D K Datar - Violin
One of India’s leading violinists today, Pandit D. K. Datar belongs to the chaste tradition set up by the great luminary Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, being the nephew of the Late Pandit D. V. Paluskar. He had his initial training in violin from the erudite late Pandit Vighneshwar Shastri and secured further guidance from the late Pandit D. V. Paluskar. His ‘gayaki’ style of playing has a unique quality rarely found. His welding of the instrument displays a bowing technique matched only by his delectable delineation of classical melodies. He is well known for the systematic presentation of ‘ragas’ with great regard for classical tradition. He excels, equally in playing thumris, ‘dhuns’ and other forms of light music.

He has given many performances including prestigious programs of All India Radio and Television like National Programmes and Sangeet Sammelans. He has also participated in other programmes like Tansen Festival, Sangeet Natak Academy concerts in addition to his regular AIR outstation concerts, Music circle programmes and conferences throughout the country, enthralling discerning audiences with tonal grace and rhythmic elegance in playing. He has had the privilege of accompanying the late Pandit D. V. Paluskar on the violin at several of his concerts.

He has also performed and given lecture-demonstrations in various parts of the world in particular Iceland and USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Japan, UAE, Nepal and Singapore

He has received several honours including “Sangeet Natak Academy Award” (1996), “Vasantrao Naik Pratisthan Award” (1997) Maharashtra State Government’s Award (1998), President of Iceland’s Award (1998), ‘Padmashree’ (2004)

Leading recording companies like “Venus”, “Super Cassettes”, “Magna Sound”, “Saregama” and “Rhythm House” have recorded Pandit Datar on cassettes and CDs

Girija Devi - Vocal
A star, Shrimati Girija Devi was born on May 8, 1929 in Varanasi. Devoted to music from her childhood, she was initiated at the age of five by late Pandit Sarju Prasad Misra. Her classical and semi-classical music training continued under late Pandit Sri Chandra Misra. Her wide repertoire includes dhrupad, khayal, tarana, sadra, thumri, tappa and many others. Her specialised research in thumri helps her to pay equal attention to the literature as well as the music. Her knowledge of traditional folk music including holi, chaiti, jhula, dadra, kajri, bhajan, etc. makes her music unique and attractive. Her gayakee incorporates elements of both the Seniya as well as the Banaras gharana.

A brilliant performance debut from All India Radio, Allahabad in 1949, followed in 1951 by performances at many Sangeet Sammelans in all the cities of India, paved the way for her extraordinary talent to be recognised. From 1969 she started her foreign tours giving successful performances in many countries in particular USA, USSR, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada and UK.

She has received the Doctorate of Literature (D. Lit) from Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, Dr Purshottam Das Tandon Open University and the D. Lit (Vachaspati) from Sampoornanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi. ‘Beyonds Dreams’, Kolkata honoured her as the “Cultural Ambassador” on International Women’s Day.

She has received accolades from innumerable institutions, including the Padmabhushan, Sangeet Natak Academy Award, Delhi, Sangeet Natak Academy award and fellowship from Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy, Sangeet Shiromoni from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Yash Bharati from Uttar Pradesh, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Award, Tansen Award, Kashi Gourav Award, Gritma Award, Dagar Gharana Award from Maharana Mewar Foundation, Udaipur, Matri Shakti Award in the name of Indira Vishnu Kant Shastri, Rajmal Surana Award from Jaipur, Kalpataru Award from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad and Indian Music Academy Award given by the President of India.

A staunch proponent of the traditional Guru Shishya Parampara, from 1977 – 1990 she taught music as a guru in ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata. For the subsequent two years she was a visiting professor at Banaras Hindu University and Vishwa Bharati University. She has conducted several lecture demonstrations in different parts of the world for SPICMACAY and other organisations. In November 2003 she rejoined the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata as a Guru.

A living legend, she has had innumerable commercial releases including LP and EP records, audio cassettes and CDs by renowned music companies including JMV, Music Today, Magnasound etc. Recently, she has formed a trust named “Girija Devi Trust” with the objective of giving scholarships to less fortunate students and awards to old educated and accomplished ladies.

Malladi Brothers - Vocal
Sreerama Prasad and Ravikumar, popularly known as ‘Malladi Brothers’, inherited music from their grandfather, the late Malladi Srirama Murthy, a Carnatic vocalist and Harikadha exponent. Initially trained by their father Vidwan Malladi Suri Babu, a disciple of Vidwan Sri Voleti Venkateswarlu, they received advanced training from Sangeeta Kalanidhi Sri Nedunuri Krishnamurthy and Sangeeta Kalanidhi Padma Bhushan Dr Sripada Pinakapani.

