Judges

	Chaitanya Kunte is a multi-dimensioned personality, who has received a great appreciation as a Harmonium player, composer and scholar. Chaitanya has been undergoing extensive training in Indian classical music, especially for Harmonium under able guidance of his Guru Dr. Arawind Thatte. He has also received guidance from Pt. Mohanrao Karve for Hindustani vocal music. Chaitanya is one of the leading young artistes having accompanied maestros such as Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Kishori Amonkar, Pt. Dinkar Kaikini, Dr. Prabha Atre, Pt. Ramashrey Jha, Pt. Balasaheb Punchhawale, Pt. Yashwantbuwa Joshi, NrityaPanditaa Rohini Bhate, Pt. Birju Maharaj, Vasundhara Komkali, Pt. Channulal Mishraand leading artistes such as Rajan Sajan Mishra, Ulhas Kashalkar, Rashid Khan, Shruti Sadolikar, Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Padma Talawalkar, Ashwini Bhide - Deshpande, Arati Ankalikar - Tikekar and many others. 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 cassette 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.
	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.
	Sanjay Karandikar is one of the leading exponents of percussion instruments Tabla and Dholki. He received his initial training from his father Lt. Shri. Madhav Karandikar. Then got advanced training from Pt Shashikant Bellare, Pt Vikas Datar and Pt Ramdas Palsule. Sanjay has completed Sangeet Alankar from Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalay Mandal and was ranked 2nd all over India in 2003. Sanjay is a extremely popular guru and has over 1000 past and present tabla and dholki students. He is a accredited artist of AIR and Television. Sanjay has accompanied various artists on tabla and dholki such as Shri Shaunak Abhisheki, Shri. Anand Bhate, Smt. Alka Deo Marulkar, Smt. Manjiri Alegaonkar, Shri. Vijay Koparkar and has travelled outside of India for concerts. He has also published books and audio visual material on Tabla which is currently being used by students all over the world.
	Pritam Bhattacharjee - Pritam Bhattacharjee is a young rising star in the Hindustani music firmament. Having shown an inclination towards music from childhood, Pritam began his initial training under his mother Smut. Monjushree Bhattacharjee at the tender age of three. He was then trained under Shri. Amarendra Chakraborty till the age of 14. In the year 1995, with the Almighty's blessings, Lady Luck smiled upon him and his lifelong ambition of learning under the Mewati Maestro Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasrajji realized when the living legend accepted him as his disciple. Blessed with a highly cultivated voice, absorbing all the aspects of his Guru's style through vigorous riyaaz under the ever-watchful eyes of his Guru Pandit Jasrajji have made him progress into a very promising upcoming vocalist. Pritam has also performed solos in many a concerts and festivals in India and abroad. He has traveled extensively and performed with his Guruji all over India and abroad, prominent among them being the Doverlane Music conference in Calcutta, Gunidas Sangeet Samaroha in Delhi, Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Samaroha in Pune, Pandit Motiram Sangeet Samaroha in Hyderabad, Indore, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mumbai etc., in India and at the ICCR's 50th anniversary celebrations in South Africa (Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg), Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, Mauritius and the United States. Recently Pritam stood first in the competition held for upcoming talents all over India organized by the institution Vedic Heritage in New York. With his Guruji's blessings, Pritam is all set to ably carry forward the rich Mewati tradition and legacy in forthcoming years. Pritam is currently a faculty at the Pt Jasraj School of Music Foundation, Atlanta Chapter.
	Prithwiraj Bhattacharjee another young and upcoming artist began his initial training under his guru Dhiranjan Chakraborty at the tender age of seven. In the year 1994 his life long ambition of learning under the tabla maestro Ustad Alla Rakha and Ustad Zakir Hussain came true. Blessed with highly cultivated fingers, absorbing all the aspects of his guru?s style through vigorous riyaz under the ever watchful eyes of his guru have made him progress into a very promising upcoming tabla player. Prithwi has performed in many solo concerts and travelled extensively all over India and abroad accompanying many eminent artists of Hindustani Classical Music, to name a few are Pt Jasrajji, Rahul Sharma, Kala Ramnath, Laxmi Shankar etc. With his Guruji?s blessings, Prithwi is all set to ably carry forward the rich Punjab tradition and legacy in forthcoming years. Currently Prithwi is a faculty at the Pt Jasraj School in Atlanta.
