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Padmashri Kailash Kher
Spiritual & Sufi Singer
Lyricist and Music ComposerThe journey of this remarkable Sufi and spiritual singer is not more than 12 years. In this short span, he has sung more than 1500 film songs. He has sung in more than 25+ Languages. He has won almost ALL the prestigious film awards. He is one of Navratranas, brand ambassador elected by Pradhan Mantri Shri Narendra Modi for the Swachch Bharat Campaign. He is the voice behind Skill India, Swachch Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti PadHao, Naari Shakti, Bharat Ke Veer, BHIM APP digital payments, Parakram Geet, Ujjwala Bharat Ujjwala, etc. Youngest musician to the recipient of Padma Shri. His band KAILASA has performed more than 1200+ concerts worldwide till now.
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Sanjeevani Bhelande
Bollywood Singer and Musician
Playback singer Sanjeevani is the original voice for super hit Hindi film songs like Chorichori Nazrein mili (Kareeb), Nikamma kiya, Yara rub russ jane de( Socha na tha), Makhmali yeh badan (Road), Uljhanoko de diya, Chidiya tu hoti (Nayak) and many more.
Sanjeevani is the first ever winner of Saregamashow to have sung playback in films. Music director Khayyamji awarded her first position in 1995.
Having performed 2000 Live concerts Sanjeevani is a seasoned performer. She is known to compere very well with insights into the lyrics and compositions.
She has widened her horizons by turning music composer. She has more than 100 original spirtual tracks with 25 million plus views.
Sanjeevani’s album ‘Meera and Me’ is a genre in itself. She has sung, translated and composed Meerabai’s songs in English.
Recently she has created another trend setter ‘Raag in a song’. These are classical bandishes sung in the song format. -
Maha Gayak Abhijit Kosambi
Playback Singer, Lyricist, Stage Performer
Mahagaayak Abhijeet Kosambi started singing as a hobby, until veteran artists Nilu Phule and Ram Nagarkar advised him to learn classical singing properly on hearing him sing in a function. After 10th class, he signed up for Singing Diploma at Shivaji University, Kolhapur under the guidance of Bharati Vaishampayan and other staff. People started noticing Abhijeet Kosambi and his path towards fame started laying its blocks.
The most important curve in their learning path was when he met Pandit Arun Kulkarni. He taught him classical music for hours long everyday and never asked for any payback. Kosambi brothers believe that whatever they are today, they owe it to Pandit Arun Kulkarni.
In 2006, Abhijeet Kosambi was entitled 'Maharashtracha Pahila Mahagaayak'. Entire Maharashtra supported him and loved his singing. He left his job and became a professional singer.Abhijeet believes that there is still a long way to go and pursue many dreams but they are very thankful that people's blessings are always with them.
Abhijeet Kosambi was the winner of the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Marathi singing contest. -
Prajakta Shukre
Bollywood Singer
Prajakta Shukre is an Indian singer who works in Bollywood films and has appeared on reality shows. From the age of four, she started participating in singing competitions. While she was in 12th standard, she decided to participate on season 1 of the Indian Idol. She rose to prominence after becoming the only female contestant to reach top five in her season. She finished fourth in her season. After the show ended, she received various offers to sing professionally. She was signed by the Sony BMG label, and with composer Leslie Lewis, she released her debut solo album. She has performed on various stage shows.
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Pandit Uday Bhawalkar
World Renowned Drupad Vocalist
Uday Bhawalkar has an engaging style and is able to reach out and communicate with audiences of all backgrounds. Since his first performance at Bhopal in 1985 Uday has performed in a number of prestigious festivals and events in India and abroad. An inspiring, significant moment was when Ustaad Nasir Aminuddin Dagar, the eldest of the Dagar family, on hearing Uday perform in 1987, blessed him, with a gold medal. In 2004 at the Prithvi music festival Uday performed with the legendary Ustaad Zakir Hussain who played the Pakhawaj with him. Uday has widely performed in the UK, Europe, the USA, Canada, Mexico, Singapore, Japan, and Israel. He has also collaborated with artists from other disciplines and cultures. Uday has contributed to the soundtracks for international art films.
He has taught internationally at institutions such as the Rotterdam Music Conservatory, The University of Washington, Seattle, and the Asian music circuit, London, to name a few. He is a Guru at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy at Kolkata, Benegal Foundation’s ” Parampara Sangeetalay”, Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Avartan Gurukul, Pune.