‘A’ grade musicians of All India Radio and Masters in Music from Andhra Pradesh University, their vast repertoire, perfect unison and consistently brilliant performances brought media attention and they have performed all over India and overseas, in particular USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, UAE, Singapore and Malaysia. They have several commercial recordings to their credit and have received several accolades including Sri Voleti Memorial Award, Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (2006), Isai Peroli, Pratibha Puraskar and Nada Bhooshanam.

They have established the Sama Gana Lahari Cultural Trust to preserve, propagate and perpetuate Carnatic classical music.

Manilal Nag (ITC SRA Guru) - Sitar
Pandit Manilal Nag is the exemplar of the fifth generation of the Nag family of instrumentalists of the Vishnupur Gharana of Bengal, which is generally accepted to be around 300 years old. When he was 5, his father Pandit Gokul Nag initiated him into the art of sitar playing. While in his teens, he passed the Senior Diploma Examination in music from Academy of Dance, Drama & Music, West Bengal (which became Rabindra Bharati University in 1961) with first class honours. He has had the unique opportunity of being close to such musical giants as Ustad Allauddin Khan, Pandit Kanthe Maharaj, Pandit Omkarnath Thakur, Pandit Vinayak Rao Patwardhan, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan, Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa and many others.

His debut performance was at the age of 14 at the All India Music Conference, where he was accompanied by Pandit Samta Prasad. Since then he has performed at music conferences all over India as well as at International Music Festivals and concerts held at UK, USA, Canada, Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Japan, Fiji and Nepal. A top graded artiste of All India Radio and Doordarshan, he has played several times for the National Programme of Music and Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan. He has also released several cassettes and CDs from different music companies.

A member of the Central Audition Board of All India Radio, he is also an examiner of the University Grants commission, apart from being on the Expert Committee of the Departments of Music of several State and Central Universities. He has trained innumerable disciples who have made names for themselves. In 2001 he received the ITC Award as well as the prestigious Sangeet Natak Academy award given by the President of India. In 2005 Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, honoured him with the Kosher award in recognition of his contribution to music. Recently he has been awarded a Senior Fellowship by the Ministry of Human Resources, Government of India.

Mashkoor Ali Khan
Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan is, musically speaking, a truly blue-blooded vocalist. His family tree has a distinguished lineage of elders who reigned supreme in the world of music, the great Ustad Abdul Karim Khan and the legendary Sartaj-e-Mousiqui, Abdul Wahid Khan Sahab, the founders of the famous Kirana Gharana to name a few. His father, the great sarangi-nawaz, Shakoor Khan Sahab was the grand nephew of Ustad Bande Ali, Beenkar, while Mehboob Baksh Khan Sahab and Ustad Aajiz Pia were Mashkoor’s great grand uncles.

Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan was initiated and trained by his father for fifteen years and he secured a place for himself in the world of music very early in life. After his father’s death, he joined the ITC-Sangeet Research Academy as a scholar, to polish and develop his undiluted style of Kirana gayaki. Now, as a Guru of the Academy, he nurtures several scholars under his able wings.

His recitals reveal great imagination and vocal agility. An erudite musician, he possesses a keen understanding of the various “angs” of Kirana gayaki, emphasizing the numerous permutations of Khandmeru.

He has inherited a veritable treasure of bandishes and knowledge of rare ragas that few musicians can boast of. A true heir of his renowned forefathers, he continues to collect rare compositions with passion.

An A-grade artiste of All India Radio, he has performed in National Programmes on both Akashvani and Doordarshan, including Radio Sangeet Sammelans. He has also performed in numerous festivals and conferences of classical music all over India including Swami Haridas Sammelan, Mumbai; Sawai Gandharva Sammelan, Pune; Dover Lane Music Conference, Kolkata; Sajan Milap Sammelan, Mumbai; Apna Utsav of Govt. of India, New Delhi; and many others. During his trips to Canada, USA and Europe his superb performances have kept his audiences enthralled.

Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan’s brilliant career is studded with numerous awards such as Abhinav Kala Sammelan (1993), Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Award (1994) and Swaranjali Award (1997). In Kolkata he has been conferred the Best Vocalist Award from Bharatiya Sanskriti Samsad and the title of ‘Bandish Nawaz’ from Salt Lake Cultural Association in 1998. In 2004 he was awarded the Ustad Niaz Ahmed Khan and Ustad Faiyaz Ahmed Khan Memorial Award (Kirana Gharana).

Rajhesh Vaidhya - Carnatic Veena
Born in 1973, Rajhesh Vaidhya was brought up in a rich musical tradition. His father Sri K.M. Vaidyanathan was a rhythm stalwart both in mridangam and ghatam. From a very tender age, he started his tutelage under Smt. Jeyalakshmi and continued receiving teaching of the Saraswathi Veena under Smt Rama Nambinarayanan. He also received advance training under the world-renowned carnatic Veena Maestro Shri Chitti Babu.

