Bishnupriya Chakrabarty - Vocal

Amit Chatterjee - Tabla

Join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening of classical music performed by Bishnupriya Chakrabarty, a renowned Indian singer. The performance will also be streamed live.

Bishnupriya Chakrabarty

Smt. Bishnupriya Chakrabarty is a classical vocalist of repute. She is blessed with a deep mellifluous voice. She has undergone extensive taalim for the past 30 years under Pandit Biresh Roy, guru of ITC SRA, thereafter from Vidushi Shubhra Guha in kheyal, and Vidushi Purnima Chowdhury in thumri, dadra, chaiti and other forms of Purab ang gayaki. Her present guru is Padmabhushan.Pandit Channulal Mishra of Banaras. Bishnupriya has performed all over the country and has received several accolades. Music is an inherent part of her life. She is a graded artist of AIR and Doordarshan. She is a performer, teacher and music therapist working to spread classical music in the hearts of many.

Amit Chatterjee

Amit Chatterjee, a highly gifted Tabla player of India, is the nephew, adopted son and disciple of the famous internationally reputed Tabla Maestro Pandit Sankha Chatterjee. Since childhood Amit passed through rigorous training and practice and in the process he became a very special performer of Indian Drum (Tabla) His playing style is a wonderful confluence of Farukkabad Gharana (Ustad Karamatullah Khan) and Punjab Gharana ( Ustad Allarakha Khan).

Amit is an empanelled artist of Indian Council of Cultural Relations(ICCR) and was awarded “TAL MANI” Title by “Sur Singar Samsad” (Mumbai), NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY AWARD. Being one of the busiest Indian Artist of his generation Amit has traveled throughout India, Europe, and the USA.

Kathak Dance - Sangita Chatterjee

Sitar - Shouvik Mukherjee
Tabla - Ehren Hanson

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for two performances of classical Indian music. First will be a Kathak Dance performance by Sangita Chatterjee. This will be followed by a sitar recital by Shouvik Mukherjee accompanied by Ehren Hanson on tabla. The recital will also be streamed live.

Sangita Chatterjee

Sangita Chatterjee, disciple of Guru Smt Vaswati Misra, is a young, dynamic and eminent exponent of Kathak, from Lucknow Gharana. Presently she is perusing “Taalvidya’ under Guru Pt Divyang Vakil. She has imbibed within herself the essence of Kathak, its lyrical movements, treasure of its scintillating rhythmic patterns and subtle abhinaya.

Sangita has emerged as a soloist of par excellence and has made her niche as a thinking dancer whose approach towards dance is beyond mere performative presentation. Having a double M.A in History and Tourism Management and Kathak from Khairagarh University, Sangita's work are mostly self-reflecting, thought provoking and collaborative in nature. Her recent works are a solo dance theater production 'Yagyaseni' on Draupadi’s life, 'Mirage' – A lust for life, 'Manthani', 'Hridoy Majhe Bangla', a multi dance style presentation which she presented in Rashtrapati Bhawan in presence of then President Late Shri Pranav Mukherjee, Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and

other political dignitaries, 'Ramayan', a collaboration with Japanese dancers which she presented in Tokyo National Theatre, Japan so on and so forth. Sangita also represented India in Delphic Games, South Korea in 2009.

She has performed in major festivals of India and has extensively traveled to different countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America for performances and lecture demonstrations. During the lockdown she has also created two short films, 'Quest' - a lockdown diary of dancer, and 'Mirage- A lust for life', which was also featured in INMOTION Dance Film Festival Chicago. Sangita is an empaneled artist of ICCR, SPICMACAY & Ministry of Culture and graded artist of Doordarshan. Sangita has been awarded with Dr Sarojani Naidu Award, Sringar Mani, Jayadev Samman, Woman achievers award etc.

Sangita is also a motivational speaker and have been invited by many forums like Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, Josh Talks, workmob to talk on wellness through arts and women empowerment. She is the founder director of her organization Kalpataru Arts where she imparts training to her students and also curates Festivals throughout the year. Since 2023 she is also a member of the advisory board of Kathak Kendra, which is an autonomous body of Sangeet Natak Academy.

Shouvik Mukherjee

In his early years, Shouvik Mukherjee received tutelage from renowned Classical Instrumentalist (Sitar) Bimal Chatterjeeand later on, he was fortunate to receive training from the sitar virtuoso Pandit Kushal Das, which he continues till date. He had awarded as an All India Radio artist in 2012. He has performed in many Classical Festivals like, Raj Bhawan(Governer’s Place) in Kolkata, Belur Math RamkrishnaMission, Behala Classical Festival, Golpark RamkrishnaMission and so on in India. Besides, he has performed many prestigious concerts in Europe like, Indian Embassy of Berlin, Cologne, Munich, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, France,Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark , FABRIK, Hamburg-Altona, Indian Embassy-The Hague, Cultuurhuis Heerlen, Très-Sainte-Trinité Strasbourg, India Week, Hamburg,Theater am , also Performed in “Fest in Indischen Dorf”, Rathausplatz, Althütte, Germany. Recently, He collaborated with German Rock Band “Back To The Roots” on their Led Zeppelin-famed cover music video “Kashmir” in 2017 in Wuppertal. Performed in kerala kappatv Music Mojo season 1 and 2. Performed in Bangalore B flat bar and phinixmalltoo. Performed at ITC ROYALBENGAL and HYATT REGENCY and Jwmarriot . Performed with GRAMMY AWARD WINNER IVANSANTOS , and with Pandit Kumar Bose ji.

Ehren Hanson

Ehren Hanson is professional NYC based tabla player. He began learning tabla at age 15 under Misha Masud in New York City and in 2000, he became a disciple of legendary tabla maestro Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, with whom he has been a dedicated disciple ever since. Ehren performs classical Indian music as a soloist and accompanist in NY and around the world. He has the fortune of accompanying maestros including the late Pandit Ramesh Mishra, late Pandit Subrata Ryan Chowdhury, Steve Gorn, and others.

He has also collaborated on experimental and creative projects with West African giant Noura Mint Seymali, Cuban legend Bobby Carcasess, Roman Diaz, the American Symphony Orchestra, and many others. He is the co-host of the Brooklyn Court - a music series featuring touring and local artists in an intimate setting, reminiscent of the royal courts of Indian history. Ehren is also the founder of Viewcy.com, and an amateur chef.

Arnab Chakraborty - Sarode
Tejas Tope - Tabla

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for a Sarode concert by Arnab Chakraborty. The performance will also be streamed live on-line.

Arnab Chakraborty

Trained in the traditional Lucknow and Shahjahanpur gharanas, Chakrabarty has had the good fortune to study with some of the most erudite luminaries of the sarod, like Dr Kalyan Mukherjea, Ustad Irfan Muhammad Khan and Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta. His music displays a wonderfully subtle amalgamation of his gurus, catalyzed by his own unceasing quest for blending skill with emotion, virtuosity with affect.
Arnab has been performing all over the world since 1998. He has toured nearly 35 countries and given more than 850 professional concerts. He has performed at some of the most coveted international concert halls and festivals like: The Victoria and Albert Museum (London), Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), National Centre for the Performing Arts (Mumbai), Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Silk Road Festival (Damascus), Trafó Theatre (Budapest), Bridgewater Hall (Manchester), Saptak Festival (Ahmedabad). He has also delivered invited talks at various esteemed institutions including Leeds University, Syracuse University, College of William & Mary, University of Texas (Arlington), California State University (SLO) and Bard College.
Chakrabarty has also earned great repute for his occasional but highly articulate and forthright writings on various topics concerning music. He has interviewed leading musicians like Pt. Budhaditya Mukherjee, pursuing a serious and sustained line of enquiry. His writings on Hindustani music for the e-media portal Scroll continue to be extremely popular with general readers, musicians and scholars alike.
In collaboration with celebrated luthiers Naba Kumar Kanji and Ed Powell, Chakrabarty has experimented with sarod design and materials with the aim to optimize tonal quality and ergonomics of playing. With Naba, Arnab has managed to greatly refine the ergonomics and tonal quality of the sarod. He has brought changes and additions to structural elements, radiator shape, neck design, action and tuning mechanisms. Many young sarod players have embraced these changes, often unaware of their origin in Arnab’s enterprising experiments. Do get in touch for a customized sarod, bespoke designed by Chakrabarty and built by Naba according to your needs.

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.

Rajeeb Chakraborty - Sarode

Samir Chatterjee - Tabla

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening instrumental concert featuring renowned Sarodist Rajeeb Chakraborty accompanied by Chhandayan’s founder Samir Chatterjee. The concert will also be streamed line.

Rajeeb Chakraborty

Dr. Rajeeb Chakraborty is an internationally acclaimed Sarod player from India. His name breathes an astounding versatility of self-expression as a musician, an educationist, music composer and conductor. Rajeeb belongs to the Maihar gharana of North Indian Classical Music and trained under his father and lifelong Guru Pandit Rabi Chakraborty.

Over the last four decades, Rajeeb has been performing nationally and internationally at major music festivals and concerts. Rajeeb has a doctoral degree in Indian Classical Music on the 'Role of computer in learning & teaching North Indian classical music'. In addition, he earned a degree in Western classical music from the Royal College of Music.

Rajeeb has also made his mark as a composer in a host of films, Tele films, serials, fusion bands, and stage plays. He is the guest composer of SAMYO - National youth orchestra in UK.

Rajeeb is the recipient of the King-Chavez-Parks (KCP) Visiting Professorship Award from the University of Michigan, USA. This is an extremely prestigious program that hosts internationally acclaimed artists from around the globe.

2016 Rajeeb got the Fulbright Nehru Excellency Fellowship from the Fulbright foundation United States. Pioneer High school, the recipient of 8 Grammy awards has joined hands with Rajeeb to form a Global symphonic orchestra with the music of Tagore which was premiered in USA in 2018.

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 guide book 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 degrees, in English and History.

Akhil Jobanputra - Vocal
Tejas Tope - Tabla
Srikar Ayyalasomayajula - Harmonium

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening of Vocal Music performed by Akhil Jobanputra, a promising young artist. The performance will also be streamed live on-line.

