniruddh Srinivasraghavan - vocal

• Ramanan Venkatram - Hansaveena

• Rohan Misra - Sarangi

• Rohan Prabhudesai - Harmonium

• Pranav Shikarpur - Bansuri

• Tejas Tope - Tabla

• Aditya Phatak - Tabla

• Neil Khare - Tabla

• Manav Khurana - Tabla

Anirudh Srinivasraghavan 

Anirudh Srinivasraghavan is an Indian classical vocalist, carrying forward the rich legacy of the Gwalior and Agra Gharanas of Hindustani Classical Music. He has captivated audiences worldwide through solo concerts and innovative performances. He has been training under leading vocalist Pt. Dr. Ram Deshpande (senior disciple of Padma Shri Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar) for 20+ years. For over a decade, he learnt the nuances of solo Harmonium playing under the guidance of Grammy nominated Sitarist Pt. Ravi Chary, a senior disciple of Padma Shri Ustad Shahid Parvez. Anirudh blends his classical repertoire with fusion music, Konnokol (Carnatic mouth percussion) and a variety of semi-classical genres.

As a Tamilian who grew up in Mumbai and lives in NYC now, Anirudh's musical influences are truly global - encompassing all forms of South Asian music as well as Jazz and Western Classical music.

Ramanan Venkatraman

After a brief moment of founding Sadhana School of Music, Dance and Arts, Ramanan started getting fascinated by the sound and beauty of the Sitar. This happened due to the collaboration with Radhika Samson (Sitar Player) & Pranav Ramji (Tabla). Trying to explore the aesthetics and mechanics of a Sitar, the interest and love for Indian Classical Music started to grow back in Ramanan. Occasionally trying to play the Sitar, he figured that the various things and techniques he would try to use to play something in the style of Classical Music, could be done in instances on a Classical Instrument like the sitar. Getting inspired by the amount of knowledge and skill a classical musician possess, he decided to start learning. Radhika, gave him the path to his Guru by inviting him to a concert Guruji was supposed to play in the Aurobindo Ashram. Until then, Ramanan had only heard how beautiful the sound of a Hansaveena is and the make of it is pure hard work and has wonderful aesthetics. The guy who made it is playing etc. but never had seen one in reality or heard it.

​"If 'floored to the lowest level possible' is a quote to say, that I was astound and drooling over the sound of the instrument and the various techniques Guruji was playing with, then Floored I was. Not a single day goes by when I can't remember how it was to me, I believe that is what is keeping the drive in me to go ahead with this." says Ramanan.

Shortly after the performance got over and everyone was approaching Guruji, so did Ramanan requesting him to teach him his instrument. Guruji being the most humble man to be alive and the most earthed person, says to him "How can I teach you anything? You should be the one teaching me, tell me when to come.". Shattered by the thought of guilt and shamed by the thought of pride about everything he had achieved, Ramanan couldn't speak a word. He says, "I didn't realize at that instant, what he has trying to do. Later I realised that he was actually trying to help me get over my pride of being a self taught musician and the things I've done. I felt miserable and understood how a True Musician should be. Humility is what takes us to the next level, not Pride. He taught me that.". Pursuing Guruji constantly for almost a couple of months and occasionally requesting him to teach him, every time he met Guruji.

Finally on the 12th of July, 2014, the auspicious day of Guru Poornima, Guruji took Ramanan to Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar's Institute of Music and Performing Arts (RIMPA). Under the mesmerising photograph of the Great Pandit Ravi Shankar, he was taught his first pranaams to the divine Guru by chanting Guru Vandana. Being a part of such a wonderful legacy and the ideals and ideas of these great human beings who had achieved so much because of hard work and knowledge, Ramanan decided to devote everything for it. He slowly started realising the humungous amount of hard work that has been put behind the greatness of the Hansaveena. He says, "An irresistible love and respect came for Guruji and I swore to myself to be the one to ensure that his hard work will be showcased in the best and most appropriate manner to this world when my time comes. Having spent hours and hours of time with my instrument, I still have many avenues to touch and get better at, however, the avenues does not seem to end. There is more and more and more all the time. It is not about competition but the way this instrument is designed, everything that a human requires to bring his emotions out in front of people through sound is available and with great ease. How is that even possible?"

