Indian Classical Music 2021

Dr. Aruna Sharma was born at Sri ganganagar, Rajasthan, one of India’s culturally rich states. Inspired and encouraged by her father, who was a lawyer by profession, a highly learned person, a connoisseur and patron of Indian classical music, she has devoted her entire life to music. She comes of a highly educated and talented family, hailing basically from Jammu & Kashmir, where everyone is deeply committed to music besides his/her own specialized areas.

Aruna Sharma started learning classical music under the guidance of Ustad (Maestro) Jamal Khan, a Royal Musician from the court of Baroda, at the tender age of three. She studied music in an academic context at school and college level and did her Ph.D. in music from University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, under the guidance of Dr.B.L.Sharma .She was trained under Prof. R.C. Nadkarni , Prof. Sudha Srivastava and many renowned scholars of music. She started performing at the age of eleven in her school years at district and state level competitions.

In her twenties, along with her teaching assignment, she gave solo performances in major cities of India such as Mumbai, Delhi, Allahabad, Indore, and almost in all the major cities of Rajasthan. She was awarded ‘Surmani’ title by Sur-Singar Parishad, Mumbai for her exquisite performance. Aruna Sharma performed regularly on Indian Radio and Television. Besides India, she has given performances in different countries such as the U.K., Canada, Middle East and in the United States. Thus, she has carved her niche as a competent exponent of Indian music across international frontiers. A versatile artist, Aruna Sharma has rendered her performances in classical, semi -classical and devotional music. Along with her numerous live performances,

Aruna Sharma has released several compact discs in the past, featuring her renditions in different styles of singing such as classical music, devotional songs and Ghazals. She was awarded research Fellowship in 2011 By American Institute of Indian Studies under the guidance of Padm Vibhushan Ustad Amjad Ali khan Saheb. Aruna sharma has published two books of her compositions and one book on theoretical aspects of Indian music, the key role of consonances in Raga music. Aruna Sharma taught at Savitri Girls’ Post Graduate College Ajmer, Rajasthan, with her characteristic devotion and passion. At present she is teaching at Stony Brook University, New York with same enthusiasm, zest and dedication.

Anish
Harmonium

Anish is learning Harmonium under the guidance of of Dr Kedar Naphade, a senior disciple of Pt Tulsidas Borkar. Prior to that Anish leaned from Shri Hemant Kulkarni for over 7 years. Anish also learns Keyboard under the guidance of Shri Bobby Chatterjee.

Anish is a 16 year old 11th grade honors student at J P Stevens high School in Edison, New Jersey.

Anish has performed at various events in US as well as in India. Marathi Vishwa's various programs in NJ, Pandit Jasraj Institute's Mewati Sangeet Parv in New York, and in Pune, Hyderabad in India.to name a few

Anish also sings in choir and he is a member of highly acclaimed JP Steven's Chamber choir. Anish has performed in various national level honor choirs.

Besides music, Anish enjoys reading, practicing Jiu Jitsu, and doing math.

Dibyarka Chatterjee
Tabla

Dibyarka Chatterjee is a young Tabla player from the Farrukhabad Gharana, and is the son and disciple of Pandit Samir Chatterjee. Having grown up in a musical environment his natural inclination towards Tabla became apparent early in his childhood. At the age of five he was initiated by his father into the ancient system of pedagogy called the guru-shishya parampara (master-disciple tradition).

Dibyarka was born in Kolkata, where even in his childhood he was already performing in concerts as well as on Akaashbani Kolkata's Children's Section (National Radio - Kolkata Station). At the age of ten he moved to New York City with his family; since then he has continued to perform regularly with both Indian and Western music. Dibyarka has had the honor and privilege of performing with renowned musicians like Pandit Jasraj, Pdt. Budhhadev DasGupta, Pta. Lakshmi Shankar, Utd. Shujaat Khan, Utd. Mashkoor Ali Khan, Pdt. Ramesh Mishra, Pta. Shubhra Guha, Pta. Tripti Mukherjee, Pdt. Suman Ghosh to name only a few. He has collaborated in world music projects with groups like the Dance Theater of Harlem (in 'South African Suite'), the Battery Dance Co. (in “Songs of Tagore”), and with fusion musician/composers like Salman Ahmad (Junoon), Douglas Cuomo, John McDowell (on the award-winning documentary “A Son’s Sacrifice”), Gary Lucas & Najma Akhtar (on their collaborative album "Rishte") etc. He has composed music for, and performed in, two off-Broadway theatrical productions (Nuraldeen's Lifetime & Lee/gendary). He has also performed in many prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, the United Nations General Assembly, Lincoln Center & Asia Society in NYC, Place des Arts (Montreal), the Google Amphitheater (Palo Alto), Salt Lake Music Conference (Kolkata, India), Pratishruti Festival (Bhopal, India) etc. He has also appeared on numerous radio shows such as The Leonard Lopate Show and New Sounds on NPR, Raag Aur Taal on WKCR etc. (recordings available below). Dibyarka is a part of the Arpan ensemble featuring some of finest musicians from the NY/NJ area.

Dibyarka has a Masters in Fine Arts from Goddard College (VT). His academic pursuits are mainly focused on the history, theory, and philosophy of Indian Music. As a guest lecturer Dibyarka has conducted classes and lecture demonstrations at numerous institutions such as Columbia University, Dartmouth College, New York University, Manhattan School of Music etc. He also teaches Tabla classes regularly at various institutions and locations in NY & NJ.