Akhil Jobanputra

As a child, Akhil always enjoyed singing devotional songs at the local temple, and hitting random pots and pans at home. He started taking tabla lessons, but his passion kept driving him towards singing. At the age of three, he was enrolled in the Pandit Jasraj School of Music Foundation, Vancouver. He received his preliminary training from Smt. Asha Lohia of the Jasraj school, as well as from another local teacher Smt. Neeraja Aptikar. Akhil's association with the school gave me opportunities to learn from his BadeGuruji Pandit Jasraj and other representatives of the Mewati gharana. After his association with the school, he took a period of self-study, after which he found amazing Gurus for his intensive training. Akhil currently receives taleem in khayal from Pandit Dr. Arun Dravid, and in khayal and dhrupad from Pandit Arijit Mahalanabis. He is also fortunate to receive guidance from Pandit Sanjeev Abhyankar.

Akhil's gayaki (style) is mainly shaped by the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana, but also exhibits elements of Agra, Mewati, Gwalior, and Kirana along with Dagarbani Dhrupad. His approach to Hindustani raga sangeet brings contemporary experience into the context of a traditional art-form. It is constantly evolving, finding itself situated beyond time and space, but stays firmly rooted in its essence. His music is shaped by drawing on elements of self-introspection, personal narratives, metaphysical beliefs, and artistic expression. He also enjoys composing and have created bandishes (compositions) in different ragas and compositional styles. Apart from his Gurus, some artistes who inspire Akhil's music are: Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur, Vidushi Kesarbai Kerkar, Pandit Kedar Bodas, Vidushi Mogubai Kurdikar, Pandit Maniram, Vidushi Gangubai Hangal, and Vidushi Asgari Bai.

Akhil had the privilege to perform for various organizations and festivals across Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and India as a soloist and an accompanist. His first solo performance in India was at the prestigious Pandit Motiram Pandit Maniram Sangeet Samaroh at the age of thirteen. Recent performances of note include Chaar Prahar Festival 2020 (Global), Richmond World Festival 2019 (Canada), and UTSAV SpringFest 2018 (U.K.). As an accompanist, I’ve performed with BadeGuruji Pandit Jasraj in some of his performances, such as at the Sawai Bhimsen Sangeet Mahotsav, as well as with his other Gurus and various eminent vocalists.

With the permission of his Gurus, Akhil has been teaching Indian classical music since 2010 across the Metro Vancouver region. His curriculum has been developed over the years through a variety of experiences that he has encountered both as a student and a teacher. Pedagogy plays an extremely important role in cultivating good musical sense, and his curriculum constantly evolves through feedback from his students. As an educator, he has delivered lectures, both of academic and non-academic nature, on Indian classical music. He was recently featured in the Canadian South Asian Youth Conference, and his paper “My Identity, My Music” was published by the Simon Fraser University Library. Growing up, he wanted to see more Indian classical programs curated in his hometown. At the age of twelve he founded the Indian Classical Music Society of Vancouver (ICMSV) with the goal of bringing communities together and promoting various local events. Since then, his team at ICMSV and himself have organized a series of initiatives and events geared at increasing awareness, accessibility, and education around Indian classical music.

Besides music, Akhil is a University of British Columbia alumni with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Geography. His focus has been on socio-cultural development, South Asian studies, and decolonization.

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.

Srikar Ayyalasomayajula

Srikar 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..

Vikram Nitin - Vocal
Akshay Venkatesan - Mrdangam
Siddharth Ashokkumar - Violin

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening of Carnatic Vocal Concert performed by Vikram Nitin. The performance will also be streamed live.

Vikram Nitin

Vikram Nitin is a Carnatic vocalist, and he had his initial training in music from his mother, Vidushi Smt. Sumitra Nitin. He has recently begun training under Vidwan AS Murali. Vikram has performed at various venues in Chennai, Bangalore and the USA, including Cleveland Tyagaraja Aradhana, Narada Gana Sabha, Brahma Gana Sabha, and Kartik Fine Arts. Vikram is currently a Ph.D student at Columbia University studying Computer Science.

Akshay Venkatesan

Akshay Venkatesan has been learning mridangam for the past 18 years. His initial training was under the guidance of Sri. Ramesh Srinivasan, and he has been undergoing advanced training under the tutelage of Vidwan Sri. S.V. Ramani since 2019.

Akshay has been accompanying vocalists and instrumentalists regularly all over the US and in many sabhas in the December music season in Chennai since 2013. Akshay has also been teaching Mridangam at the Mahaperiyava School of Percussion since 2020 under the guidance of Guru Sri. S.V. Ramani. Akshay is currently pursuing his master’s degree in data science at Columbia University.

Siddharth Ashokkumar

Siddharth Ashokkumar has learnt the violin for the last 20 years. He is a student of Lalgudi Krishnan and previously from Vittal Ramamurthy. Siddharth is the has had the privilege of performing internationally for traveling artists from India as well as during the December Music season in Chennai. Siddharth lives and works in New York City.

Arvindkumar Azad - Tabla

Rohan Misra - Sarangi

Join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening tabla solo by the prominent musician Arvindkumar Azad. The performance will also be streamed on-line.

Arvindkumar Azad

Arvind Kumar Azad was born in Jamshedpur, the largest city in Jharkhand, to a family of tabla players who originally hailed from Bihar. He received his initial training in the instrument from his father, Lal Baboo Prasad, an eminent tabla player. Subsequently, he studied under veteran percussionist Jagdish Shankar Mishra, popularly known as Lallu Maharaj, and Kishan Maharaj, both of the Benares gharana (a specialist school of Indian classical music).

Azad has won recognition among the stalwarts of the music circle for the control, balance, and quality of tone of his tabla renditions. His melodious and pristine Benares gharana tabla playing, along with the perfected use of his bayan (the larger drum in a set, used for a deeper bass), is highly acclaimed. It is believed by connoisseurs of music that playing the Teental theka, a particular rhythmic pattern vocalised as ‘Na Dhin Dhin Na’, with just one finger at a tremendously fast speed is the unique specialty of the Benares gharana. Azad is known for exhibiting this feat with clarity and emotion. He describes his passion for tabla as, ‘The tabla, for me, is not merely a skin-covered percussion instrument! It is neither just a leading rhythm instrument nor the ruling accompanying instrument, but is the way of life; it is life itself for me!’

He is a sought-after accompanist for vocal and instrumental music, as well as for classical dance forms like Kathak. He has provided accompaniment to leading performers at prestigious music festivals held across India. Prominent among them are Ram Narayan, M.S. Gopalakrishnan, Girija Devi, Rohini Bhate, Birju Maharaj, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Rajan and Sajan Mishra, D.K. Datar, Dr N. Rajam, Shahid Parvez, and Rashid Khan. He is equally known for his solo recitals and has travelled extensively in India and abroad for performances. He has also conducted lectures, tabla demonstrations, and seminars.

Azad was given the grade ‘A’ by All India Radio (AIR); a committee of experts from the field award musicians one of four grades: B, B-high, A, and Top. He is also an approved artist of the national television channel Doordarshan. He serves as a PhD guide at Savitribai Phule Pune University’s centre for performing arts, Lalit Kala Kendra, and is an honorary advisor at various educational and classical music institutions throughout the country, including the Bharati Vidyapeeth School of Performing Arts, Pune. He is also a senior examiner at the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, one of the pioneer institutes of music and fine arts in India, founded by veteran musicologist Vishnu Digambar Paluskar.

Azad lives in Pune, where he has been for more than three decades. He is one of the founding members of the Talayan Music Circle, formed in 1995 with other music lovers. Its name comes from the phrase ‘Taal aur laya ko dekhne wale nayan’, which connotes the perception of rhythm through the eyes of those who perform and hear. Talayan’s objective is to promote, encourage, and maintain the traditional values of Hindustani classical music. It organises seminars and workshops by musical maestros and has been affiliated with the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, Miraj, for the past few years. Talayan offers scholarships and accommodation to deserving candidates to encourage and propagate music. 

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.

Tablaphilia: A Tabla Symphony based on Chaturashram, the four stages of human life,
Composed, Directed and Conducted by Samir Chatterjee,
Performed by the Chhandayan Tabla Ensemble

Chhandayan Jazz Ensemble: Xander Naylor (Guitar), Birsa Chatterjee (Saxophone, Clarinet), Dan Finn(Bass), and Akihito Gorai (Drums).

Directions from NYC to Williams Center, Rutherford by public transportations:
By Bus (15 minutes): a) NJ transit 164 bus from Port Authority Bus Terminus, NYC to the Patterson Ave-Hackensack St. stop.
b) NJ 163 to Patterson Ave-Lincon Pl. Williams Center is only 2 minutes from there.
By Rail: a) Penn Station, NYC to Secaucus (one stop), Secaucus to Rutherford (one stop). Click here for NY Penn Station to Rutherford station schedule. Click here for Rutherford station to NY Penn station schedule.
b) Path train to Hoboken, Hoboken to Rutherford (two stops). Williams Center is by the Rutherford station. Click here for Hoboken to Rutherford schedule. Click here for Rutherford to Hoboken Schedule.

Come join us at the Williams Center in Rutherford NJ for one of Chhandayan’s premier productions. The performance will also be streamed live. We want to thank our co-producers - the Williams Center for the Arts, Viewcy, and For the Artists By the Artists - for their generous support.

Tablaphilia is a unique symphony of tabla. It is based on the central theme of Chaturashrama, the four stages of human life. Composed and directed by renowned tabla maestro, Samir Chatterjee, this Symphony of Tabla brings together the power of 22 thundering tablas and four melodious vocals to produce a moving, inspiring, and thought-provoking experience of the philosophy of sound. 

This 70-minute piece interprets the four stages of human life (ashrams) as perceived and maintained in ancient Indian society. The first stage, Bramhacharya, identified as the student life, is meant to be dedicated to the pursuit of Brahma, the creator - our source and destination. In this stage, we are meant to be engaged solely in the pursuit of real knowledge and wisdom. In the next stage, Garhastha, one chooses a vocation and begins a family life to apply the knowledge and observations acquired in Brahmacharya. Retirement, or Banaprastha, is a transition out of Garhastha, after fulfilling life’s obligations, still taking one step in the city and extending the other into the forest. The final stage of Sanyasa brings together complete renunciation of the material world with a feeling of pure ecstasy.  

In Tablaphilia, we get a reminder of the differences we have created in our approach to all of these (different) phases of our lives, losing their true significance(s). For example, in modern times, Brahmacharya is often engaged in a selected field of study geared toward a particular type of vocation as opposed to being dedicated to the pursuit of truth and comprehensive knowledge about the governing phenomenon of life. Garhastha is the stage we like the most and prefer to drag on to consume the whole of our lives. Retirement is most often painful, contrary to how it used to be perceived in the past, as release and preparation for complete freedom. Modern society has designated Sanyasa for only a particular group of people (only). Tablaphilia re-establishes these stages of our lives, which we live anyway, with greater value and significance. It relates to everyone living this life, irrespective of their varied backgrounds.  

