Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Among Youth

SPICMACAY Chapter

Pittsburgh, USA

Upcoming Concert - May 1 2005!
Click here for the poster for the upcoming Padma Talwakar concert (May 1 2005). Email schellap+spicmacay AT andrew DOT cmu DOT edu for further information or questions.


Artist Bios:

Padma Talwalkar (Vocal):

Padma Talwalkar has acquired training in Khyal gayaki in three main styles or gharanas, Gwalior, Kirana and Jaipur. Today she leads a new generation of vocalists in an era when the distinction between gharanas is not as marked as in earlier years because of an environment that fosters the cross-fertilization of ideas from different gharanas. Her music represents a unique blend of the best of various gharanas, embellished with her own touch. Padma Talwalkar was initiated into Hindustani classical music by Pandit Gangadhar Pimpalkhare. Thereafter, followed some years of careful training with Moghubai Kurdikar, the celebrated doyen of the Jaipur gharana. During this period, Moghubai's illustrious daughter, Kishori Amonkar, contributed in no small measure toward Padma Talwalkar's artistic development. Then came years of guidance and learning under the guidance of Pandit Gajananrao Joshi, an acknowledged master of the Agra, Jaipur and Gwalior gharanas. In the course of shaping her early musical career, Padma Talwalkar has been a recipient of two prestigious honors. One, a five year scholarship from the Bhulabhai Memorial Trust and the other, a two year fellowship from the National Center for the Performing Arts, issued in memory of the late Kesarbai Kerkar. As a performing artist, Padma is well known all over India and her tours abroad have brought her recognition as one of the outstanding female vocalists. She has recorded several CDs.

Sudhanshu Kulkarni (Harmonium):

Sudhanshu Kulkarni received the musical training since the age of ten, first under the tutlage of late Appasaheb Laxman Sakhlakar and later with Pt. Rambhau K. Bijapur, one of the noteworthy harmonium maestros of his time. Having graduated the degree of Sangeet Alankar, Sudhanshu is the first person to obtain the Doctoral degree in music (Sangeet Praveen) from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalya Mandal, Mumbai in harmonium. He is recipient of Sangeet Vidwat award from the Karnataka Secondary Education and the title of Surmani conferred upon him by Sur-Sangsad of Mumbai. With extensive and varied training, Sudhanshu has carved a niche for himself as an eminent harmonium player, and he stands tall along with other renowned contemporaries. Sudhanshu Kulkarni has accompanied great stalwarts artists in India and abroad including Gangubai Hangal in India, Holland, and England; late Kumar Gandharva, Prabha Atre, late K. G. Ginde, Malini Rajurkar, Parveen Sultana, Padma Talwalkar, and Veena Sahastrabudhe who he accompanied in Sweden, USA and Canada. As a solo performer, sudhanshu Kulkarni’s recitals are marked with pristine qualitites of instrumentality.

Satyajit Talwalkar (Tabla):

Satyajit Talwalkar is the son of tabla legend Suresh Talwalkar and Padma Talwalkar, two of the best-known practitioners of Indian classical music. Right from a very young age, Satyajit received immaculate attention and training from his parents in various aspects of Indian classical music. But his interest in percussion was nurtured by his father, one of the most revered teacher and practitioner of the art of tabla playing. In following his father’s footsteps, Satyajit has become a masterful accompanist to instrumental and vocal music. But he is also recognized as a solo artist, and is at ease in performing as a member of taal vadya kacheri (ensemble of Indian percussionists) and his duets with Western drum ensemble have received critical acclaim. He has accompanied major Hindustani artists including Rashid Khan (vocal), Shaheed Parvez (sitar) and has performed all over India. He has also been on concert tours of France, Netherlands, USA, and several countries of South Asia.