Musical Training
-Began musical training in Hindustani Classical music at the age 13 under the vocalist Smt. Kum Kum Sanyal, a disciple of Pandit Vinayak Torvi.
-Began playing the bansuri at the age of 15. Progressed through self-teaching and application of basic knowledge of vocal music on the bansuri.
-Graduated one semester early from high school, and went to Mumbai for a period of five months to begin formal training on the bansuri under Pandit Ronu Majumdar. At this time also received training from the vocalist Smt. Geeta Javadekar.
-While at Oberlin College completed an independent major entitled "Performance and Cultural Studies of Improvised Music" with a concentration on Jazz and Hindustani Classical performance on the bansuri. Studied privately with such Jazz luminaries and Oberlin Conservatory faculty as the great saxophonist Gary Bartz and trumpetist Marcus Belgrave.
-Throughout college years, continued training in bansuri under the legendary Pandit Vijay Raghav Rao (senior disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar), Pandit Ronu Majumdar as well as Pandit Raghunath Seth.
-Recieved extensive guidance in gayaki from the renowned vocalist of the Gwalior Gharana, Pandit Vidyadhar Vyas while enrolled as an international student at Bhatkhande Music University, Lucknow, India.
-Since early 2006 he has been the devoted disciple of the internationally renowned master of the bansuri Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and spends the greater part of each year studying directly from him at the Brindavan Gurukul in Mumbai, India.
-Since 2006 has also recieved valuable guidance and encouragement from tabla and sitar virtuoso Pandit Nayan Ghosh.
Achievements / Awards:
-Won first place in senior division of the 2001 Sangeet Rajani Young Artist Competition for North Indian Classical instrumental music.
-Has recieved the coveted American Institute of Indian Studies Senior Performing Arts Fellowship for the year 2006 - 2007 sponsoring his studies in India.
Recordings
-Provided background music for a documentary of Kumbha Mela produced by the Himalayan Institute (an international institute of Yoga science and philosophy).
Performances
-Highly applauded performance at the Yale University Harkness Auditorium organized by the South Asian Student's association.
-Numerous performances at Oberlin College/Conservatory and in the Ohio area in a variety of musical contexts, including small Jazz ensembles, symphony orchestra and traditional North Indian Classical music.
-Numerous performances in the New England/NY area including collaborations with the master Kathak dancer Smt. Rachna Ramya Agrawal.
-Has provided live accompaniment on bansuri for many great North Indian Classical performers including Pandit Ronu Majumdar (bansuri), Pandit Raghunath Seth (bansuri), Pandit Vidyadhar Vyas (vocalist), Pandit Nayan Ghosh (sitar and tabla), Smt. Kum Kum Sanyal (vocalist) and Pandit Ramakant Pathak (Pakhawaj).
-College major culminated with a Senior Jazz Recital and Senior Hindustani Classical Recital, both of which were reviewed and applauded by the Oberlin Conservatory music faculty.
-Performed in Warsaw, Poland along with the Jazz/old time/blues/jug band "Jug Free America" (June 29th to July 20th 2004) for the American Embassy sponsored 2004 "New New Yorkers" festival. Continued on to perform in many different parts of Poland and Czech Republic including Krakow, Wengajty and Prague.
-Has performed throughout India. Some notable venues have been the Bhatkhande Music Institute (Deemed University) in Lucknow, and Mumbai University.
Academic
-Graduated from Oberlin with a 3.52 average. Received a B.A. with two majors - one Individual Major in music entitled Performance and Cultural Studies in Improvised Music (with a dual focus in Jazz and Hindustani performance) and the other in East Asian Studies.
-Spent one semester of college (January - June 2003) abroad in Rajasthan as part of the SIT: Arts and Culture India program. For the independent study portion of this program, spent one month studying, documenting, and learning the folk music of the Manganiar and Langas of Rajasthan with a particular interest in the connections of their music with Hindustani Classical music. This independent study culminated with a final performance of Manganiar and Langa folk music as well as 30 page thesis paper focusing on among other things the concept of raag as it exists in the Manganiar and Langa folk music tradition.
Teaching Experience
-Taught an introductory course on "Western Music" at the Bhatkhande Music Institute (Deemed University) in Lucknow, India for B.P.A. (Bachelors of Performing Arts) students (December 2004).
-Has taught many students on the private level.