The experiences of these different phases of life are expressed through the abstract drum-language of tabla. Tablaphilia uses many of the musical principles, common in western symphony, such as harmony, counterpoint, canon etc. and embraces them in the musical experience that is purely Indian. It uses different traditional taals (rhythmic cycles), ragas and compositions produced out of the sound of tabla, enhanced by vocal inserts, and creates a soundscape that naturally relates the theme to the audience, making it accessible even to the untrained listener. They come out with a wholesome experience of life in those 70 minutes. Tablaphilia becomes more of a life-transforming experience than just a musical performance. 

            This enthralling production with extraordinary tonal range made its debut performance at Chhandayan’s All Night Concert in May of 2009, in New York city and grew to further perfection, particularly after its successful seven-city tour of Karnataka, a year and a half later.  

In the words of some well-known musicians of this style of music, “Tablaphilia has certainly expanded the range of the tabla.” Another said, “it really excited me in a way I have not experienced in a long time." In October of 2011, Tablaphilia was performed in The Great Hall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City for veteran listeners of Indian classical music and newcomers alike. Museum administrators raved that, “Tablaphilia transformed the museum into a temple,” and called it “a life-changing concert!” From its exuberant beginnings to its meditative end, Tablaphilia transcends nationality and culture and speaks to all those who experience it.
- Renu Nahata

Chhandayan Annual Students Day Concert (Online)

This is an annual event of Chhandayan, in which all students and their parents participate. This year we have split it into live event held at the Chhandayan Center and an online event for students who do cannot travel to NYC. This is the online streaming event.

Program:

Rebecca Schwartz  | Tabla  | CCIM
 Naobhumi Uchimaya  | Tabla  | Tokyo
 Aryaman Roy  | Tabla  | Bangladesh
 Venu Divi  | Tabla  | California
 Momoko Hataya  | Tabla  | Tokyo
 Akshaj Kulkarni  | Tabla  | Bangalore
 Randal Jamrock  | Tabla  | Chicago
 Arka Ghosh  | Tabla  | Kolkata
 Biswajit Nandi  | Tabla  | Kolkata
 Rittika Chakraborty  | Voice  | Kolkata
 Prasenjit Bhattacharya  | Tabla  | Kolkata
 Nikhil Gowd  | Tabla  | Toronto, Canada
 Kuntala Roy  | Guitar  | Kolkata

Chhandayan Annual Students Day Concert (Live)

This is an annual event of Chhandayan, in which all students and their parents participate. This year we have split it into live event held at the Chhandayan Center and an online event for students who do cannot travel to NYC. This is the live event. Note that the live event will also be streamed online.

Program:

Welcome
Sanat Patel I Tabla I Hillsborough,
Arihan Bhattacharya I tabla I Maryland,
Kajol Chatterjee I tabla I CCIM, NYC,
Shravan Patel I Tabla I Hillsborigh,
New York Ensemble I tabla I Chhandayan, NYC, (Parveen Sultana, Aditya Kumar, Vibhav Sharma),
New Jersey Group I tabla I North Jersey and Scotch Plains, (Ishaan Freeman, Shiv Gandhi, Aneesh Joshi, Harshal Joshi, Keyur Thakar),
Aaron Edgcomb I tabla I NYC,
Andrea Bertucci I vocal I Queens, NY,
Nikita Trivedi I vocal I West Hartford, CT,
Arjun Patel I tabla I NYC,
Yatrik Solanki I Tabla I CCIM, NYC,
Aditya Joshi I tabla I NY,
Saurav Patel I tabla I New Jersey,

Break

Rahul Modi I tabla I West Hartford, CT,
Brandon Ram I tabla I Long Island, NY
Mahilan Guha I tabla I Maryland,
Abhiraman Senthilkumar I tabla I Maryland,
Adarsh Tolat I tabla I West Hartford, CT,
Shivya Kaul I vocal I NYC,
Shivya Kaul I dance I NYC,
Christopher Growdski I tabla I NY,
Chris Carroll I tabla I NY,
Isaac Dlugacz I sitar I NYC,
Kedar Havaldar | tabla | Bangalore, India,
Maulik Mehta I tabla I Hillsborough, NJ,
Manav Khuran I tabla I CCIM, NY,
Randal Jamrock I tabla I Chicago,

Vinay Desai - Santoor

Tejas Tope - Tabla

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening concert of Indian Classical Music on the Santoor, performed by Vinay Desia accompanied by Tejas Tope. The concert will also be streamed live.

Vinay Desai

Initially, Vinay received knowledge in vocal/harmonium/tabla from Shafiq Rahman in his teens. After completing his college in both Pre-pharmaceutical science as well as Pre-Law in Delaware, Vinay sought out to learn Santoor in India. In 2011, with blessings and direct guidance of Padma Vibhushan Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Vinay began his studies under Takahiro Arai. He later moved back to USA to learn from Kunal Gunjal. To expand his knowledge in music, Vinay has learnt from different Maestros such as Parthasarathi Chatterjee, Jay Gandhiji, Suryaksha Deshpandejii.

Vinay learnt from Pandit Shivkumar Sharma until his passing. Vinay resides in Shanti Mandir, a beautiful Ashram located in Walden, NY.

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.

Aarchik Banerjee - Tabla

Rohan Misra - Sarangi

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for a tabla performance by the young tabla maestro Aarchik Banerjee. The concert will also be streamed on-line.

Aarchik Banerjee

Aarchik Banerjee is a rising young Tabla player set to make an independent place for himself in the Hindustani classical music fraternity. Aarchik is born to a family flowing with music, son of Tabla maestro Pandit Subhankar Banerjee and vocalist Smt. Nibedita Banerjee. At the age of eight, Aarchik made his first public performance in Switzerland. His musical prowess has also got him the golden opportunity to accompany legends like Padma Vibhushan Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pt. Naren Dhar, Pt. Basant Kabra, Pt. Debojyoti Bose, Pt. Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, Pandit Kushal Das, Vidushi Mita Nag, Pt. Debashish Bhattacharya, Ustad Amaan Ali Khan, Purbayan Chatterjee and have been lauded by Pt. Shankar Ghosh, Pt. Swapan Chowdhury, Padma. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt. Anindo Chatterjee, Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty, Pt. Swapan Siva and many others for his spontaneous and steady performance. He has also been fortunate to perform a Tabla solo in the Ali Akbar College of Music, San Francisco and Stanford University, California amongst five other US cities. He has performed in reputed conferences in Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai, noteworthy among which are the Dover Lane Music Conference, Uttarpara Sangeet Chakra, Swara Samrat Festival, Behala Classical Festival, the Ramakrishna Mission Annual Concert on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Aarchik also has a couple of solo albums released, one of which is from “SAREGAMA” HMV where he played a duet with his father.

Aarchik has received prestigious awards like the Telegraph School Awards for ‘Outstanding Talent in Music’ and the Times of India Award for the same. He was also recognized as one of the 11 Kidopreneurs in ‘The Kidopreneur Summit, 2018’. Aarchik is a promising young artist and wishes to whole-heartedly contribute to the immensely rich field of Indian classical music.

Rohan Misra

Rohan Misra is a promising musician, specializing in the unique Indian bowed instrument called the Sarangi (translation: An instrument with a hundred colors). 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 from his father Pandit Ramesh Misra at the age of six. Coming from the family of nine generations of Sarangi players, Rohan aspires to succeed as the 10th generation in his lineage. He also wishes to further his musicality by blending certain aspects of Western music into his heritage of Indian classical music to emerge with a unique musical expression.

Rohan has performed at 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, among others.

Anol Chatterjee - North Indian Vocal

Kausik Banerjee - Tabla

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening concert of North Indian Vocal Music featuring Anol Chatterjee accompanied by rising tabla player Kausik Banerjee.

Anol Chatterjee

Anol Chatterjee is a rising name in the field of Indian Classical Vocal Music. The flavour of Anol's music is essentially of Patiyala Gharana, the style, which was made popular by the great maestro Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Sahab, but Anol has incorporated the best parts of other Gayakies or styles like Kirana, Jaipur, Agra Benaras etc to establish an attractive & beautiful style of his own. His exceptional sense and command over rhythm has made this Gayaki more unique.

Born to musical parents Shri Mihir Chatterjee and Smt. Madhumita Chatterjee, Anol's early grooming was initiated from his mother and Shri Bishwanath Chowdhury. Soon after it continued successively from Late Ajit Kumar Chakrabarty, Smt. Chandana Chakrabarty, and Shri Shantanu Bhattacharya. Later on, he was fortunate to be the direct disciple of Padmashree Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty, the internationally acclaimed Indian vocalist and is still training under his tutelage.

Anol is an ex- scholar of ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata. Anol is also a permanent artiste both in Khayal & Ragpradhan in All India Radio, Kolkata. He is an empaneled artiste of I.C.C.R; Govt. of India. Anol Chatterjee received the National Scholarship for Young Artistes from the Ministry of Culture. He also performed at the Yuva Pratibha Sammelan by Sangeet Natak Academy. He stood First in the prestigious Dover Lane Music Competition.

Music apart, Anol also did well in his general academics having passed in the Secondary and Higher Secondary examinations in First Division with Letter Marks. He is a graduate in English Literature and stood First Class First in masters in Music from Rabindra Bharati University.

Anol is an upcoming and promising performer of India. He has performed in a number of concerts throughout West Bengal and outside. Anol has been touring abroad since 2003. He has visited USA, UK, Canada, & Scotland for several times. He has worked as a guest artiste to teach Indian music in SAA UK, an organization, affiliated by The Leeds College of Music, UK. The Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar has expressed his deep hope about Anol's successful musical career after listening to him. Anol is training talented students in Shrutinandan, a renowned music institution for last ten years.

Kausik Banerjee

Kausik Banerjee was born in a musical family. Kausik was initiated to music by his parents. He started his formal training in Tabla playing at the age of four from Shri Chinmoy Midya. Later on, he was blessed to be one of the direct disciples of the legendary Tabla maestro Pandit Anindo Chatterjee.

