Pandit
Sanjeev Abhyankar,
the maestro
from the Mewati Gharana, is an extremely popular
internationally
acclaimed exponent of the Hindustani
genre of music. In a career spanning
more than 25 years, he has assumed the mantle of role model for
dedication,
hard work, patience and perseverance, and is an inspiration for the
younger
generation. Born in 1969,
Sanjeev started learning Hindustani Classical Music from the
tender age of
eight. His teacher’s include Smt. Shobha
Abhyankar, his mother, Pandit Pimpalkhare, his mother’s guru, and later
from Padmavibhushan Pandit Jasraj. Sanjeev gave
his first public performance in
Mumbai at the age of 11. Since then he has
traveled
extensively all over the country, performing in
prestigious
art circles and national conferences, including Sawai
Gandharva
Sangeet Samaroh (Pune), Dover Lane Conference
(Calcutta), Vishnu Digambar Paluskar
Jayanti
Samaroh, Master Dinanath Sangeet Mahotsav
(Goa), Radio
Sangeet Sammelan, Spirit of Unity
Concerts for
National Integration, and the
concerts
organised by Sangeet Natak Academy
and
ICCR. He has also performed extensively in Canada, Australia, Europe,
Africa, Middle East and in the U.S.A. He has
received
numerous awards, including the President's award from the All India
Radio in
1990, the prestigious F. I. E. Foundation National Award 1996,
the
coveted National Award in 1998 as the best male playback
singer,
for the Hindi film 'Godmother', the title 'Sur
Ratna', Rotary Vocational Excellence Award 2002 and Pandit
Jasraj Gaurav Puraskar. Sanjeev
has released several recordings through reputed music companies
like HMV,
Music Today, Sony Music, Times Music, Navaras Records U.K., Neelam
Audio Videos
U.S.A and Alurkar Music, among others. He has also sung
playback for
a number of films, including 'Maachis', 'Nidaan', 'Sanshodhan'
and 'Banaras'. Sanjeev's award-winning
performance in 'Godmother' reflects his easy grace and versatility, as
do his
impassioned renditions of Marathi Abhangs and Hindi Bhajans.
Sanjeev is
also a composer and has contributed to the existing vast repertoire of
Mewati
Gharana compositions (Bandishes) with some of his own. Although
his aim
since childhood had been to pursue a career in music, Sanjeev holds a
Bachelor's
Degree in Commerce.
Harshad
Kanetkar, a young
talented Tabla player from India, began his
initial training in Tabla at the age of five with Shri Pandurang
Mukhade. For
the past twelve years he has had intensive training under Shri Ramdas
Palsule
and Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. Harshad is
one of the few versatile Tabla players of his generation, equally adept
at
accompanying vocal, instrumental or dance. Crispness and clarity of his
technique and a total command of rhythm are the hallmarks of Harshad’s
style.
He has accompanied many leading artists including Pt.Jasraj, Pt.Ulhas
Kashalkar, Ustad Shahid Parvez, Ustad Rashid Khan, Smt. Veena
Sahastrabuddhe,
Dr. Ashwhini Bhide-Deshpande, Smt.Aarti Anklikar-Tikekar, Smt. Kala
Ramnath and
Shama Bhate (Kathak), in prestigious music conferences all over India.
Harshad
has also traveled and performed extensively in U.S., Canada,
Europe and the Middle East. His
recordings include solo works and fusion
of musical traditions of the East and West. Harshad has received many
accolades
and honors, including a National Scholarship from the Government of
India. He taught at the Pandit Jasraj
Music Academy in the U.S.A.
as
visiting faculty for many years.
Milind
Kulkarni is
a reputed accompanist and fast
emerging as a soloist. His tryst with the harmonium began at the tender
age of
seven, thanks to the efforts of his father, an avid music lover. Milind’s natural flair for the harmonium
reflects the eternal essence of Hindustani Classical Music as handed
down in
the true "Guru Shishya Parampara". Pt. Vasantrao
Gurav of Sangli was the first formal Guru
who introduced
Milind to the 'Seven Swaras'; Pt.
Anna Diwan of Sangli further enriched Milind's talents.
Today, Milind is under the fine tutelage of
Pt. Pramod Marathe, leading Harmonium player & Principal at the
Gandharva
Mahavidyalaya, Pune. This talented artiste has accompanied
distinguished &
renowned musicians, including Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Suresh Talwalkar, Smt.
Padma
Talwalkar, Dr. Prabha Atre, Dr. Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande, Pt. Ullhas
Kashalkar
and Smt. Aarti Ankalikar-Tikekar. He has also provided accompaniment
for Kathak
Dance performances. Milind is a regular performer for All India Radio
and the
Doordarshan (T.V.) network. He was
awarded the Business Express Kalashree
Award as a Young Artist in 2002, the Smt. Leelatai Jalgaonkar Award in
2003 and
the Pt. Manohar Betavadkar Award in 2004. Milind
earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music,
specializing in Harmonium
at The Centre for Performing Arts, Pune University,
Pune.