Saturday, June 8, 2024
7:00 PM
Sarode Reverie
A performance of North Indian Classical Music
Atish Mukhopadhyay – Sarode
Ravi Naimpally – Tabla
Venue:
Canadian Music Centre
20 St. Joseph St.
Toronto ON, M4Y 1J9
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Atish Mukhopadhyay is a virtuoso of the Sarode, a rare talent in the North Indian Classical Instrumental music scene. He is a dedicated scholar of traditional music and carries the legacy of the ‘Maihar Senia Gharana of Baba Allauddin Khan,’ a world-famous musical lineage that dates back to the 16th century India. Atish is a direct representative and torchbearer of this lineage. He has received high critical acclaim and numerous accolades for his musical excellence, which has left an indelible mark on the world of North Indian Classical music.
Atish’s musical journey started under the guidance of some of the greatest masters and Gurus in the North Indian Classical Music tradition for almost four decades. His musical training began in 1985 under the tutelage of Guru Professor Dhyanesh Khan. However, it was in 1991 that he discovered a new haven for his artistic expression when he embarked on the profound journey of learning the art of Sarode under the affectionate guidance of Guru Ustad Aashish Khan. Over more than a decade, Atish also absorbed the rich knowledge from Vidushee Ameena Perera, one of the finest Gurus in the field. His musical odyssey even included rare opportunities to study with the legendary Late Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, a testament to the depth of his musical foundation.
As a performing artist, Atish Mukhopadhyay has performed numerous solo concerts both in India and abroad since 2005. His musical prowess has transcended borders, with successful participations in national and international music festivals, captivating audiences in Russia, the USA, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, and beyond. His Sarode album, “The Majestic Senia Sarode,” released by ‘Raga Music’ in India, further attests to the sublime artistry he brings to his craft.
Apart from traditional Indian classical music, Atish is passionate about experimentation, cross-cultural collaboration, and appreciation of non-Indian musical forms. He is a representative of a new generation of Indian musicians.
Atish’s commitment to education is as profound as his commitment to performance. He has conducted over five hundred music workshops and lecture demonstrations in India and abroad and has imparted his knowledge to aspiring musicians at esteemed institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania, Punjab University, Akal College of Divine Music, Saint Petersburg Korsakov Conservatory, and the Alliance Française Dhaka. Since 2012, Atish has served as a visiting lecturer in both Instrumental and Vocal Hindustani music at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Music Conservatory, contributing to the global dissemination of Indian classical music. His involvement as a founding member and faculty at the Aashish Khan School of World Music in Kolkata reflects his dedication to nurturing the next generation of musicians.
Atish Mukhopadhyay’s dedication and elegance in music have been recognized through titles like ‘Surmani’ and ‘Sangeet Sadhak’ in India. He became the first Indian musician to receive the ‘Nikolai Rubinstein Medal’ from Moscow Tchaikovsky State Music Conservatory. This prestigious Medal was awarded to him on the 10th anniversary of a regular course of North Indian Classical Music that he initiated in 2012.
Atish is recognized as an empaneled musician by the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs. Additionally, he held the empanelment as ‘Multi-Talented Teacher-cum-Performer’ with the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs from February 2014 to January 2018.
In a musical career spanning nearly 40 years, Atish Mukhopadhyay has not only been a torchbearer of a rich musical lineage but a cultural ambassador, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries. His groundbreaking works underscore his ability to bridge diverse cultures through the universal language of music, expanding the reach of Indian classical artistry to new horizons.
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Ravi Naimpally studied the art of tabla playing in India under eminent master such as his uncle Pandit Nikhil Ghosh and Pandit Anindo Chatterjee. Although most of his training is in the Farrukabad gharana, he has also trained in the Qasur style with Pandit Sushil Kumar Jain. He has accompanied many accomplished artists such as Aarti Anklikar, Buddadev Das Gupta, Dhruba Ghosh, Lakshmi Shankar and Shantanu Bhattacharya. Ravi has been an active member of the Canadian world music scene for nearly 20 years. As a vital part of Toronto’s large South Asian community, Ravi continues to perform traditional music from India, while participating in many cross-cultural exchanges. He has toured extensively in Europe, India, United States, Mexico, Argentina and Japan. Ravi is a frequent collaborator with such groups as Niyaz, Constantinople, Avataar, and Monsoon. Currently, he is involved in three new collectives; 1) So Long Seven (folk-roots world music), Near East (India, Mid-East) and Sansar (Hindustani, Carnatic).
In 2011 Toronto’s South Asian community acknowledged Ravi’s contributions to music by bestowing on him the Grant’s Desi Achievers Award. Ravi has had several Juno nominations and is featured on Kiran Alhuwalia’s Juno winning recording Beyond Boundaries. For 11 years Ravi led his own Indo-jazz ensemble Tasa, which in turn influenced many world music artists in Canada. Tasa toured internationally and recorded 4 CDs of Ravi’s original music. Tasa was awarded an Urban Music Award for Best World Music album.
Ravi is frequently hired as a guest lecturer by the music department at York University and Humber College. In 2017 he founded the Rhythm House music school, dedicated to providing high quality instruction on tabla, sitar and other Hindustani and Western instruments. The school provides private as well as group classes and master classes with Pandit Anindo Chatterjee. Rhythm House employs highly accomplished teacher on each instrument.
