Chaitanya Kunte is a multi-dimensioned personality, who has received great appreciation as a Harmonium player, composer and scholar. Chaitanya has been undergoing extensive training in Hindustani classical music, especially for Harmonium under able guidance of his Guru Dr. Arawind Thatte. He has also benefitted by the valuable guidance by Pt. Mohanrao Karve and Dr. Ashok Da. Ranade for Hindustani vocal music. Chaitanya has enriched his knowledge of music & musicology in acquaintance of many maestros & scholars.


Harmonium Player:

Chaitanya is a leading Harmonium player having accompanied maestros such as Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Dr. Prabha Atre, Pt. Dinkar Kaikini, Pt. Ramashrey Jha, Pt. Balasaheb Punchhawale, Pt. Yashwantbuwa Joshi, Kishori Amonkar, Vasundhara Komkali, Pt. L. K. Pandit, Pt. Birju Maharaj, NrityaPanditaa Rohini Bhate, Pt. Channulal Mishra and leading artistes such as Rajan Sajan Mishra, Ulhas Kashalkar, Rashid Khan, Shruti Sadolikar, Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Padma Talawalkar, Ashwini Bhide - Deshpande, Arati Ankalikar Tikekar, Prabhakar Karekar, Rajshekhar Mansoor, and many popular & upcoming artists.
His accompaniment is marked with perfection and accuracy, yet it is aesthetically enriching with a deep understanding of the vocalist's style and music in totality. A graded artiste for All India Radio, he has accompanied on Harmonium for several commercial recordings. He has toured in USA (2005), Australia and New Zealand (2005 and 2008) and Dubai (2004) for concerts, where he was appreciated for his accompaniment, solo Harmonium playing and lec-dems.
Besides being a busy and popular Harmonium accompanist, Chaitanya Kunte is taking huge efforts for Solo Harmonium recitals and continuing the mission lead down by his Guru, Dr. Arawind Thatte for establishing concert-status to Harmonium in Hindustani music scenario. Chaitanya has given Solo Harmonium performances in Pune, Thane, Ahmedabad, etc. For his contribution for Harmonium, he was honored with 'Pt. Govindrao Patwardhan Award for Excellence in Harmonium' in 2007.


Composer:

In the world of Hindustani Art Music, having created a niche for him as a young composer, Chaitanya's compositions cover a wide range of genre such as Khayal, Tappa, Tarana, Chataranga, Saadra, Saragam-geet, Thumari, Dadra, Bhajan etc. He has been awarded with Keshavrao Bhole Sangeetkaar Puraskaar for his contribution as composer. In many of his Bandishes, he has used 'Chita' (concentrated mind) as his Mudra, i.e. pen-name as a composer.


Compositions in Art Music

Chaitanya Kunte has composed Bandishes in variety of popular as well as uncommon Raagas and Taalas, with nom de plume 'Chita' (meaning focused creative mind). For Chaitanya, his Bandishes are the creations evolved from the serious study of the tradition, incorporating its diverse aspects, by which he tries to keep the tradition flowing! Suran Gaao Saras, Samprati, Praat Samaye, Soor Chaitanya are some of the concerts of his own Bandishes in Hindustani Art Music, sung by talented artistes such as Anuradha Kuber, Pushkar Lele, Raghunandan Panshikar, Manjusha Patil, Ranjani Ramchandran, Saniya Patankar, Sameer and Prachi Dublay. Along with these artists, maestros such as Arati Anklikar, Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, Shounak Abhisheki, Kalpana Zokarkar, etc take pleasure in singing his Bandish-s in thoer concerts. Welcoming response to his commercial CDs Srujan Prathama and Srujan Dwitiya, from common audience and senior artists, has proved him genuinely as a composer.


Music for Sanskrit literature

Chaitanya has scored music for several musicals including Geet-Govindam (Ashtapadi of Kawi Jaydew), Kalidas's Meghadootam, Upanishadannche Antaranga and Sanskrit Stotras of Shankaracharya, Wallabhacharya, Ramanujacharya, title song for Prakrit-Saritaa for AIR programmes.


