| 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| <<MAR | APR | MAY>> | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pandit Ajay Pohankar - Hindustani Vocal
Pandit Ajay Pohankar - Hindustani Vocal
Dr. George Ruckert on the Harmonium
Shri Aditya Kalyanpur on the Tabla
Pt. Ajay Pohankar
If simplicity were the essence of beauty, then Pt. Ajay Pohankar is simply one of the most beautiful gems that adorn the glittering crown of Indian Classical Music. Untouched and untarnished by the glamour that is an inherent part of success in the world of entertainment, this multifaceted musical personality exudes a natural brilliance that comes from within. Born into a family that lived and breathed music, Ajayji was learning music at a very tender age. Creating a history of sorts, he was trained by his scholar, musicologist and composer mother, Dr. Sushila Pohankar of the Kirana gharana. His impressive debut at the Sawai Gandharva Music Festival at the age of ten years mesmerized a distinguished audience into acclaiming him as a child prodigy. A highly intelligent and conscientious musician, Ajayji has fused the influences of great veterans like Ustad Amir Khansaheb and Ustad Barkat Ali into his singing style, to create a musical genius. Pt. Ajay Pohankar is a rare, distinguished classical Indian music maestro who has given almost his entire life to the world of voices, tunes and rhythms. His singing impresses primarily for its aesthetic beauty and then for the easy but impeccable technique. His expressive voice has a tremendous reach – it can soothe the soul as effectively as it can excite the heart. Whether he performs a cool and stately Vilambit, or displays a colourful and innovative imagination in lyrical, light classical modes or colours, his thumris with a commanding, melodious touch, Panditji’s rich renditions are always a rare experience. Having graced the stage with stalwart luminaries like Pt. Omkarnath Thakur, Ustad Amir Khan Saheb, Ustad Salamat and Nazakat Ali Saheb, Ustad Ahmad Jaan Thirakwa, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Ustad Vilayat Khan Saheb, Pt. Ravi Shankar, Pt. Kumar Gandharva, Begam Akhtar and Hirabai Badodekar, Ajayji has to his credit many conferences, including Tansen Festival (Gwalior), Sawai Gandharva Festival (Pune), MTDC Elephanta Festival (Mumbai), Spirit of Unity Concerts (Bangalore and Chennai), Tarapat Festival (Kolkata), Ganga Festival (Banaras), Gandhar (Abu Dhabi), Festival of India (Scotland and London). He has lent his voice to the popular TV serial ‘The Great Maratha’ and many others. He performs regularly for national and other television channels, as well as radio networks. He has been featured as a judge on SA RE GA MA PA, a very popular music competition program on Indian TV. Ajayji is an exceptionally gifted musician who can accomplish anything that calls for a comprehensive musical technique and sensitivity to emotions. But his first love is to impart musical knowledge to the younger generation. He is currently visiting LearnQuest Academy of Music for five weeks to conduct master classes in Hindustani vocal music.
Dr. George Ruckert:
A performer, composer, arranger, author and teacher, George Ruckert is a rare breed of artists who has an extensive background in the disciplines of both western and Indian classical music. He is one of the senior-most disciples of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Besides being a highly accomplished solo artist on the Sarod, George is also an equally accomplished harmonium player and has recorded and performed with several of the finest Indian vocalists. He is one of the founders of and Artistic Director for MITHAS, MIT Heritage of the Arts of Southasia.
Aditya Kalyanpur:
Aditya Kalyanpur is a disciple of world-renowned Tabla maestros late Ustad Allarakha and Ustad Zakir Hussain. He was introduced to the art of Tabla when barely five years old. He has performed at several prestigious concerts all over the country, along with Ustad Zakir Hussain and also as a soloist and accompanist at various music festivals in India and abroad. Aditya has performed on MTV, VTV, Sahara TV, In Mumbai, Zee Music and several other channels, besides doing fusion music with renowned jazz musician Louis Banks and other international artistes.
Date: 06/20/2004
Location: Wong Auditorium, MIT, Cambridge, MA
Time: 4:00 pm
Cost: $15.00 (regular), $9.00 (students with Id.)
Contact: Pradeep Shukla - 978-264-4566
Directions: http://whereis.mit.edu/bin/map?locate=wong
Discuss about the event, share ride ...
|