Kausik Banerjee is a rising name in the field of Tabla playing. He performs extensively both solo and as an accompanist in India and abroad. He has toured Europe, Iran, Bangladesh for several time. Kausik is blessed to accompany the Sitar maestro Ustad Shujaat Khan. Kausik has performed in a number of prestigious concerts like, Uttarpara Sangeet Chakra, Dover Lane Music Festival, Bhawanipur Sangeet Sammelan, International Arts Festival Bengaluru, Gwalior Music Festival, Tata Tiscon sangeet Manch, ITC Sangeet Sammelan Mumbai, ITC Sangeet Research Academy sangeet sammelan Kolkata. Sangeet Natak Academy in Delhi, NCPA Mumbai, Bishnupur Sangeet Sammelan and Swar Samrat festival Kolkata and many more. He is an "A" graded artiste in All India Radio and Doordarshan. Achievements: Stood 1st in the prestigious All India Music Competition held by the All India Radio and awarded the President Gold Medal. Stood 1st in the Dover Lane Music Competition. Recipient of the National Scholarship, from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Stood 1st Class 1st in master's from Rabindra Bharati University. Recipient of “Nikhil Ghosh Memorial Award " by I.T.C Sangeet Research Academy. Stood 1st at Youth Festival organized by the Government of West Bengal.

Deepsankar Bhattacharjee - Sitar

Samir Chatterjee - Tabla

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for a unique morning concert by Sitar maestro Deepsankar Bhattacharjee accompanied by our founder Samir Chatterjee. The concert will also be streamed live.

Deepsankar Bhattacharjee

“Sur-Moni” Deepsankar, is the fourth generation sitarist of an enlightened musical family. He embarked on his musical journey at a tender age under the tutelage of his father, Pandit Hara Shankar Bhattacharya.He also trained under the watchful guidance of his dadaguru, Padmabhusahan Ustad Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan Saheb. 

He is the torch bearer of the Jafferkhani Baaj, a unique style of sitar playing invented and perfected by Ustad Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan saheb. He is an impaneled Artist of ICCR. Academic He has a master's degree in computer applications (MCA). 

Among his many accomplishments are
1) Gold Medal from Sarbobharatio Sangeeto-o-Parisad,
2) Scholarship from CCRT,
3) Awarded by Pt.Ravi Kichlu Foundation,
4) Earned the title of “Sur-Moni”,
5) Awarded with Ravi Kopikar Memorial Award from International Foundation for Fine Arts,
6) Won the AIR Music Competition,
7) Awarded by Arobindo Institute of Culture,
8) National Scholarship by Ministry of Culture,
9) Won the classical competition organised by Vedic Heritage in New York,
10) Gold Medal From Harballav Competition, 11) Honoured as Malhar Manishi by Malhar Mahostsav, Ajmeer.
11) Awarded Brahm Dhyanam Purashkar from Sangeet Vidyapeeth Parisad.

He has performed at Baba Harballav Music Festival, All Bengal Music Festival, Ramakrishna Mission Institute, Golpark, Salt Lake Music Festival, NCPA, Mumbai, German Film Festival, Naad Niket Sangeet Sammelan, tribute concert of Ustad Rahman Khan, Delhi Habitat Center, Indian Classical Music talents, Kal-ke-kalakar, Haridas Sangeet Sammelan in Mumbai, Indian Consulate, New York, Berlin, Paris, DenHaag.

Samir Chatterjee

Samir Chatterjee is a virtuoso tabla player. He performs and teaches all around the world. He can be heard on numerous recordings as soloist, and with other outstanding musicians from the East and the West. Samir lives in New Jersey and presides over a center for Indian music in midtown Manhattan. Samir teaches at several universities. He performed at the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony. He has also performed several times at the UN General Assembly. His compositions and writings are widely acclaimed. Samir played a significant role in the musical revival in Afghanistan. He is the recipient of a few awards such as the Sunshine Award, Jadu Bhatta Award and Acharya Varistha Award.

Sanghamitra Chatterjee - Vocal

Deepsankar Bhattacharjee - Sitar

Samir Chatterjee - Tabla

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening of Indian vocal music performed by Sanghamitra Chatterjee, accompanied by Chhandayan’s founder Samir Chatterjee. The concert will also be stremed on-line.

Sanghamitra Chatterjee

Sanghamitra Chatterjee is a versatile singer of a wide variety of Indian songs from different genres. Her array of repertoire includes Bhajan, Ghazal, Dadra, film songs, Rabindra Sangeet (songs of Tagore), Adhunik (modern) Bengali songs, Nazrulgeeti and different types of folk and regional songs in different languages.

She had her lessons in classical singing from Pdt. Usharanjan Mukherjee and Sri Dashu Mukherjee. In non-classical music her training has been under Jatileshwar Mukherjee, Ajoy Das, Prasanta Chowdhury, Nikhil Chatterjee and others. She is an upgraded artist of the national radio and television of India. Her proficiency in Tagore songs has earned her the Sangeet Sudhakar diploma.

Sanghamitra's singing is characterized by high aesthetic quality and technical brilliance. Her sensible scanning of lyric with rendered with her original touches of embellishments, her highly sensitive and involved presentation not only brings out the inner essence of the songs she presents, but also adds a new dimension to their emotional contents. Her voice is gifted with a natural mellifluous quality which inevitably touches her audience. Much of her musical sensibilities have developed under the guidance and influence of her illustrious husband Samir Chatterjee, a musician of outstanding caliber and repute.

Sanghamitra Chatterjee is not only known for her excellence as a solo performer, she has also contributed to several groups such as the Chhandayan ensemble in their productions of Indo-Flame and Nacho-Nacho (blend of Indian and Flamenco dance and music), Dawn to Dusk and Beyond and World Percussion Ensemble; with the Battery Dance Co. of NY in production of Songs of Tagore; with the Kathak Ensemble of NY in Ka-Tap (Kathak and Tap dancing), with Ethos Percussions in Masters of Indian Music series. She has performed in many important places and festivals in the United States such as the Smithsonian Institute, Columbia University, American Museum of Natural History in New York and Washington, DC, Symphony Space in NYC, Wortham Center in Houston, Lotus Music and Dance, Kansas University, Monadnock Festival in Peterborough, New Hampshire, Sun Valley in Idaho, University of South Florida in Tampa etc. Apart from her homeland India and the United States she has also performed in Sri Lanka, Poland, The Bahamas and Kazakhstan.

She has presented master classes at Manhattan School of Music, Raritan Community College and also done several school performances in New York City. Her published recordings in CDs and cassettes are treasured by her audience. Her scholarly contribution includes music reviews to Indian news papers.

Deepsankar Bhattacharjee

“Sur-Moni” Deepsankar is the fourth generation of sitarists from an enlightened musical family. He embarked on his musical journey at a tender age under the tutelage of his father,

Pandit Hara Shankar Bhattacharya and then trained under the watchful guidance of his dadaguru, Padmabhusahan Ustad Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan Saheb. He is the torch bearer of the JAFFERKHANI BAAJ, a

unique style of sitar playing invented and perfected by Ustad Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan saheb. He has performed throughout Europe and the USA as well as the Indian subcontinent. He is an empanelled Artist of ICCR and also holds a Bachelors and Masters of Computer applications.

He received a Gold Medal from Sarbobharatio Sangeeto-o-Parisad, a Scholarship from CCRT awarded by Pt.Ravi Kichlu Foundation. He earned the title of “Sur-Moni” and was awarded the Ravi Kopikar Memorial Award from the International Foundation for Fine Arts. He won the AIR Music Competition awarded by Arobindo Institute of Culture. He was awarded a National Scholarship by the Ministry of Culture. He won the classical competition organised by Vedic Heritage in New York and a Gold Medal at Harballav Compitition. He was honoured as "Malhar Manishi" by Malhar Mahostsav, Ajmeer and also was awarded Brahm Dhyanam Purashkar from Sangeet Vidyapeeth Parisad.

“Sur-Moni” Deepsankar, a young sitarist born in the year 1986, is the fourth generation sitarist of an enlightened musical family. He embarked on his musical journey at a tender age under the tutelage of his father, Pandit Hara Shankar Bhattacharya.He also trained under the watchful guidance of his dadaguru, Padmabhusahan Ustad Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan Saheb . He is the torch bearer of the JAFFERKHANI BAAJ, a unique style of sitar playing invented and perfected by Ustad Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan saheb.

Deepsankar has performed at various places in India and abroad. His performances in New York and in various cities of Austria, Italy, Belgium, Croatia, Luxembourg, CzechRepublic,

Netherlands, France, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Spain,Sweden have been highly appreciated by the cognoscenti and the commoners alike. Deepsankar has been awarded by several Gold medals and titles from various organizations all over in the world.

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 guide book 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 degrees, in English and History.

Minakshi Majumdar - Vocal

Siddhartha Komaragiri - Tabla

Srikar Ayyalasomayajula - Harmonium

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for a vocal concert by a leading vocalist of the current generation. The concert will also be streamed live.

Minakshi Majumdar

Minakshi is a leading Hindustani vocalist of the present generation. She has created a niche as a classical and semi-classical vocalist through her performances in several reputed music festivals and venues. Her performances at the National program of Music organized by the national radio and the Dover Lane Music Conference drew attention to her talent, which took her on tour to several cities in the country and abroad.

Minakshi's ultimate formation as a performer occurred under the guidance of Gurus Bidushi Girija Devi, Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty and Pandit Arun Bhaduri of the Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata, where she was a scholar for the final six years of her studies. Her birth in a family of musicians greatly helped in the initial nurturing of her talent. She was fortunate to find her first Guru in her mother Sandhya Majumdar. Later she received formal training from Sri Sarat Bandopadhyay and Pandit Nihar Ranjan Banerjee, Bidushi Purnima Chaudhuri and Sri Aniruddha Bhattacharya.

Minakshi holds a master's degree from the Rabindra Bharati University with Honours in vocal music. She is an 'A' graded artist of the national radio of India. She is also a listed artist of Indian Council for Cultural Relations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Minakshi is gifted with a voice, which suits equally well for Khayal, Thumri and other type of semi-classical songs. Her prolonged and in-depth study of the different forms equipped her style of rendition to be equally attractive to the erudite as well common listeners. It ranges from simplicity to complexity, never loosing that alluring quality. Her command over Raga, Sur, Taal and Laya, as applied in the different forms she has excelled in, allows her the freedom of expression - the ultimate Rasa she delivers through her performances.