Ramanan was a senior disciple of Pandit Barun Kumar Pal (Guruji) and trained in the true Guru Shishya Parampara. On many occasions he has given various performances with the guidance and love from Guruji. The style of playing would mostly be termed as the Senia Maihar Gharana Style, however, Ramanan says that mostly it is Guruji's style, which includes everything from the Gharana without fail, but it also has a touch of his musical sense in such a way that it sounds like a completely different world and side of music altogether.      

Rohan Misra
 Rohan Misra is a young promising musician, specialized in the unique Indian bowed instrument called the Sarangi. As the son and disciple of great Sarangi virtuoso Pandit Ramesh Misra, Rohan has inherited many of his father-Guru’s specialties, including tonal quality and aesthetic approach.

Rohan Started learning the Sarangi (translation: An instrument with a hundred colors) from his father at the age of six. His exposure to music since early childhood attracted him to learn other Indian instruments as well. He has been learning Tabla from the renowned maestro Samir Chatterjee. Rohan is also pursuing his education in western music, particularly focused on the Piano and Clarinet. Coming out of the family of nine generations of Sarangi players, Rohan aspires to be successful as the 10th generation in his lineage. He also wishes to further his musicality by blending certain aspects of western music into his emblem of Indian classical music and emerge with a unique musical expression.

Rohan has performed at the Carnegie Hall, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., California and North Carolina. He has performed with luminaries such as Pt. Birju Maharaj, Smt. Kumudini Lakhia, Pt. Anindo Chatterjee, Samir Chatterjee, among others. He is on the faculty of Chhandayan Center for Indian Music in New York City.

Rohan Prabhudesai

Rohan Prabhudesai has been studying Hindustani and western classical music for the past 21 years and more recently, jazz. In India, he started studying at the Goa Kala Academy and later with Dr. Kedar Naphade, a senior disciple of Pt. Tulsidas Borkar. He studied classical piano with Edwin Lopez, music director of the Crescent Avenue Presbyterian church music program and continued to study classical contemporary composition at NYU Steinhardt and Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. He currently is picking up jazz chops from Fred Fischer.

Pranav Shikarpur

Pranav Shikarpur started learning Hindustani flute (Bansuri) from Late Pt. Venkatesh Godkhindi, when he was 7yrs old and continues to learn from Surmani Pt Pravin Godkhindi for the past 9yrs. He was awarded the Center for Cultural Resources and Training scholarship(CCRT) in 2013 for Hindustani Flute. He stood first place for Youth Instrumental Category in Swarashri Music Competition held yearly in Bengaluru. Pranav is a strong believer in music being a universal language and has thus collaborated with musicians and dancers across different genres such as jazz, Carnatic music, Odissi and Bharatanatyam, as well as Bengali folk music.

In addition to his passion for Flute, Pranav has trained in the Hindustani Vocal from Smt. Geetha Hegde and Tabla from Sri Mohan for several years. Pranav graduated with a degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Maryland and currently works as a developer advocate at a cybersecurity startup.

Tejas Tope

Tejas Tope is an aspiring young Indian percussionist who comes from Long Island New York.   Tejas has been learning tabla from Pt. Samir Chatterjee for over 15 years. Additionally, since 2011, Tejas has been attending classes in the Summer with Ustad Zakir Hussain. At Zakirji's invitation, Tejas performed a tabla solo at the Barsi of Ustad Alla Rakha on February 3, 2018 at Shanmukhananda Hall in Mumbai.

Tejas Tope has also been learning Pakhawaj from Pandit Mohan Shyam Sharma for the last 5 years. He has also had the opportunity to study with Pandit Manik Munde and Shri Pratap Awad. 

Tejas received First prize in the instrumental category from 2005-2011 at the annual Vedic Heritage’s Holi Youth Talent Competition held in Hempstead, Long Island, NY.   In the summer of 2006, he played at the 6th Marathi European Sammelan in Almelo, Netherlands, at the 13th BMM Convention in Seattle (June 2007), and 15th BMM Convention in Chicago (July 2011).   In October 2007, Tejas had his Rangamanch Pravesh and presented tabla solo as a part of Chhandayan Concert Series.   Tejas received first prize in the Swardhara Competition held by Marathi Vishwa  of New Jersey in 2010 and 2012.  Tejas is recipient of Chhandayan’s most prestigious Jyotsna Award  in the student category in 2011.