	Ranjani Ramachandran is a versatile and talented Hindustani classical vocalist of the younger generation. She is a disciple of Pt Kashinath Bodas, Smt. Veena Sahasrabuddhe and Pt Ulhas Kashalkar. She has also received guidance from Vidushi Girija Devi, acquiring a rich repertoire of Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti and Kajri. She is a recipient of Central Government Scholarship for Hindustani Classical Music, Resident scholarship of the ITC-Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata, UGC - NET Junior and Senior Research Fellowship, Surmani award from Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai and empanelled as a performing artiste for ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations). Ranjani is a graded artiste of All India Radio and has two commercial audio CDs to her credit. A physics graduate and a postgraduate in vocal Music, Ranjani is currently appointed as a Guru at the Centre for Performing Arts, University of Pune, while also pursuing PhD in Music. Ranjani gives online music teaching lessons to aspiring students. Ranjani has performed at prestigious venues in India and abroad: Vishnu Digambar Jayanti Samaroha (New Delhi), Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan, ITC Sangeet Sammelan, "Sangeet Pratibha" of Sangeet Natak Academy, Nehru Centre(London), Learnquest Academy(Boston), Dadar Matunga Cultural Centre, (Mumbai) and Kalakshetra Annual Art Festival, Chennai. www.ranjani.net
	Born in a music loving family on 23 August 1985, Gagandeep started his initial training in sitar, at the age of 4, from his father Mr. R.K. Singh who is himself a sitar player and the disciple of world-renowned sitarist "Pt. Budhaditya Mukherjee" and his father "Pt. Bimlendu Mukherjee", a doyen of the "Imdadkhani Gharana" of Sitar. Hence Gagandeep was brought up in a musical environment right from the very beginning. At the age of 10, Gagandeep was awarded the prestigious National Scholarship by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, for "Sitarwadan". At the age of 10, Gagandeep impressed the invited audience at a concert organized by A.I.R, Shimla. This concert was broadcasted later on. Gagandeep stood first for three consecutive years in the competition organized by the prestigious "Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan" held in Jalandhar (India). At the age of 10 and 11 Gagandeep won the first prize in the junior section in this very competition. At the age of 12, he created history by coming first in the Senior Section, which comprised of an age group between 16 to 35 years. The winner of the Senior Group is invited for the next year as an artist to perform along with other High Grade artists. Here too Gagandeep won the applaud and appreciation of the audience. Thereafter he displayed his skills at various other places and sought the blessings of eminent musicians and connoisseurs.
	A promising artiste of the young generation, Pushkar Lele has emerged today as an international artiste whose style reflects an aesthetic blend of contemplation in music and technical exellence. His maturity and understanding far exceeds his age. Since 1990 Pushkar was a recipient of of the Central Government Scholarship for classical vocal music awarded by Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, New-Delhi. He is currently the recipient of the scholarship from the Department of Culture, Government of India. He has featured in 'Jeevan Gane', a programme of light music on E-TV ( Marathi) Channel, 'Sur - Taal ', a popular programme on Zee Marathi Channel, ' Music - Masti - Gappa - Gani', a programme on Doordarshan (Sahyadri) Channel and has been exclusively interviewed on Akashwani Sydney, Rajdhani Radio Canberra and on Radio Gandharva and Surabhi Channels on Worldspace Satellite Radio. Pushkar was also a celebrity participant in the special season of the popular musical reality show IDEA Sa Re Ga Ma Pa on Zee Marathi Channel. Pushkar been showered with blessings and appreciation by musicologists,critics and stalwarts of classical music like Pt. Dr. Gangubai Hangal, Late Shri. P.L.Deshande, Late Pt. Chota Gandharva, Pt. Smt. Malini Rajurkar, Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Girijadevi, Ustad Sultan Khan, Ganasaraswati Smt. Kishori Amonkar, Gundecha Brothers, Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar and many others.