Siddhartha Komaragiri

Siddhartha Komaragiri, also known as KVSTabla, is a classically trained tabla player based out of Manhattan, New York City. He began training when he was 7 years old and has been learning from Pt. Samir Chatterjee since he was 12 years old. Throughout his time playing tabla, he has won various awards and national competitions. Outside of Indian classical concerts, Siddhartha has performed at a plethora of luxury weddings as a fusion and classical artist. He also performs at many unique events. Recently, he shared the stage with a couple others to open for Jay Sean at the 2022 Times Square Diwali party (50,000+ people). He also played for multiple Mayyur Girotra runway shows during New York Fashion week.

Srikar Ayyalasomayajula

Srikar 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.

Sanjukta Biswas - Vocal

Sabina Mumtaz Islam

Tabla - Dibyarka Chatterjee

Harmonium - Srikar Ayyalasomayajula

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening duet by two accomplished vocal artists: Sanjukta Biswas and Sabina Mumtaz Islam. The performance will also be streamed live.

Sanjukta Biswas

Sanjukta Biswas was born in the Nadia District West Bengal. Sensing a rare talent in his daughter, her father Shri Bharat Chandra Biswas helped and encouraged her in developing this art from an early age. Her earliest lessons in music were from Shri Amalendu Pal and Shri Kalyan Guha Thakurta. As a child prodigy she won the first prize in All Bengal Music Competition at the age of ten. She is a first-class graduate with honors in music from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata. After Graduation, she entered the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in 1994, initially as a general student and later in 1999 promoted to a scholar under her Guruma Vidushi Subhra Guha of Agra Gharana. Sanjukta at present lives with her Guruma Vidushi Subhra Guha and learns in a true Guru Shishya Parampara.

In 2001 she obtained the prestigious first prize in All India Radio Competition. Following this she also received the coveted ITC SRA Award of a Promising Artist at the Music Forum, Mumbai. In 2002 she was awarded the National Scholarship for Young Artistes by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. In 2005 Sanjukta became the recipient of the prestigious Janana Pravha Scholarship for being a promising and budding young musician of West Bengal State. In 2007 Sanjukta won the prestigious Swar Vilas, Vadodra. In 2010 she was given the prestigious Suramani award in the Kal-Ke-Kalakar Sammelan of Sur Singar Samsad of Bombay. In 2011, Sanjukta received the prestigious Madhobi Chatterjee Fellowship Award from Sanskriti Pratishthan, Delhi for excellence in Indian Classical Music. In 2011, Sanjukta has won the prestigious Girija Devi Puruskar 'Ankurit' in the Purab Ang Gayaki Utsav in Delhi which covered Thumri-Dadra performers from all over the country.

Sanjukta became an approved artist of All India Radio and Television and regularly broadcasts from Kolkata Radio Station and performs for various Television Channels. Now she is an A grade artist of All India Radio. Her gaikee provides an impeccable blend of learning with perfect Raagdari on the one side and aesthetics with perfect tuneful voice and aakar on the other. Sanjukta also excels as a Thumri, Dadra, Kajri singer in the perfect Poorab Ang of Benaras. Sanjukta has now blossomed into a mature performing artist and is being invited by not only various major platforms in West Bengal but by other cities of India like Delhi, Bombay, Vadodra, Lucknow, Kanpur, Guwahati, etc. She has also been invited by various organizers of the United States of America and has performed with great success at New York, Chicago, Buffalo, Albany and various cites of New Jersey.

Sabina Mumtaz Islam

Sabina Mumtaz Islam was born in a cultured family in Guwahati. Sabina’s musical journey was set off by her father Late Janab Nurul Islam. Her schooling was from T.C. Govt High School, Guwahati Assam. Later, while obtaining bachelor’s degree in English Literature as honors from Cotton College, and Diploma in Tourism and Management and Computer Science from IGNOU, she simultaneously enriched herself musically. In the year 1988, she became Sangeet Visharad from Bhatkhande Sangeet Vidyapeeth. Sabina’s classical sojourn further flourished when she joined ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata in 1997, where she was trained by Janab Jainul Abedin and then under Late Pandit Sunil Bose, a senior exponent of the Agra Gharana. She later came under the tutelage of Vidushi Subhra Guha, one of the doyens of the same Gharana, acquiring the prestigious scholarship in 1999. As a scholar of ITC Sangeet Research Academy, she has undergone rigorous training from her guru in the famous guru-shishya tradition for the past 25 years. And she still continues to do so. She is permitted to give guidance in the absence of her Guru in the Academy. At the same time, she also adheres to the astute guidelines from her Guru Padmashree Pandit Vijay Kumar Kichlu, one of the great musicologists/exponents of Agra Gharana.

Sabina has now blossomed into a full-fledged performer and performs nationally as well as across the globe. Sabina is an “A” grade artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan in both Khyal & Light Classical (Thumri/Dadra/Kajri/Chaiti/Tappa etc.). She has been selected a member artist in SPIC MACAY. Apart from this, she also delivers performances in various television channels regularly. She has played back Chaiti in the Bengali debut film Har Byomkesh. Sabina is an empaneled artist of ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Govt. of India in both Khyal and Light Classical Music.

Sabina has performed in many major platforms in our country and different places/cities in West Bengal. Her concert reached far and wide outside the country like USA, Canada and Bangladesh. At a tender age of ten, she won the 1st prize in All Assam Music competition. In 1989 Sabina was a participant and winner in the All India National Integration Camp & workshop in Bangalore. In the year 1991 she was awarded 1st prize for representing the state of Assam in the light music and classical categories in All India Inter College Youth Festival Dhanbad (Indian School of Mines). Apart from ITC Sangeet Research Academy scholarship award she has earned numerous awards and fellowships from 2004 to 2022. Among them the most exceptionals are -

1. ‘Young Artist Award’ under EZCC and the Jnana Pravaha fellowship for being an astoundingly promising musician. She achieved GOLD MEDAL from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture,Government of India delivered to her by the then

Governor of WB Shri Viren J. Shah.

2. Girija Devi Award for Exquisitely Melodious Ahuti in Purab Ang Gayki.

3. Fellowship award conferred by SANSKRITI - MADHOBI CHATTERJEE Fellowship, Delhi for excellence in Indian Classical Music (vocal) under the aegis of Sanskriti Pratisthan.

She also delivered her performances in the platforms of SANGEET NATAK Academy, 103rd SHASTRIYA SANGEET SAMMELAN at Amritsar. Sabina has performed in the most prestigious DOVERLANE CONFERENCE in the year 2023 obtaining accolades with standing ovation. In 2024 Sabina had other major jugalbandis with Smt Sanjukta Biswas in Dakhhini annual festival and so on. Sabina was blessed to perform National Anthem in front of His Excellency President of India Dr. Shri APJ Abdul Kalam in the occasion of 54th All India AGM International Seminar on “Indian Aviation – Challenges & Perspectives” under Aeronautical Society of India in January 2003, Kolkata. Sabina enthralled the audiences by her mellifluous and soulful voice and highly appreciated as having a Golden Voice by then President Dr. Shri APJ Abdul Kalam himself. Between 2006- 2022 she has been performing in the major platforms of Indo Occidental Symbiosis at Kala Mandir, at Uttam Manch for Sangeet Piyasi organization, G.D Birla Sabhagar for Sangeet Ashram, Janana Pravaha, concerts organized by India International Center (IIC) Delhi, “Agra Gharana Samaroh” in Bharat Bhavan Bhopal (2015), Auroville Pondicherry, Shrutinandan Kolkata, Arpan Malhar Festival organized by ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Thumri Festival in Choudhury House, VSK baithak at WWF Delhi, NCPA Mumbai, “VASUNDHARA” Festival of Dance and Music by Women on the 9th Punyatithi of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi at DHARWAR, ITC Sangeet Sammelans, HCL Concert (online), UTSAAH Series #spreading happiness conducted by Smt. Durga Jasraj, SARB AKAL, Calgary to name a few.

Sabina performed in the Shanti Series of concerts organized by Arati Music Foundation as tribute to Late Pt. Subhankar Bannerjee. She also performed in the silver jubilee celebration of Shrutinandan under the banner of Thumri Festival; Ras bhav rang thumri ke sang, Sangeet Ashram concert etc. From 2006 to 2009 she had been a regular visitor to USA and Canada. Sabina performed in the Navaratri World Music Festival in Wesleyan University, Connecticut. She also performed in the prestigious platforms like The Arch, Chhandayan in New York City and in cities like Chicago, Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, etc. She is a former faculty of at AAICM, NYC. She was also a faculty of Sangeet Ashram. From the year 2010, Sabina has been going to Bangladesh for offering music Sessions, workshops as well as for performances. She had been performing there under the aegis of ITC Sangeet

Research Academy, Bengal Foundation and Fulki. Eminent personalities like late Padmavibhushan Pandit Kishan Maharaj, late Padmabhushan Pandit Rajan Sajan Mishra, late Padmavibhushan Vidushi Girija Devi, Padmashri Gundecha Brothers highly appreciated her for her wonderful soulful renditions and her gaikee.

Sabina’s wide repertoire and versatility includes Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti, Kajri, Tappa as well as Ghazal, Bhajan, Sufi, regional Assamese, Bengali songs etc. She is proficient in the ‘Poorav ang’ gayaki of Banaras. Her dulcet matured voice

attuned with perfect ‘aakar’ provides an impeccable blend of perfect raagdari, laykaari, unrestrained taans, bol taans (speciality in Agra gaikee) on one hand and aesthetics on the other.

Dibyarka Chatterjee

Dibyarka Chatterjee is a young Tabla player from the Farrukhabad Gharana, and is the son and disciple of Pt. Samir Chatterjee. Having grown up in a musical environment, his natural inclination towards Tabla became apparent early in his childhood. At the age of five he was initiated by his father into the ancient system of pedagogy called the guru-shishya parampara (master-disciple tradition).

Dibyarka was born in Kolkata, where even in his childhood he was already performing in concerts as well as on Akaashbani Kolkata's Children's Section (National Radio - Kolkata Station). At the age of ten he moved to New York City with his family; since then he has continued to perform regularly with both Indian and Western music. Dibyarka has had the honor and privilege of performing with renowned musicians like Pandit Jasraj, Pdt. Budhhadev DasGupta, Pta. Lakshmi Shankar, Utd. Shujaat Khan, Pta. Joya Biswas, Utd. Mashkoor Ali Khan, Pdt. Ramesh Mishra, Pta. Shubhra Guha, Pta. Tripti Mukherjee, Pdt. Suman Ghosh to name only a few.

