Pt Gajananbua Joshi Birth Centennial Celebration

A program that will features, compositions by Pt Gajananbua Joshi

Time : 18th and 19th December 2010, 6.30PM-9.30PM

Venue : Dnyandeo Seva Mandal Temple, Paanchpakhadi, Thane (W)

Note : Entree to this program will be free

Born in the family that is adorned with the rich heritage of Sur, Laya, Taal over four generations, Apoorva Gokhale inherits melody, harmony and rhythm from her grandfather Late Pandit Gajananbuwa Joshi and her great-grandfather Late Pandit Antubuwa Joshi, who himself was an eminent Darbar gayak. Her formal education started at an early age of 5 years under the tutelage of Late Pandit Gajananbuwa Joshi, who was a vocalist and violinist, reputed for his versatility and making a superb blend of three gharanas namely Gwalior, Jaipur and Agra in his gayaki. After his sad demise, she continued her further education under the supervision of her uncle Pandit Madhukar Joshi, who too is a well-known vocalist and violinist and Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar. She also received training from her father Shri Manohar Joshi. While taking lessons from these gurus she perfected her basics in Sur, Laya and Taal. Apoorva, who has a bachelor's degree from the University of Mumbai, completed Visharad from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya under the guidance of her aunt Dr. (Smt) Sucheta Bidkar. Currently she is seeking special guidance from Pandit Shankar Abhyankar, the eminent sitarist and rachanakar and also from Smt. Manik Bhide and Smt. Ashwini Bhide. She has been awarded with the Acharya S N Ratanjankar Foundation Trust's scholarship and Pandit K G Ginde puraskar for two years. Apoorva has performed in many prestigious concerts in Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Bangalore, Aundh, Karad, Ichalkaranji etc. She has also been honoured as "Surmani" by Sur Singar Samsad.

Jayashree R Patnekar was initiated into Hindustani classical music by late Shri Vithalrao Pai at Sawantwadi. When she was 16 she began learning under Pandit K D Javkar of Kirana gharana at Mumbai. However, it was under Pandit Gajananrao Joshi (violinist and vocalist) that she matured as a vocalist. She also took advanced trained under Pandit Nivruttibua Sarnaik and Pandit Ratnakar Pai of Jaipur gharana. In 1962-63, she stood first in the classical music competitions organised by AIR Bombay and the following year she stood second in the competition organised by AIR Delhi. Awarded prizes by several other prestigious organizations like the Vile Parle Music Circle, Sursingar Samsad, Indian Culture League and others, she was also awarded the `Surmani` at Kal-Ke-Kalakar Sammelan in Mumbai (1972). A regular artiste of All India Radio, she has performed for AIR Mumbai and from 1977 onwards from AIR Dharwad. Recognized as an `A` Grade artiste in 1983, she has performed for National Programmes as well as Tuesday Night Concerts. A regular concert performer, she has participated in music conferences in the major cities of India as well as the NCPA, Dadar-Matunga Music Circle, Sawai Gandharva Music Festival, Pune (1993), Gwalior Sangeet Sammelan, Gwalior, Basant Sangeet Sammelan, Delhi and the AIR Sangeet Sammelan, Lucknow (2000). In 2005 the Govt of Karnataka honoured her with the Dr. Mallikarjun Mansoor Puraskar.

Manas Kumar started his initial education of violin with his father shree G. Chamua at the age of five. Since he was 11, he is undergoing intensive training for the past 13 years, under the tutelage of VKV parampara from Pt. Bidyut Misra of Gauhati(assam), who is a lecturer of violin at the state college of music(assam). Achievements and Awards : Received "A" grade from All India Radio, Entitled as 'SURMANI' by the sur singer samsad ,Mumbai in 2008,where his skill par excellence, elevated him to the top rank for the same, 1st prize winner in the Pt. V. D. Paluskar competition(mumbai) in 2007, Received the CCRT scholarship and senior scholarship from the ministry of culture,Govt. of India.

Among the leading vocalists of today, one name that prominently features is that of Pt. Arun Kashalkar. For several years Kashalkarji has mesmerized audiences with his enthralling performances. He was initiated into the field of Indian classical music by his father, the renowned musicologist and teacher Pt. N.D. Kashalkar, who ensured that he laid a solid foundation on which a magnificent edifice could be created. Kashalkarji, in the following years, has been blessed with the guidance of many greats of varied gharanas who have molded and shaped his Gayaki. He had the good fortune to learn under Pt. Rajabhau Kogje and Pt. Ram Marathe. Then followed a significant period for Kashalkarji, which took his gayaki to new heights. The stalwart vocalist and violinist of Gwalior, Jaipur and Agra gharanas, Pt.Gajananrao Joshi, who has guided several of the top vocalists in the country today, took Kashalkarji under his wings and nurtured the inherent qualities that Kashalkarji already possessed. The renowned vocalist of Agra gharana, Pt.Babanrao Haldankar also taught Kashalkarji and helped shape his style towards a more Agra gharana - Oriented one. Steeped in traditional 'Guru-Shishya' parampara, rigorous riyaz and introspection, Kashalkarji's gayaki is an amalgamation of Gwalior, Jaipur and Agra styles, though the emphasis is more on the lively and rhythm-oriented style of Agra gharanas. Time and again, Kashalkarji has wowed audiences all over India. The 'nomtom', 'bols', 'taans' of great force and boundless creativity generate concerts of such quality as few can surpass. He gives vent to his creativity and love for poetry by composing his own 'bandishes' under the pseudonym of 'Rasdaas'. The sheer poetry and virtuosity of these compositions have helped create a name of Kashalkarji even as a foremost composer. He has earned his 'Sangeetacharya' from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharv mahavidyalaya mandal, for his research on the Bandishes of Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan Saheb of Agra Gharana. He has also guided several others in their quest for similar doctorate honours. He was connected with the Kala Academy in Panjim, Goa as a Director for Indian classical Music in the late 90's.

Chaitanya Kunte is a disciple of Dr. Arawind Thatte. He has also received guidance from Pt. Mohanrao Karve for Hindustani Vocal music. He is one of the leading young artistes and has accompanied maestros such as Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Pt Dinkar Kaikini, Ustad Rashid Khan, Pt. Birju Maharaj, Smt. VAsundhara Komkali, Padma Talwalkar, Shruti Sadolikar, Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Dr. Ashwini Bhide, Aarti Ankalikar and many others. Chaitanya also is a well appreciated composer. His compositions cover a wide range of genre such as Khayal, Tappa, Tarana, Chataranga, Sadra, Saragam-geet, Thumari, Dadra, Bhajan etc. and a variety of Raags and Taals. He has composed music for Kathak dance and choreographies such as 'Amoorta', 'Rituchakra' etc. He also has scored music for several musicals for AIR, including 'Geet Govindam' of Jayadev, 'Meghadootam' of Kalidas, Sanskrit stotras of Shankaracharya, Vallabhacharya and Ramanujacharya and 'Upanishadannche Antaranga'. He has presented many theme concerts, such as 'Megha- Rang', 'Basant-Rang', 'Nayikaa-Bhaav-Tarang', 'Bhairavi-Darshan', 'Saaj Thumaricha' etc.