Music for Dance choreographies

Chaitanya has brilliantly composed music for Kathak dance and choreographies, such as Amoorta, Rituchakra, Krishna Leela SanKeertan, Vasudhatmikaa; Oddissi dance ballet Shaakuntal and BharatNatyam dance ballets, Wyatha Bolate Kawya Chirantan and NrityaSanchit, Parashuraam-Vijaya, Panchatattwamritam.
Especially his compositions of Chatarang, Saragam, Bhajans, etc. are choreographed and performed by various Kathak and BharatNatyam dancers. Srujan-Prawaah is an exclusive performance of Chaitanya's compositions for Kathak dance.


Music for films & dramas

Chaitanya has successfully scored background music for Marathi dramas Sangeet Kulawadhu, Bali, Yaad Ke Saaye, title song for TV serial Tapasyaa, many AIR serials, documentary film African Safari.


Thematic concerts presented by Chaitanya Kunte:

He has presented many theme concerts with crafting of elaborate scripts after research of traditional and contemporary compositions, such as Megh-Rang, Basant-Rang, Nayikaa-Bhaav-Tarang, Laya-Saras-Gaan, Bhairavi-Darshan, Kumar Gandharva Darshan, Kumar-Raag-Wilaas.

* Megh-Rang - A concert on the theme of rainy season, which included depiction of various shades of rain and human emotions related to that expressed in not only Malhar raga but also in other ragas and forms.

* Basant-Rang - A concert depicting the beauty of spring season with other traditional festivals like Hori, Rama-janma.

* Ritu-Chakra - In this concert, Chaitanya has imbibed various aspects of rich classical and folk melodies, which celebrate the rich seasonal cycle in Indian context, which were presented by Anuradha Kuber, Raghunandan Panshikar and Rahul Deshpande.

* Nayikaa-Bhaav-Tarang - In this concert, Chaitanya explained the traditional poetic classification of Nayikaa - named as Ashta-Nayikaa depicted through Bandishes performed by Raghunandan Panshikar and Anuradha Kuber.

* Laya Saras Gaan - In this concert designed and conceptualized by Chaitanya, famous vocalist Arati Anklikar-Tikekar presented some Bandish-s having unusual but beautiful rhythmic patterns. She also sang Bandish-s in Ardha Matra Taal-s such as Neel Taal (7 and 1/2) and Sunand Taal (9 and 1/2)

* Bhairavi Darshan - A concert unfolding facets of Raag Bhairavi with presenting compositions such as Raag-Dhyan, Lakshangeet, Saragam, Dhrupad, Khayal, Bandish, Bandhi Thumari, Tarana, Tappa, Thumari, Dadra and Bhajan. Well-known vocalist such as Shounak Abhisheki and Dr. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande had sung in this concert.

* Marathi Geet-Thewaa - A special concert on traditional folk songs of Mararashtra.

* Gunjan - A special concert designed with Sandhya Dharma, Rewati Kamat and Aparna Kelkar, for propagating Hindustani music amongst new generation in which all performers were of young tender age.

* Kalidas Wilas - In this concert, the Sanskrit literature of great poet Kalidas is composed in music and dance with special dance ballets on Meghadootam and RituSamhaaram.

* Pravahee - This is a theme concert depicting history of Hindustani music from the period of SamVeda till date, handling major genres such as SamGayan, Jaati, Prabandha, Dhrupad, Khayal, Thumari, Tappa, NatyaGeet and fusion.

* Tappa Gayaki: Ek Awalokan - This is a lec-dem in which Chaitanya demonstrates the history, varieties and nuances of Tappa Gayaki with Saniya Patankar giving vocal performance along with the sound clips of veteran artists.


Marathi Bhaaw-Sangeet by Chaitanya Kunte:

Chaitanya has creatively contributed for Marathi music especially by his compositions in Thumari - Dadra genre in Marathi Language; along with variety of compositions such as Abhang-Bhajan, Laawani, Bhaaw-geet, Ghazal.