Apart from his blistering speed, his veena playing is distinguished by the use of electric or amplified strings. A highly capable musician who has performed at most concert stages in India, he has also performed around the world in particular, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Canada and USA. He has even performed with an experimental dance troupe based in Switzerland. In 2001, he has received the honourable title “Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peeta Aasthana Vidwan”.

Subhra Guha
Subhra Guha is one of the leading lady singers of today. Her style is a juxtaposition of her feminine charm with the masculine grandeur of the Agra Gharana. Coming from a music loving family, she received her earliest training from late Shri Satish Bhowmick. She later took advanced training from Pandit Sunil Bose, joining the ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata. For ten years she received uninterrupted training from him as a scholar of the academy. Subsequently, she also received training from Pandit K.G Ginde and Pandit D.T Joshi. It was from Joshiji that she learnt the art of thumri rendition. Pandit Vijay Kichlu's constant support and valuable guidance also helped her to evolve her gayaki, marked by open throated 'akar', replete with taans and bol-bants. Today, she is acknowledged as one of the finest thumri singers of the Poorab Ang among the younger generation of singers. Over the years, Guha has intelligently maintained the balance between the two streams of khayal and thumri keeping intact the academic excellence with measured blend of aesthetics and musical semantics.

She is a regular artiste of the All India Radio and Doordarshan and has several commercial releases. She remains the only lady scholar of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy to have risen to the stature of a guru, remaining one for 11 years. It is but natural for organizations across the globe to invite her regularly to perform at major conferences. Between balancing her engagements in India and her regular tours to Canada, USA, UK, France and Germany, Guha also finds time to give talim to students.

Ananda Gopal Bandopadhyay
Initiated into music by his father, Ananda Gopal Bandyopadhyay was later trained by Pandit Mahadeo Prasad Mishra of the Benaras gharana. A top graded artiste of All India Radio, Ananda Gopal has had a brilliant and successful career as a tabla player, who is adept both as a soloist and an accompanist. He is a widely travelled artiste and has played with virtually all the leading performers of Hindustani music at festivals all over the world. Apart from his performances, he was associated with many prestigious organisations like the Song & Drama Division (Delhi), Faculty of Music & Fine Arts (Delhi University) and the Amir Khusro Society, Chicago. He has been a full time faculty member of ITC Sangeet Research Academy for over twenty years.

Chandrajith
Chaandrajith started learning under Sri. Munish and took advance training under Sri.Abhijeet Banerjee of Kolkata. He has accompanied both South Indian and North Indian musicians like Sri. Janardan Mitta, Sri. Balasai, Sri. Rajhesh Vaidhya and others. Apart from performing in India, he has widely traveled abroad including Europe, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka.

Lalgudi Sriganesh
Born in a musical family in a small town Lalgudi in Tamilnadu, Ganesh had an early inclination towards rhythm and started learning mridangam at the age of ten from Chidambaram Late Shri. V. Nataraja Iyer in New Delhi. Under his able guidance he could prove his worth as a successful accompanist to music concerts. Later in 1985, Ganesh switched over to dance accompaniment and also started taking advance training from Kalaimamani Shri. A. Prem Kumar. He also learnt the skills of doing Nattuvangam (conductor of the dance orchestra) and became a successful Nattuvanar too. In both capacities he has accompanied all top ranking dancers of India. He has widely traveled all over the globe to countries like East Asia, East Africa, USSR, Europe, Middle East, Morocco, The United States, Canada etc. Trained to play Kanjira as well, Ganesh has also been a part of various ensembles as a kanjira player.

K. N. Mohanaraman
N. Mohanaraman’s father Sri. Karukurichi Narayana Iyer was a Veena wizard who encouraged his children to train at an early age. He thus started his lessons early, learning Mridangam under Sri.K.M.Vaidyanathan and continuing his advance course under Thinniyam.Sri.Y.Krishnan. He has accompanied all leading carnatic musicians, both vocalists and instrumentalists. In 2002 Mohanaraman received the honourable title “Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peeta Aasthana Vidwan”.

K. N. Subramanian
N. Subramanium’s father Sri Karukurichi Narayana Iyer was a Veena wizard who encouraged his children to train at an early age. He learnt Ghatam under Sri.K.M.Vaidyanathan, Sri.Palghat.V.Sundaram and Sri.T.V.Vasan. He has accompanied artistes like Dr.N. Ramani, Smt. Charumathi Ramachandran, Sri.T.V.Sankaranarayanan, Sri.RajheshVaidhya, Sri.Nagaraj, and others. In 2007 Subramanian has received the honourable title “Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peeta Aasthana Vidwan”.