Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia
Born in 1938, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, the internationally renowned exponent of the bansuri or bamboo flute, had an early love of music. Chaurasia has become one of India’s most-respected classical musicians, earning several awards, including the national award of the Sangeet Natak Academy in 1984, the Yash Bharati Samman in 1994, the Padma Vibhushan in 2000 and the National Eminence in 2012. Chaurasia currently heads the world Music Department at the Rotterdam Music Conservatory.
Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri
Winner of Bharat Ke Sangeet Ratna Award in 2011 and the prestigious Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1997 from the Government of India, Swapan Chaudhuri is considered one of the greatest tabla virtuosos, who took lessons from his guru, the legendary Acharya Santosh Krishna Biswas of Lucknow, from the age of five, in Kolkata. He is the recipient of the American Academy of Artists Award and is nominee to Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame, distinctions reserved for only those musicians who have attained the highest level of artistry.
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
Born in 1938, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma is the winner of a Padmashree and is a musician par excellence. Santoor, which was used in Sufi music in the valley of Kashmir, owes its status in classical music to Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Through his career of over a half century, he has created millions of new listeners and ardent fans of Indian classical music. His awards and accolades are many, and include the Honorary Citizen award for the City of Baltimore, USA, Sangeet Natak Academy Award, Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar, to name a few.
Pandit Uday Bhawalkar
Born in 1966, Pandit Uday Bhawalkar is a standard bearer for Dhrupad and a strong force in its growing recognition and popularity. Uday spent over 12 years studying and living in the traditional guru-shishya parampara with Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar and Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, the pillars of the Dhrupad tradition. Uday has received prestigious awards including the Kumar Gandharva Samman and the Raza Foundation Award. He joined ITC SRA as a visiting guru from June 1, 2012.
Vidushi PadmaTalwalkar
Padma Talwalkar was born in Mumbai, India. She received training in Khyal gayaki in three main gharanas, namely Gwalior, Kirana and Jaipur. Their son Satyajit Talwalkar and daughter Savani Talwalkar are also tabla players. Vidushi Padma Talwalkar received a five year scholarship from the Bhulabhai Memorial Trust, a two-year fellowship from the National Center for Performing Arts, the Pandit Jasraj Gaurav Puraskar in 2004, the Vatsalabai Bhimsen Joshi award in 2009 and the Rajhans Pratishthan Puraskar in 2010.
Rajrupa Chowdhury
Rajrupa Chowdhury took up sarod when she was five years old and started learning at the Ustad Ameer Khan School of Instrumental Music under the guidance of Pranab Naha. Soon afterwards she started learning with Siddhartha Roy Chowdhury and continued with him for more than two decades. She has won many national music competitions such as the first prize in Dover Lane Music Competition in 1999, ITC-SRA Promising Artist Award and a national government scholarship.
Kumar Mardur
Hailing from the rich traditions of Dharwad and with many accolades, Kumar Mardur received his first training from his father Pandit Somanath Mardur, a renowned Hindustani Classical Vocalist of the Kirana Gharana and a senior disciple of the late Padma Bhushan Dr Basavaraj Rajguru. Endowed with a melodious voice, he is known for pure and aesthetic presentation of ragas, crystal clear taan patterns and command over laya.