Aditya Phatak
A highly sought-after performer of tabla, Scotch Plains native Aditya was initially inspired by his grandfather Deepak Phatak and guided by his uncle Shivraj Phatak. For more than fifteen years, Aditya has been developing his tabla under the loving mentorship of Pt. Samir Chatterjee. Over that time, Aditya has performed at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Woodstock Drum Boogie Festival, and the BRM "Ragas Live" festival. Notably, Aditya's tabla was featured in the Grammy-nominated song “Abundance in Millets”, commissioned by Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and written by Indian-American singer-songwriters Falu and Gaurav Shah. Aditya is also an accomplished jazz drummer and Hindustani vocalist, having studied Hindustani Classical vocal music with Smt. Rucha Jambhekar, and more recently, under the guidance of Shri Kiran Lele. Aside from music, Aditya is a senior at Columbia University studying Applied Mathematics and Computer Science.

Neil Khare

Neil Khare started learning tabla at the age of 4 from his father Anil Khare, continued his training from Shri Surakshya Deshpande, and currently learns from Dr. Amod Dandawate. He has accompanied artists such as Srimati Gauri Pathare for her USA 2023 tour, Srimati Aarti Anklikar during her workshop presentation, has played on a New York TV Channel, and has received many awards in the Instrumental solo category. He is a recent graduate from Rutgers University and is working full-time in finance in Philly.

Manav Khurana

Manav Khurana is a talented young tabla player from the Farrukhabad Gharana. His musical inclination became apparent at an early age, and his parents encouraged him to learn Dholak, Piano, and other instruments. As a teenager, he was initiated into the world of tabla by his dholak Guru, Shri Roger Sookraj. He soon continued his study of tabla under Shri Kumar Raj Gandharva and Sabir Hussain of the Punjab Gharana. Subsequently, he began his serious training with Shri Dibyarka Chatterjee at the age of 14. In 2023 he became an initiated disciple (shishya) of tabla maestro Pandit Samir Chatterjee. Manav has already performed with some notable performers of Indian Classical Music including, Shri Biplap Mukherjee, Pandit Hindol Chattopadhyay, Pandit Sugato Nag, and his Guru Pandit Samir Chatterjee. Outside of music, he is currently pursuing his Bachelor's degree in Finance.

Now that Chhandayan has its own concert venue, we will be presenting several All-night Concerts each year at CCIM in New York. These give the opportunity to hear some unusual late night and early morning ragas that are not often heard in the evening and afternoon time slots. The second of these will be held May 29-30, 2027. As we get closer to the event, we will finalize the performances. Check the website for updates.

The event will also be streamed live.

Program:

• Raghunandan Pansikar - vocal,
  Bharat Kamat - Tabla
  Ameya Bichu - Harmonium

Raghunandan Panshikar 

Raghunandan Panshikar is an Indian Hindustani classical vocalist trained in the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana under Kishori Amonkar and Mogubai Kurdikar. Known for blending tradition with a distinct personal style, he is acclaimed for both classical and semi-classical genres like bhajans, thumris, ghazals, and Natya Sangeet. A recipient of awards including the Manik Varma Puraskar and Dr. Prabha Atre Award, he has performed widely in India and internationally, and composed award-winning Marathi theatre music.

Bharat Kamat

Bharat Kamat is a Hindustani classical tabla player of the Benares Tabla Gharana. Kamat is born and brought up from Pune, India, and is one of the leading tabla artists of India today. At the age of five, Bharat started learning tabla from his father Pt. Chandrakant Kamat, who was a disciple of Pt. Samata Prasad of the Benares gharana. Bharat's grandfather, Pt. Shantaram Kamat, was a renowned stage-music artist. He did his schooling in NMV High School in Pune and was part of Swaranjali Systems. During his initial days, he played tabla with many Kirtankars (the people who sing Kirtan).

Ameya Bichu
Ameya is an emerging harmonium artist who has received systematic training from Shri Tanmay Deochake, Pt. Suresh Talwalkar, and Vidushi Padma Talwalkar. He has built a strong presence as an accompanist and has performed at concert venues across India as well as in the United States. His work has been recognized with several honors, including the Pt. Ram Marathe Award.