Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, a master sarod player, belongs to the younger generation of talented and accomplished musicians from India. His performance sparkles with virtuosity as well as classicism. He represents the Senia Maihar Gharana (or school) of instrumental music.  The most notable exponents of this style are Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (Tejendra’s current Guru) and Pandit Ravi Shankar. Born in 1961, Tejendra started his initial lessons at a very early age. His grandfather, Bibhuti Rajan Majumdar and his father Ranjan Majumdar were his teachers in instrumental music. Tejendra also acquired proficiency in vocal music because of the training he received from Amaresh Chowdhury. At a later stage, Tejendra became a disciple of Ustad Bahadur Khan, one of the ablest of Sarod players/teachers. He continued his training with Ustad Bahadur Khan for almost 18 years, but after his death, Tejendra studied under another highly respected teacher, Ajay Rai Sinha. Currently Tejendra receives valuable guidance from Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Tejendra, with his own efforts, has synthesized a style of his own, that blends in Tantrakari (i.e. instrumental) and Gayaki (i.e. vocal) styles. Tejendra has received many honors and awards for his artistry, including the  President’s Gold Medal and the Pandit D. V. Paluskar award. This brilliant and popular classical artiste also composes, arranges and experiments in other areas of music.

Yogesh Samsi, a well-known tabla player of the younger generation, is equally at ease with solo performances and while accompanying vocal, instrumental and dance recitals, He had an early exposure to music. His father the eminent vocalist Dinkar Kaikini initiated Yogesh at the age of six. His mother Shashikala Kaikini, a vocalist, was also a source of inspiration. Yogesh took his early instruction in tabla under the respected teacher H.Taranath Rao for a period of three years. He was later under the tutelage of the tabla maestro Alla Rakha from the age of ten. Yogesh Samsi has made a mark for himself as a grade A broadcaster on Indian radio and television networks. A popular performer at most concerts in India and abroad, Yogesh has also conducted tabla workshops. He has been featured on commercial recordings and has also provided research inputs and demonstration for an instructional CD ROM on tabla.

The Recital Hall is located just behind the O’Shaughnessy Auditorium  in the campus of the College of Saint Catherine (2004 Randolph Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105). The Recital Hall is Building 23 in the campus map (see below).

Driving Directions: 

• From I-94 going E: Take Cretin Avenue exit. South (right) on Cretin to Randolph Avenue. East (left) on Randolph to Cleveland Avenue intersection. Stay on Randolph. Enter at GATE 3 on Randolph.
• From I-94 going W: Take Snelling Avenue (US 51) exit. South (left) on Snelling Avenue to Randolph. West (right) on Randoplh to Fairview/Randolph intersection. Stay on Randolph. Enter at GATE 3 on Randolph.
• From I-35E: Exit on Randolph Avenue. Proceed West to Fairview/Randolph intersection. Stay on Randolph. Enter at GATE 3 on Randolph.
• From I-35W: Exit on 94 eastbound to Cretin Avenue exit. South on Cretin to Randolph Avenue. East on Randolph to Cleveland Avenue intersection. Stay on Randolph. Enter at GATE 3 on Randolph.

Gate 3 is located between Cleveland and Fairview and is nearest to the intersection of Randolph and Prior Avenues. The Recital Hall is located right behind the better known O'Shaughnessy auditorium. Parking is free after hours and on weekends.

Click here for a campus map of the College of Saint Catherine.

Click here for other general maps and directions to the College of Saint Catherine.

Acknowledgments:

This activity is made possible in part by, the Series Presenter Support Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Honeywell “Dollars for Doers” Grant and the Medtronic Arts Access Program Grant. This concert is co-sponsored by KFAI “Fresh-Air” Radio (90.3FM Minneapolis/106.7 FM St. Paul).