	Milind Potereceived his initial training from late Pt.SHYAM JOSHI, who was adjoined with a famous music school at Pune. Milind started taking his further lessons from the great maestro of INDIA Pt.SURESH TALWALKAR From Mumbai. Milind was fortunate to have had training in GURUSHISHYA PARAMPARA. Milind as his natural inclination guided him, learnt more about 'Sath Sangat' from the Guru's style. Many artists have admired the apt & poorak accompaniment of Shri. Milind Pote. Milind has accompanied the 'who is who' of Indian Music.Pt.Bhimsen Joshi, Late Pt.Jitendra Abhisheki,Pt.Rajan & Sajan Mishra,Pt.Jagdish Prasad Mishra,Pt.Ulhas Kashalkar,Pt.Babanrao Haldankar,Pt,Rajshekhar Mansur,Pt.Ajay Pohankar,Sanjeev Abhyankar,Dr.Prabha Atre,Dr.Veena Sahastrabudhdhe,Smt.Padma Talwalkar,Smt.Shruti Sadolikar-katkar,Smt.Vasundhara Komkali are a few to name. Shri.Milind Pote has performed in All India Radio and Television regularly. He has lot of Cassettes and Cds to his Credit. Milind has performd in Various prestigious music Conferences in India.To mention few of them are Sawai Gandharva festival-Pune Kundgol. Dadar Matunga culture center-Mumbai. N.C.P.A Mumbai. S.R.A. Calcutta Madras festival, Kala Acadamy, Banglore.He has performed in most of the Indian cities like Baroda,Ahmadabad,Hubli,Belgaum,Madhya Pradesh,Delhi Milind has traveled abroad as part of his Music career He has performed in countries like Kenya, Japan, U.A.E, U.K.(I.C.C.R. Tour to represent India). Although a performing artist Milind did his graduation in Electronics. And then Masters in music(Tabla). Shri.Milind Pote is not only a performer but is an experienced and renowned teacher too.He has taught Tabla at various schools, renowned music institutions and at University of Pune.
	Born and brought up in Pune, India, Madhuri Apte was attracted towards Kathak and classical dance forms at a very early age. Her instinct led her to the Manisha Nrityalaya to learn Kathak from renowned Guru Mrs. Maneesha Sathe. For the last 15 years, Madhuri has been blessed with ManeeshaTai's teachings and support for inculcating the unique dance form of Kathak. While learning from Maneeshatai, Madhuri performed in numerous programmes organised by Maneesha Nrityalaya in India as well as abroad. Till date, Madhuri has received several accolades for her work in Kathak. She has received scholarships from The Central Govt., for higher learning and also honoured with prestigious award 'SINGAR MANI' in Kal Ke Kalakar Mahotsava organized by Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai in the year 2000. She has also won several national level competitions held by organisations like Spic Macay, Sharada Sangeet Vidyalaya etc. Madhuri's work has also been noteworthy due to the innovative programmes she conceives. Recently, she conceived and performed a dance programme called 'Naad Shiva' based on Pt. Kumar Gandharva's compositions, which was appreciated by all the eminent personalities, Gurus and the audience. Madhuri is a senior faculty at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Pune and is also closely associated with Lalit Kala Kendra(Centre for Performing Arts) at the University of Pune, from where she completed her post graduation. Currently, she is aspiring to begin her Ph.D on the subject of 'Pandit Gopi Krishnaji's dance style and innovation in Kathak' from the University of Pune.
	Smt. Rujuta Soman, a leading International Kathak Dancer from India, has been a disciple of Late Guru Pandita Dr. Rohini Bhate for more than 20 years, and is also being groomed by the noted "Taalyogi" Guru Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. She has a Master's Degree in Kathak from the Pune University and holds the title "Singaar Mani" conferred by the Sur Singaar Samsad. She runs her Kathak Institute named "Urrmee", where training in pure Classical Kathak is imparted and it aims at preserving and promoting Kathak at the highest calibre locally, nationally and internationally. Rujuta Soman has performed all over India as well as in Germany, France and U.K. Presently, her student Miss. Poonam Panchwagh stays in Germany for performing and imparting the knowledge of Classical Kathak.