* Saaj Thumaricha- It was a unique experiment with semi-classical music like Thumari, Dadra, Kajri, Chaiti, Jhula, etc.in Marathi poetry by Pramod Kale, which is otherwise usually presented in dialects of Hindi. Anuradha Marathe and Anuradha Kuber perform in this concert with adding their own flavor while rendering these Thumari compositions.

* Sant-Swar-Wel - This concert presents compositions of Marathi Saint-poets from 11th cent to 17th cent in different genres of music as well as types of poetry.

* Ramadas Padawali - In this concert, Chaitanya composed rich philosophical poetry of medieval Marathi saint poet Ramadas, sung by Anuradha Kuber and Arati Thakur.

*Manarangache Aabhal � This was another example of his fine composership in which he has composed poems of great Marathi poets such as Shanta Shelke, Mangesh Padgaonkar, Kusumagraj, Indira Sant, Vinda Karandikar, N. D. Mahanor, etc. in notes which were sung by leading singers like Anuradha Marathe, Anuradha Kuber, Prajakta Joshi and Hrishikesh Ranade.

*Keshavasut - For this concert, pioneer Marathi poet Keshavasut�s poems were set to tune by Chaitanya, sung by Madhuri Purandare and Chandrakant Kale.

*Onjalit Swar Tuzech - This is a dramatic presentation of life and literature of GyaanPeeth award winner famous Marathi poet Vinda Karandikar in which Chaitanya has scored music to Vinda�s poems.

*Eka Kawite Saathi - A concert of Marathi BhaawGeet peoms by Valay Mulgund composed by Chaitanya Kunte.


Published CD Album:

There are few commercial CDs/ DVDs to the credit of Chaitanya as a composer, such as -

Srujan Pratham & Srujan Dwitiya�: A vibrant garland of Bandish-s by Chaitanya Kunte sung by Anuradha Kuber & Pushkar Lele.

Chintan�/�Rasiya�: An Album of Bandish-s by Chaitanya Kunte sung by Saniya Patankar.

Tappe Di Bahar : In this CD, Pushkar Lele has sung Tappa genre compositions of Chaitanya Kunte

Smaran Tarang : This CD contains Art music compositions such as Khayal, Thumri, Tappa in Marathi language.

Bhawanjali�: Bhajans composed by Chaitanya Kunte, sung by Arati Anklikar and Ravindra Sathe.

Prawahee�: This video DVD depicts the history of Indian music and dance.

Dinacharyaa�: A CD of traditional Sanskrit prayers from morning to bedtime with a commentary relevant today.

Akash-Mogara�: An album of poetry by senior poetess Vijaya Jahagirdar, sung by Anuradha Marathe, Anuradha Kuber & Ravindra Sathe.

Kuhu�: This is first Multimedia Novel in India written by Kavita Mahajan, Chaitanya has scored music to songs with Arati Tikekar & also given background music.



Scholar & Guru:

After attaining degrees, M.A. in Indology and History and an M. Phil. in Archaeology, Sangeet Alankar in Music, Chaitanya have received fellowship for his research on Tappa from Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. His research work on Tappa has been praised by many musicologists that have given him recognition as a young generation musicologist. Many of his research articles on musicology are published in journals, souvenirs & newspapers.

He was Guest Editor of Chhandowati (a souvenir on the occasion of 60th anniversary of veteran vocalist Smt. Malini Rajurkar), PunyaSwar 2009 (a special issue on Music Culture in Pune which was published on 10th anniversary of Bhimsen Joshi Chair in University of Pune.), PunyaSwar 2011 (a special issue on Bandish which was published by Bhimsen Joshi Chair, University of Pune.), Swar-Smriti (a memoir of Pt. Mohanrao Karve), CharitraKosh Sangeet Khand (an encyclopedia of prominent personalities in the field of music in last century Maharashtra.)

Besides hectic schedule of performances, Chaitanya is contributing his talent as a Guru and visiting lecturer at 'Lalit Kala Kendra (Centre For Performing Arts), Pune University. He has conducted Music Appreciation� course and practical training workshops for students in India & abroad.

In January 2011, Chaitanya Kunte has been awarded by Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande Foundation for his contribution as a creative musician and researcher.