He has collaborated in world music projects with groups like the Dance Theater of Harlem (in 'South African Suite'), the Battery Dance Co. (in “Songs of Tagore”), and with fusion musician/composers like Salman Ahmad (Junoon), Douglas Cuomo, John McDowell (on the award-winning documentary “A Son’s Sacrifice”), Gary Lucas & Najma Akhtar (on their collaborative album "Rishte") etc. He has composed music for, and performed in, two off-Broadway theatrical productions (Nuraldeen's Lifetime & Lee/gendary). He has also performed in many prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, the United Nations General Assembly, Lincoln Center & Asia Society in NYC, Place des Arts (Montreal), the Google Amphitheater (Palo Alto), Salt Lake Music Conference (Kolkata, India), Pratishruti Festival (Bhopal, India) etc. He has also appeared on numerous radio shows such as The Leonard Lopate Show and New Sounds on NPR, Raag Aur Taal on WKCR etc.

Dibyarka has a Masters in Fine Arts from Goddard College (VT). His academic pursuits are mainly focused on the history, theory, and philosophy of Indian Music. As a guest lecturer, Dibyarka has conducted classes and lecture demonstrations at numerous institutions such as Columbia University, Dartmouth College, New York University, Manhattan School of Music etc. He also teaches Tabla classes regularly at various institutions and locations in NY & NJ.

Srikar Ayyalasomayajula

Srikar 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.

Akash Satish Kumar - Bansuri

Manav Khurana - Tabla

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening of Bansuri music by the rising artist Akash Satish Kumar. The concert will also be streamed live.

Akash Satish Kumar

Akash Satish Kumar, an exceptionally skilled Hindustani Classical Flautist based in Mumbai, India, started his musical journey as a celebrated child prodigy, displaying a keen interest in music from the age of three. Under the tutelage of renowned flutist Pandit Venkatesh Godkindi at four, he continued his education for the next two decades with Pandit Jayteerth Mevundi, mastering vocal to flute (Gayaki Ang). Currently, he further hones his skills under Padmashree Pandit Suresh Talwaekar.

Akash has garnered several prestigious awards, including the Child Prodigy Award at age 7 from the Governor of Karnataka, the Pogo Amazing Kids Award at age 10 presented by film director Madhur Bhandarkar, and the Exceptional Talent award from the honorable Governor of Karnataka, Mr. Bhardwaj. He is the youngest recipient of the Shanmukha Nanda Sangeetha Shiromani Award and has also been honored with the Rising Star Idea Jalsa National Talent Award and the Sur Jyostna National Award from the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Akash’s Key performances include events at Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh in Varanasi, Pandit Motiram and Pandit Maniram Festival in Hyderabad, Gunidas Sangeet Sammelan at Nehru Centre in Mumbai, Idea Jalsa Surat, NCPA Mumbai, Pune Festival, Maha Kumbh Music Festival in Ujjain, Dasara Music Festival in Mysore, and many more prestigious venues worldwide, including concerts in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

Balancing classical training with contemporary influences, Akash founded "Symphony Enroute," a band that seamlessly blends Western symphonies and orchestral compositions with Bollywood and Indian Classical Music.

Akash holds a bachelor's degree in Performing Arts from K.K Wagh College, Mumbai, India.

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 Bachelors degree in Finance.

Navaneeth Unnikrishnan - Vocal

Manav Khurana - Tabla

Srikar Ayyalasomayajula - Harmonium

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for a vocal performance by the promising young singer Navaneeth Unnikrishnan. The performance will also be streamed online.

Navaneeth Unnikrishnan

Navaneeth Unnikrishnan was born and raised in Chandler, Arizona, and is now based in New York City. Navaneeth’s parents identified his musical talent when he was around 1. By age two, he could remember and sing thousands of different Malayalam, Hindi, and Tamil compositions, even identifying some of the associated ragas. Navaneeth never formally learned piano/harmonium, but by age 6-7, he started to play different film compositions solely by hearing them. Navaneeth has performed at various musical venues in the US and India alongside many eminent musicians in Kerala, with many of his online videos going viral. In addition, he has received different awards/honors for his vocal performances, including being selected as a Rising Star by the Indian Academy of Performing Arts and receiving both the Mewati Pradeept and Deepak awards from the Pandit Jasraj Institute of Music (PJIM). Navaneeth also recently received a Young Musician’s award from Kerala. He has been learning Hindustani Classical Music for the last 14 years under Dr. Vijayshree Sharma and Pt. Ramesh Narayan of the Mewati Gharana, and alongside that Carnatic Vocal Music for the last 4-5 years under Trivandrum Krishnakumar, a senior disciple of M. Balamuralikrishna. Aside from his musical pursuits, Navaneeth is a sophomore at New York University studying Data Science.

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 Bachelors degree in Finance.

Srikar Ayyalasomayajula

Srikar 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.

Abhik Mukherjee - Sitar

Dibyarka Chatterjee - Tabla

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening sitar concert featuring Abhik and Shouvik Mukherjee accompanied by Dibyarka Chatterjee. The concert will also be streamed live online.

Abhik Mukherjee

Abhik Mukherjee is a Kolkata-born sitar player of the Etawah-Imdadkhani gharana. He was initiated to sitar at the age of six by his father, Sri Tarit Mukherjee, and Sri Bimal Chatterjee, while simultaneously receiving vocal instruction from Sri Kaylan Bose. He has since taken talim from Pandit Arvind Parikh and Pandit Kashinath Mukherjee, themselves disciples of the legendary Ustad Vilayat Khan. He is a gold medalist in musicology from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, and has also received a scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, India.
Abhik’s first public performance was at the age of nine at the Governor’s House, Kolkata. He has since performed in ten countries on four continents. Some memorable concerts include performances for the inauguration of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial (Washington D.C.); at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City); at the Indian Habitat Center (Delhi); on Doordarshan (Kolkata); and a summer tour of Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. Abhik currently lives in New York City and is a founding member of Brooklyn Raga Massive, an Indian classical music artists’ collective.

Dibyarka Chatterjee

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 the 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. 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 Pt. Jasraj, Smt. Lakshmi Shankar, Ud. Shujaat Khan, Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta, Pt. Ramesh Mishra, Ud. Mashkoor Ali Khan,  Smt. Shubhra Guha, Sri Partha Bose, Smt. Tripti Mukherjee, Steve Gorn, and others. He has been collaborating with fusion musicians like Salman Ahmad (Junoon), Gary Lucas, Najma Akhtar, and others. He has performed in some prestigious venues like the Chhandayan All Night Concert, Indian Consulate (NYC), City Center (NYC), Lincoln Center (NYC), Place des Arts (Montreal), etc.

Swarnendu Mandal - Sarode

Vikash Yendluri -Tabla

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for a recital of Sarode music by the rising artist Swarnendu Mandal. The concert will also be streamed live..

Swarnendu Mandal

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.  

Vikas Yendluri

Vikas Yendluri is a tabla player based in New York. He began his training at the age of 5 under Sri Arshad Syed, and has continued training under Ustad Zakir Hussain. In addition to his work as a soloist, Vikas has accompanied masters of Indian classical music such as Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez, and Pandit Rajeev Taranath.

Sougata Roy Chowdhury - Sarode

Tejas Tope - Tabla

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening of Sarode music. The performance will also be streamed live.

Sougata Roy Chowdhury

Sougata Roy Chowdhury is considered to be among the most talented sarode players of his generation. Born in a Bengali artistic family, Sougata grew up in Shantiniketan. His father, Prof. Sarbari Roy Chowdhury, is an eminent sculptor and also a great music connoisseur, with one of the most precious collections of Indian classical music in India today. Sougata’s mother, Smt. Ajanta Roy Chowdhury, is an Indian classical vocalist of the Agra Gharana since her young age.

Sougata started to learn sarode at the age of 10 with Ustad Dyanesh Khan, son of the great Sarode maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. His Guru (teacher) taught him the technique of sarode, discipline in music, and compositions in different Ragas, for about 9 years, until his guru’s untimely sudden death at age 45.

After that, Sougata continued his learning with Dhyanesh Khan’s elder brother, Ustad Aashish Khan, for some time. Over the past 17 years, Sougata has been studying with Pandit Santosh Banerjee, a well-respected sitar and surbahar player living in Kolkata, who is one of the main disciples of Ustad Md.Dabir Khan, the last descendent of the Miyan Tansen family. Pandit Santosh Banerjee has given him rigorous training in various Ragas and in the refined aesthetics of Indian classical music, all of which has allowed Sougata to develop into the mature musician he is today.

Sougata has always been a devotee of the sarod Maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and admired him as a ‘God of knowledge’, because of the way the late Ustad opened the spiritual way of his musical practice.

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.

At the ages of 7, 12, and 14, with the blessings of his Guru, he participated in one of USA’s highly acclaimed 5th, 10th, and 14th Annual All Night Concerts (May 2004, May 2009, May 2012) held in New York City, organized by Chhandayan (www.tabla.org). In the 2004 and 2009 events he participated in the Tablaphilia ensembles. Tejas accompanied Shri. Samarth Nagarkar on tabla at the 13th All Night Concert held in New York City, organized by Chhandayan in May 2012 and shared the stage with some of the legends in Hindustani Classical music.

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.

At the age of 11, he recorded his compositions in a CD album entitled “Guru-Arpita – A Dedication to Pt. Samir Chatterjee” as a token of his affection, respect, and gratitude to his Guru. The CD album contains fifty-six compositions presented in structured tabla solo format in six taals. A booklet of his compositions accompanies the CD album.

In 2011, Tejas was invited to play tabla solo for the fall concert series at the Rocky Point Schools. From the sale of his CDs, he raised and donated over $500 to the Rocky Point Friends of Music. Tejas serves as a volunteer at the All Night Concerts held in NYC each year and has raised funds over $500 from the sale of his CD for Chhandayan.

At the annual Crescendo competition held in Atlanta, GA in September 2012 , Tejas won the 1st Prize in the under 15 tabla category. He also won the Mega Finals Round (shared this award with Nisha Kulkarni of Phoenix AZ) at the same competition. Recording and release of a complete CD album by Swarganga was the prize. The album has been recorded in Atlanta, GA, with blessings of Shri Chaitanya Kunte accompanying him on harmonium.

