Ustad Rashid Khan
A child prodigy, the immensely gifted Rashid Khan, was born in 1966. He joined ITC-SRA with his grand uncle Ustad Nisar Hussain Khan, one of the greatest maestros of the Rampur Sahaswan Gharana. The long and arduous training under his guru made Rashid a perfect exponent of the gharana. Rashid is also open to influences and is prepared to incorporate the best from other gharanas into his renditions. His singing bears a distinctive stamp that is his very own, grand and majestic, yet soul-stirringly pure and simple. Rashid has won accolades for his musical performance, all over the world. He received the Padma Shree as well as the Sangeet Natak Akademi awards in 2006.
Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar
Born in a family of musicians, Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar’s father, ND Kashalkar, a musician in his own right, initiated him into vocal music. With the gifted ability to blend the gayakees of Gwalior, Agra and Jaipur, he soon emerged as one of the most formidable vocalists in India. Pandit Kashalkar is the recipient of several awards such as the Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Jadubhatta Puraskar and Swar-Ratna Award. He has been a Guru at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy for nearly twenty years.
Suchisree Ray
Vocalist Suchisree Ray is unique for her ability to combine the boldness of the Agra-Gwalior gayaki and the eloquence of the poorav ang, a style of Hindustani classical music prevalent in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Suchisree is a disciple of Pandit Kumar Prasad Mukherjee. She received taalim in Thumri from Vidushi Purnima Choudhury and then from Vidushi Reba Muhuri.
Rahul Sharma
Born in 1972, Rahul Sharma learnt playing the Santoor from his father Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, a musical legend in India and the world over. Rahul Sharma has carved a niche for himself in the world of Indian classical music, with over 50 albums released in the span of a 15-year career. Rahul recorded 2 albums with the highest selling French pianist Richard Clayderman. Some of Rahul’s recent works include live recordings with the tabla wizard Zakir Hussain. In 2011, Rahul released Namaste India with world renowned saxophonist Kenny G.
Ustad Bahauddin Dagar
Bahauddin Mohiuddin Dagar, son of famous north Indian musician Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, is famous for playing rudra veena in the Dagarbani style. He represents the 20th generation of the Dagar lineage, referring back to Nayak Haridas Dagar of the 16th century. In 2012, he was awarded the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
Begum Parween Sultana
Parween Sultana is famous for singing Khayal, Thumri, Bhajans, Ghazals and has also lent her voice in several Hindi Films for which she received accolade. Her first appearance in a concert was at the age of 12, at Sadarang Music Conference at Kolkata, and thereafter she was considered a child prodigy. She received the Padma Shri in 1976 (the youngest to receive it), Gandharva Kala Nidhi Award in 1980, Mia Tansen Award in 1986, the Sangeet Samragni Assam Government Award in 1994 and Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1999. She has performed at various charity concerts for the Orissa flood relief fund and Gujarat earthquake victims.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
