Hindustani Vocal Recital – Khayal Sangeet
Padmabhushan Dr. Prabha Atre is perhaps the only performer who has also excelled as a brilliant thinker, academician, author, composer and teacher of music. She is the senior most front ranking vocalist in the country representing the Kirana gharaanaa, today. A Science and Law graduate, she also holds a Doctorate in music. A former Assistant Producer with the All India Radio, former Professor and Head of the Department of Music, SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai, and former Producer-Director of the recording company ‘Swarashree’, devoted only to Classical Music, Dr. Prabha Atre has a rare blend of skill and insight. She has displayed constant innovation and creative endeavour which has distinguished her from other vocalists, both in the classical and light classical idioms. Dr. Prabha Atre was trained in the traditional `guru-shishya paramparaa’ system by the late Sureshbabu Mane and his famous sister, Padmabhushan Hirabai Badodekar, both stalwarts of the Kirana gharaanaa and drew much inspiration from the styles of renowned maestros, Amir Khan and Bade Gulam Ali Khan. Dr. Atre has authored academic books on the various aspects of music that are especially relevant to the present day performance. She is a ‘Top’ Grade artist of the All India Radio. Whether it is khyaal, tarana, thumri, dadra, ghazal or bhajan, she has a distinct style and typical ingenuity in design and presentation. Dr. Prabha Atre has been honored with the National Awards – ‘Padmashree’, ‘Padmabhushan’, ‘Kalidas Samman’, ‘Sangeet Natak Akademi’ award and ‘Tagore Akademi Ratna’ in recognition of her exceptional creativity, highest artistic excellence, outstanding achievement and distinguished life time services in the field of classical vocal music.
Dr. Chetna Banawat is the disciple of internationally renowned Hindustani Classical Vocalist of Kirana Gharana Padmbhushan awardee, Honorable Dr. Prabha Atre. She has been taking lesson on Indian classical vocal and light classical since 1999. Born in a Musical family in Udaipur, Chetna received her internal training in music from her mother Smt. Madana Banawat and her father Shri Ramnarayan Banawat. She has been fortunate to receive lessons on Tappa Gaayki from Pt. Bala Saheb Poochwale, the maestro from Gwalior Gharana. Chetna has given music program, concerts, lecture-demos all over India. She has received many awards like Surmani Award, Dagar Award, Master Madan Award, Sangeet Surnandan Award, Shastriya Sangeet Kala Ratna Samman, Sangeet Natak Academy Yuva Purskaar, etc.
Vikas Naregal from Bangalore, a Graded artist of AIR Bangalore, started showing interest towards the art of Tabla at the age of 8. He was motivated and highly encouraged by his parents Mohan Naregal and Anuradha Naregal. Vikas comes from a family of musical background. His maternal grandfather, Late. Ramachandra Desai was a famous Harmonium player, vocalist and a noted music teacher at Hubli. Vikas Naregal started his initial tutelage under Pt. Hire Gowdar, continued with Pt. Vishwanath Nakod, Pt. Sheshagiri Hangal, and Pt. M. Nagesh. Presently, under guru Pt. Ravindra Yavagal he is learning skills to inculcate Ustad Tirakhwara style of Tabla playing for the past 12 years. Vikas has accompanied several famous Hindustani vocalists like Pt. Vinayak Thoravi, Pt. Parameshwar Hegde, Pt. Venkatesh Kumar, Pt. Jayateertha Mevundi, Vid. Sangeetha Katti Kulakarni and upcoming hindustani vocalists like Sri Kaushik Aithal, Kum. Anagha Bhatt, Kum. Amrutha Rao, Sri. Balachandra Prabhu and many others. He has also participated in many Tabla Ensembles with renowned artists and solo performance with Tabla Maestro Pt. Ravindra Yavagal. He has actively participated in many commercial audio/video recordings and also performed at several major music festivals in India.
Sameer Kotasthane learnt classical vocal music under the guidance of Pt. Vijay Koparkar and Pt. T D Janorikar – he is currently training under Dr. Ram Deshpande, a senior disciple of Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar and Pt. Yashwantbua Joshi. He received the National Cultural Talent Scholarship and several dozen awards in India. All India Radio and National Television have aired his performances. He has been invited to conduct lecture demonstrations by Central Texas organizations such as ICMCA and SPICMACAY. He has accompanied distinguished artists like Pt. Ajay Pohankar, Vidyadhar Vyas, Dr. Ram Deshpande and Prasad Khaparde.