In addition to playing tabla solo in various venues in USA and abroad, Tejas has accompanied his Guru Pt. Samir Chatterjee (tabla solo), Pt. Ramesh Mishra (sarangi), Pt. Steve Gorn (flute), Samarth Nagarkar (vocal), Kunal Gunjal (santoor), Qais Essar (rabab), Padmashree Pt. Satish Vyas (santoor), Padmashree Pta. Rita Ganuli (vocal), Shakir Khan (sitar), Kedar Naphade (harmonium solo), Pta. Lalita Dantale-Kurulkar (vocal), Chaitanya Kunte (harmonium), Manoj Govindraj (vocal), Rucha Muley-Jambhekar (vocal), Paromita Das (vocal), and his sister, Priyanka Topé (vocal, www.priyankatope.com), and several other musicians over the past several years. Tejas attended 2 workshops conducted by Ud. Shahid Parvez in 2012 and 2013. In 2012 and 2013, he was invited by Phoenix Gharana and Swarganga to play tabla solo and accompany all participants in vocal and instrumental categories of all ages in their respective prestigious annual competitions. In 2013 Tejas accompanied students of Shri Manoj Govindraj at Guru Pournima held by AIM School of Music, Edison NJ, and kathak dance students of Guru Archana Joglekar at their rangamancha-pradarshan. Tejas also regularly accompanies accomplished singers in semi-classical and folk vocal and instrumental art forms, such as bhajans, ghazals, thumris, chaitis, laavnis, bhavgeets, natyasangeet, etc.

As a part of his self-study, during 2012 and 2013, he has learned several compositions published by Pt. Arvind Mulgoankar in his books, CDs, and DVDs, over 2 year of self-study he has compiled about 1-hour solo using the traditional format of tabla solo, and has recorded it his new album Space Within Beats.

With blessings of Pt. Ramesh Mishra accompanying him on Sarangi, during the summer of 2013, Tejas recorded 2 tabla and pakhawaj solo albums entitled Inner Rhythm and Space Within Beats. He has also recorded a self-composed 10.5-matra taal which he has named “Ardhadhik Dashanan” (half plus 10-headed Ravana). Tejas accompanied Shri Manoj Govindraj in album entitled Swar-Ras (classical vocal), and Baad-E-Naubahaar (Ghazals). He also accompanied Smt. Rucha Muley Jambhekar in album entitled Bhav-Rang.

Tarun Bhattacharya - Santoor
Siddharth Komaragiri - Tabla

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for a concert by the renowned Santoor maestro Tarun Bhattacharya. The performance will also be streamed live.

Tarun Bhattacharya

On of the unparalleled music ambassadors India has contributed to the world is Santoor Maestro Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya. He has been for the last 30 years a potential flag bearer of Indian classical music at top notch world concerts, from Royal Albert Hall to Kremlin (Russia), to Palace-de-beaux (Brussels) to Theater- De-La-Ville (France) to Apollo Theatre (Spain) to Jubilee auditorium (Canada), etc. having an endless list of mesmerized audience from Prince Charles to late Jorge Harrison to Paolo Solaris, etc 

Being the only Santoor Maestro from the famous Maihar Gharana, Pandit Bhattacharya has revolutionized Santoor, the instrument, as well as it style of playing. He is known as the first champion (1980) who proved that one could ‘meend’ or glide notes at the lower octave in a hammered instrument like Santoor. Pandit Bhattacharya is also know for the invention of “mankas” or fine tuners that help in the tuning of this 100 stringed instrument fast, with a long lasting effect and a very high degree of accuracy. His innovative techniques of playing the Santoor also facilitates in the playing of “Krintans, Ekharatans, Boltans, etc.” thus broadening the utility of the Santoor in various traditional arts.  Furthermore, his improvisation on the shape and string arrangements produces deeper and more classical sound for the Santoor. 

Pandit Bhattacharya is recognized the world over for his Ragdari, as well as, Layakari (mathematical calculations) and plays music that touch the soul. The sounds from his Santoor thrill all generations young or old, connoisseurs or the common man, and from any country. 

Pandit Bhattacharya has released over 60 CDs and Cassettes. He has been the recipient of numerous felicitations like pre Grammy nomination in 97, excellence in world music USA, and his CD “Kirwani” has been acclaimed as the top 10 in the world. Pt. Bhattacharya received his talim (music instructions) from his father Pt. Rabi Bhattacharya, Pt. Dulal Roy and finally from the great Bharat Ratna Pt. Ravi Shankar.

Siddartha Komaragiri

Siddhartha Komaragiri, also known as KVSTabla, is a classically trained tabla player based out of Manhattan, New York City. He began training when he was 7 years old and has been learning from Pt. Samir Chatterjee since he was 12 years old. Throughout his time playing tabla, he has won various awards and national competitions. Outside of Indian classical concerts, Siddhartha has performed at a plethora of luxury weddings as a fusion and classical artist. He also performs at many unique events. Recently, he shared the stage with a couple others to open for Jay Sean at the 2022 Times Square Diwali party (50,000+ people). He also played for multiple Mayyur Girotra runway shows during New York Fashion week.

Hindol Chattopadhyay - Sitar
Manav Khurana - Tabla

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for a concert by renowned sitarist Hindol Chattopadhyay. The performance will also be streamed live..

Hindol Chattopadhyay

Born in a music-loving family, Hindol was immensely inspired towards music by his music-enthusiast father, the Late Prasanta Chattopadhyay since his childhood. Hindol Chattopadhyay was initially groomed under his mother Smt. Bharati Devi (Vocalist) and uncle Sri Susanta Chattopadhyay, disciple of Pandit Monilal Nag; later he received his elaborate training from Pandit Amar Karmakar (disciple of Legendary Ustad Vilayat Khan Saheb); late Bimal Chattopadhyay and The Late Legend Ustad Vilayat Khan Saheb! Hindol also received extensive vocal taalim (tutelage) from Pandit Kalyan Bose and from Late Pandit Nidan Bandhu Bandopadhyay — that seasoned his renditions with rich embellishments of authentic traditional vocal repertoires. He has received his Sangeet Visharad degree from Pracheen Kalakendra, Chandigarh.

Hindol has been performing in AIR, Kolkata since his childhood and his CDs are also frequently played in FM radio channels & All India Radio. Hindol has had extensive performance experience over the last two decades. He has widely performed in India in prestigious concerts, festivals as well as in top-tier venues in the USA & Canada like: University of Michigan, University of Nebraska, University of Florida, Rutgers University, Consulate General of India-NYC; in Toronto, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, Boston, Washington, D.C., Detroit, Rochester, Madison, Sacramento, Brampton, Chicago, San Francisco and many more reputed organizations

Manav Khurana

Manav Khurana is a young tabla player who has been learning tabla since he was 11 years old. His initial training was under the guidance of Shri Kumar Raj Gandharva, and he subsequently learned from Sabir Hussain of the Punjab Gharana. For the past three years he has been studying with Shri Dibyarka Chatterjee of the Farrukhabad Gharana, who is the son and disciple of Pandit Samir Chatterjee.

Sugato Nag - Sitar

Snehesh Nag - Sitar

Indranil Mallick - Tabla

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening of sitar music by the renowned sitarist Sugato Nag accompanied by his son Snehesh. The performance will also be streamed live.

Sugato Nag

One of the finest Sitar virtuosi amongst the present generation, and a worthy torchbearer of the famed Sarod Gharana of Senia Shahjahanpur, Pt. Sugato Nag started his training at the age of eight under the guidance of Late Shri Anil Roychowdhury. Sugato next became the disciple of sarod maestro, Sangeetacharya Radhika Mohan Maitra. He next took extensive training and guidance under renowned sarodiya, Late Padmabhushan Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta. He has also taken talim from Pt. Ajoy Sinha Roy of the Maihar Gharana.

Sugato’s recital has a blending of the sitar baaj or style of playing of Ustad Vilayat Khan and the rabab based sarod baaj of Md. Ameer Khan of Shahjahanpore.

A very melodious and sensitive player, Sugato’s immense talent is evident in the way he handles the sitar, playing and synthesizing two very different types of baaj to create an unique and 'completely satisfying listening experience'. The alluring sweetness of his playing coming from the gayaki style, the effortless meends extending upto six pardas combined with strong and intricate bolwork and gamaks reflects a mastery of execution of the highest order.

Apart from performing all over India, Sugato has toured extensively in the US, Canada, Germany, France, UK, Holland, Australia, Japan and Mexico, playing in University circuits as well as in Music Conferences and holding the audience in sway with his scintillating and exquisite performances. A very eloquent speaker, Sugato has given a number of lecture cum demonstrations in Universities, music institutions and schools in the US, UK, Australia and Germany and have collaborated with western musicians in Australia to present Raga music through a western instrument ensemble and sitar.

His music workshops both for the beginner and advanced students of music are a learning experience and a joy to attend.

An ‘A’ grade musician of All India Radio and Doordarshan, and an ICCR empaneled artist, Sugato is a well known teacher having disciples around the globe - in the US, Germany, France, Finland, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, Japan and Australia, apart from hometown, Kolkata. Sugato believes in imparting lessons through one-to-one interaction between him and his students.

Snehesh Nag

Snehesh is a musician and researcher currently based in Baltimore, USA. He is a practitioner of North Indian classical music on the sitar and has primarily been a disciple of his father, Pt. Sugato Nag, but has also been under the tutelage of Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta, Pt. Prattyush Banerjee, and Shri Pranab Naha. In addition to the style of the Senia Shahjahanpore gharana, he infuses the Imdadakhani gharana style into his playing. He is known to blend a lot of “emotion, surprise elements, and aesthetic touches” in his playing. He is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, and has toured the India, US and Canada extensively.

Indranil Mallick

Indranil Mallick, a promising tabla player of rare skill, has already established himself both as a soloist and accompanist. Born to a family of genuine music connoisseurs, he received his initial training in tabla when he was only five from his uncle, Sri Montu Mallick. Later he was trained by Prof. Dhabol Bandyapadhaya.From 1985 he was under the guidance of Sri Uttam Chakraborty, senior disciple of Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri.Now he is under the guidance of Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri. Indranil belongs to Luckhnow Gharana style of tabla.

Among his numerous awards and distinctions in tabla performance he stood first in the Yuva Utsav organized by the state Government of West Bengal. In 1997 he stood first in the prestigious Dover Lane Music Competition and earned "The Best Talent of the Year" for 1996-97, trophy awarded by the H.M.V Music Corporation. Indranil holds a "Sangeet Visarad", Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music focused on tabla, from the University of Chandigarh, which he earned in 1999.He also earned " Sangeet Kala Ratna" in the year 2006.