In recognition for his artistry, he has received many prestigious awards including the Kumar Gandharva Samman given by the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh (2001) and the Raza Foundation Award (2007 ) given personally by the eminent painter S H Raza. -
Swaradhish Dr. Bharat Balvalli
A World Renowned Indian Classical Vocalist
and
Music DirectorAn accomplished singer and music composer, who has released multiple albums and has gained recognition in Indian music industry at a young age. He has taken training under various accomplished Gurus for classical singing and harmonium. He is particularly fond of Gayaki of Master Dinanath Mangeshkar. He has been awarded the title ‘Swaradheesh’ in 2005, by His Holiness, Shree Shankaracharya Swami of the Karveer Peeth. His album on Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkarwas inaugurated by Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi in 2014.
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Dr. Pt. Vikas Kashalkar
A World Renowned Indian Classical Vocalist
and
GuruPandit Vikas Kashalkar is a well-known vocalist of Gwalior Gharana. He hails from a family of musicians. His father, Adv. N.D.Kashalkar, is a renowned musicologist and a writer. Pt. Vikas Kashalkar had his basic training of Hindustani Classical Vocal Music from his father. Afterwards he was trained in Gwalior style by Pt. Gajananrao Joshi, the stalwart of this Gharana.
Pt.Vikas Kashalkar, a creative genius, has obtained 'Sangeetacharya' degree from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, Mumbai. He has received three awards for this degree. His thesis entitled Creativity in Music is a unique work to show new experiments in the field of music.
His melodious voice and intricacies of 'Tanas' give immense joy to the listeners. His style is deeply rooted in traditions but his imagination knows no boundaries, sky is the only limit. Hence, there is always a feeling of newness in his rendering. He has given a number of performances in various cities all over India and abroad. He is an 'A' grade artist of AIR (All India Radio) and has given performances on Doordarshan. A programme 'Malhar Ke Prakar' conceived by him was presented at various All India Radio stations and received a great applause from the audience. Another programme 'Kalyan Ke Prakar' was also presented at different places which was conceived by him.
He is actively engaged in Music Direction. Recently he has given Music to two Ballets - one on Bhagwan Mahavir, and the other on Bhagwan Neminath. He has to his credit a number of articles on Music. His lectures are a regular feature in Lalit Kala Kendra, University of Poona. A workshop was conducted by him in the Lalit Kala Kendra on 'Riyaz' in 1997, which proved fruitful to the upcoming artists. A number of students are working for their Ph.D. under his guidance. Many of his students have been awarded the 'Sangeetacharya' degree. -
Guru Archana Joglekar
Kathak Dancer/Choreographer
Actor/Writer/Director/Producer
Indian Cultural Ambassador in USAGuru Archana Joglekar lived a very high profile career as an actress, writer, director & producer of various TV serials and films and as classical Kathak dancer in India. After representing India as cultural ambassador at International music & dance festivals like Reikyawik, Iceland and performing before many Presidents and prime ministers and Ambassadors of various countries, Guru Archana continued her journey in USA.
After coming to US, Archana started her work right at the grass root level to create awareness about our true Indian ancient culture, Indian classical art forms and motivate Indian origin children, born in US (who are so totally American in their upbringing), Archana worked on many fronts. It’s a selfless journey that began and will continue...
Archana has now launched thru Madhyam “ Nava-Gandharva Music & Dance Festival” where extra-ordinary rising artists are honored with the titles who will carry forward the rich legacy and cultural heritage of Indian classical art forms. -
Guru Mrs. Shubhangi Sakhalkar
Hindusthani Classical Singer
Shubhangi Sakhalkar, a Hindustani classical vocalist, has been teaching and performing for over thirty years. After beginning her musical training with Smt. Kunda Vaishampayan, she went on to learn for several years from the renowned stalwarts Dr. Prabha Atre and Smt. Padma Talwalkar. From her teachers, Shubhangi inherited the best characteristics of three different gharanas: the Gwalior gharana’s clarity of raga presentation; the Kirana gharana’s purity of sur and vocal production; and the Jaipur gharana’s attention to intricate detail of pattern and rhythm. Shubhangi's artistic development has also been enhanced by academic training. She earned a gold medal for completing a master's degree in music at the top of her cohort. In addition, Shubhangi has brought her own dedicated riyaaz, creative imagination, and keen intellect to bear upon her art. She has developed a dynamic yet thoughtful vocal style that remains rooted in tradition while being uniquely her own.
Shubhangi has performed widely all over India and the US. She is widely recognized as one of the finest exponents of Hindustani classical music in the United States. In order to nurture and promote Hindustani classical music in North America, Shubhangi has set up the Intonation Foundation, which organizes the annual Ustad Amir Khan Music Festival to showcase the talents of artists based in the U.S. and Canada.
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