Keeping a rigorous performance schedule, Indranil continues to perform with renowned artists in various music conferences in India and abroad. Some of these are The Dover Lane Music Conference in Kolkata, West Bengal State Music Academy Annual Convocation Concert, "The GolPark Rama Krishna Mission" Kolkata, Annual Conference of Spicmacay in AgartalaSangeet Gana Sabha in Visaka Pattanam, Spicmacay tour in Madhya Pradesh, Dadar Matunga Music conference, Mumbai (A Hundred years music organisatin), Baba Alauddin Khan Sangeet Samaraho, Maihar, Santipur Sangeet Sammelan, Kolkata, Nabarang Sangeet Sammelan, Kolkata, Kerala Music Festival, Music Festival in Patna and others….

In 2002 Indranil began international touring with performances in Europe, USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Ukraine, Estonia, Russia, Austria and Holland. During these tours he represented India in many world-renowned festivals. Some examples include the Open Baroque Festival in Estonia, The Musica Sacra International Festival in Germany, and the International Jazz and Blues festival in Austria.

Indranil is a grade 'A' artist of All India Radio, Kolkata where he is featured regularly on programs aired throughout India. He holds a master’s degree in economics from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata.

Namami Karmakar - Hindustani Vocal

Samir Chatterjee - Tabla

Anirban Chakraborty - Harmonium

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening of Hindustani Vocal music performed by Namami Karmarkar. The performance will also be streamed live.

Namami Karmarkar

Namami Karmakar is regarded as one of the finest vocalists among the younger generation of the Kirana Gharana. She had her initial training under Smt. Malini Mukherjee Bhowmick. Then she began learning under Late Pt. A. Kanan and Late Sangeet Bidushi Malabika Kanan and currently she is under the able guidance of their disciple, Pt. Sanjoy Banerjee.

Namami has a Masters in Classical Vocal Music from the prestigious Rabindra Bharati University. She stood first in All India BSNL Cultural Meet in 2007 and has successfully ranked in the prestigious Dover Lane Music Competition and West Bengal State Music Academy. She has also performed at major conferences in and also in TV channels to great acclaim. She has given performances at prestigious The Rubin Museum of Art (New York), Shikshyatan Cultural Center (New York), Maverick Concerts in Woodstock, India Center of Westchester, Gandhi Center (Maryland), Chhandayan (New York) and many others were extremely well received and received praises from the audiences and music aficionados. She has also successfully assisted her Guru in workshops in Chhandayan Center, New York and India Center of Westchester.

She is an empaneled artist of Indian Council for Cultural relations, Govt of India. At present Namami is a faculty at Chhandayan Center of Indian Music in New York since 2016 and Suromurchhana (India & USA), imparting training to local as well as international students. She has a proven track record as a successful teacher as her students have earned applause from audiences and maestros of Classical Music.

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. Samir began his studies early with Pandit Bankim Ghosh, Pt. Balaram Mukherjee, Pt. Rathin Dhar and Md. 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, 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,

Anirban Chakraborty

Anirban Chakrabarty hails from a family of Musicians. His father, Amal Chakrabarty is a dedicated vocalist. From his very childhood Anirban was initiated to Hindustani Classical Music by his father. He is a post graduate in music with first class from the Rabindra Bharati University. Although he is a good vocalist, his keen interest in playing Harmonium have driven him under the tutelage of Pandit Manas Chakraborty, the doyen of Kotali Gharana to master himself in the gayaki of Kotali style. He has also keen interest in composing music in lighter forms. The guidance of the Master Musician has already shaped him in well organized Harmonium player, and hoping him to be a musician of high repute in future.

Anirban has to his credit a number of brilliant performances as a harmonium accompanist throughout the country with both upcoming and reputed musicians. Anirban has accompanied musicians of repute like Pandit Manas Chakraborty, Pandit Dinanath Mishra, Pandit Arun Bhaduri, Smt. Kankana Banerjee, Gaan Saraswati Shreela Bandopadhyay, Pandit Madhup Mudgal, Sri. Sarathi Chatterjee, Smt. Ruchira Panda, Sri. Subhasish Mukherjee, Smt. Raka Mukherjee, Sri. Ratan Mohan Sharma and many more.

He is also a regular artist of several television channels. Besides, he is equally adept in playing tabla, keyboard, guitar and also worked as an arranger for several light music album. Recently popular commercial artists like Indrani Sen, Manomay Bhattacharya, Shampa Kundu, Shubhankar Bhaskar, Sahaj Ma have jointly made album of Modern Bengali Songs and devotional Songs composed and arranged by Anirban. Recently an album of Poetry and songs of TAGORE of Sri Tarun Chakrabarty has been released, arranged by Anirban. Now Anirban is also working as the Lecturer of Music in ‘Vivekananda Teachers Training Institute’ and also as the General Secretary of ‘Sur Sanchayan Sangeet Vidyalaya’, an institute to uphold the diploma courses of various forms of Indian music. Anirban to his credit has accompanied on harmonium with both upcoming and veteran musicians in all major music festivals of our country. He has also visited UK and USA as a harmonium accompanist with Ruchira Panda and earned accolades both from music lovers and connoisseurs.

Brajeswar Mukherjee - Hindustani Vocal

Samir Chatterjee - Tabla

Kedar Naphade - Harmonium

Come join us for an evening of Hindustani Vocal music performed by Brajeswar Mukherjee. The performance will also be streamed live.

Brajeswar Mukherjee

Brajeswar Mukherjee is one of the most promising young vocalists performing Hindustani Classical Music. Born into a musical family, he started learning from his parents at the early age of four. He also studied with Sri Asit Roy of the Vishnupur Gharana. From the late 1990s he has been a disciple of the internationally acclaimed artiste Guru Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty. Brajeswar has found popularity with lovers of Indian classical music and Bengali raga based songs through his radio programs, live performances, and published albums.

His is the recipient of many awards and honours, including the ‘Dhananjay Smriti Puraskar’ from Calcutta University, the ‘Shrutinandan Puraskar’ from the Shrutinandan Institute (founded by his guru Pt. Ajoy Chakrabarty), the ‘Gaan Vardhan’ from Pune, and the ‘Ustad Bismallah Khan’ Award from the Sangeet Natak Academy in 2016. He is currently a Musician Tutor of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy and also a regular artiste of All India Radio.

He has been touring throughout the world over the last ten years and has performed with his guru, with the Carnatic vocalist Dr. M. Balmuralikrishna, and also as a solo artist.

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. Samir began his studies early with Pandit Bankim Ghosh, Pt. Balaram Mukherjee, Pt. Rathin Dhar and Md. 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, 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,

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, which utilizes 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 of 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 and others. Kedar continues to train from Pt. Tulsidas Borkar and maintains an active concert schedule in the U.S.

Manoj Barua - Violin

Tarit Baran Majumdar - Tabla

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening of Hindustani Violin music performed by Manoj Barua. The concert will also be streamed live.

Majoj Barua

Manoj Baruah is one of the most well known violinists in field of classical and folk music of India. He started learning violin at the age of 10 from his older brother Deepak Baruah. Since 1995 Manoj has been receiving guidance in classical music under the tutelage of violin maestra Prof. Sisirkona Dharchoudhury. Simultaneously, he completed a Master Degree from Rabindra Bharti University of Kolkata. Manoj is a regular performer on All India Radio and Doordashan TV, and has toured all over India. In 1997 he received a prestigious national scholarship awarded to him by the Govt. of India. Since 2004 he has been touring all over Europe for performances in U.K., Germany, France, Switzerland, Spain, Holland, Denmark, Italy and Belgium; this is his first tour of the US.

Tarit Baran Majumder

Tarit Baran Majumdar is a renowned Tabla player of his generation. He has been performing over three decades in several major music festivals held in prestigious venues in India. He is also a regular performer on the national Radio and television of India. He holds the Sangeet Visharad diploma in Tabla. 

Tarit received rigorous training in Tabla under the guidance of Pt. Samir Chatterjee, the internationally renowned Tabla maestro. His methodical training has groomed him into one of the most highly proficient tabla players of India.  

Tarit is equally well-known for his tabla solos and accompaniments with vocal & instrumental music. He has performed in some of the most prestigious venues and occasions with other outstanding musicians such as Pt. A. T. Kanan, Smt. Mitali Banerjee Bhawmik, Shubho Chakraborty, Indrajit Banerjee, Rosy Dutta Pandit, Satyaki Dutta, to name only a few.  

Tarit’s performances on the National Television channel have been very popular to the audience of Indian classical music. The traditional musical atmosphere in the house inspired Tarit explore beyond the traditional boundaries. He has acted as a judge in many music competitions.

Rhitom Sarkar - Classical Slide Guitar

Maulik Mehta - Tabla

Come join us at the Chhandayan Center for an evening of Classical Hindustani music played on the Classical Slide Guitar by Rhitom Sarkar. The performance will also be streamed live.

Rhitom Sarkar

This program will feature Rhitom Sarkar on Classical Slide Guitar and Tarit Baran Majumdar on tabla.

Born to musician parents Rhitom sarkar, a child prodigy, was initiated into Indian classical Music but he picked up guitar and got hooked by its musical appeal akin to vocal due to its ability to glide. The highly innovative mind of Rhitom restlessly searched the ways and means to incorporate all the finer nuances of Indian music in his guitar.

At the age of nine began learning Guitar under Pt.Debashish Bhattacharya continued for ten yrs. Learnt under Mr.Debotosh Dey, Guitarist of AIR. Advance training Pt. Shyamal Chatterjee (Sitarist) a disciple of Late Ustad Dabir Khan Sahib and Pt .Ravi Shankar.Received taleem from Tabla maestro Subhankar Banerjee and Pt. Samar Saha. Attended special appreciation class from Pt. Ajoy Chakroborty (Vocal), Pt. Budhadeb Dasgupta (Sarod).Also received taleem in incorporating Classical Music in Spanish (Western) Guitar under the guidance of music composer-director Sri Madhu Mukherjee.

Rhitom's specialties include a) bringing some uncommon Ragas and Talas, b) incorporate elements of Spanish Guitar into Indian classical endition, and c) create a meditative effect stimulating the chakras. 

Maulik Mehta

Maulik Mehta is a student of Pt. Samir Chatterjee. He initiated his early training in Tabla under the guidance of his father Shri Pankajbhai Mehta. He further continued his training under Prof. Sashikant Sant - Ajrala gharana ( Vidyanagar, Gujarat). Based out of New Jersey, Maulik has performed with various artists in the sugam, folk and bhajan genres of Hindustani music. He is continuing his training under the guidance of Pt. Samir Chatterjee and is a member of Chhandayan-New Jersey.