Gurus
Pandit Arvind Mulgaonkar one of the most renowned contemporary Tabla Maestros. Pandit Mulgaonkar has not only devoted his entire life to learning, mastering and preserving the treasure of Tabla compositions but has also handed it down most generously to the next generation.
Pandit Arvind Mulgaonkar began his initial training in Tabla under Late Ustad Babalal Islampurkar. Then he became a disciple of Ustad Amir Hussain Khan (Doyen of Farrukhabad Gharana) and took advanced training for 14 years till Khansaheb's death. Later he trained under Ustad Ahmedjan Thirakhawa (3 years) and Ustad Ata Hussain Khan of Rampur (3 years).
Pandit ji has participated in a number of music conferences giving solo recitals and accompaniment to eminent artistes such as Late Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Late Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, Late Pandit C. R. Vyas, Late Smt. Nirmaladevi, Pandit Ajay Pohankar, Pandit Satyasheel Deshpande, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Rais Khan, Late Ustad Ziya Moinuddin Dagar (sitar/surbahar) to name a few.
Pandit ji has many prestigeous awards to his credit, including the State Award from the Govt. of Maharashtra in 1992 for excellence in instrumental music, ITC Sangeet Research Academy Award, 2006 for his lifelong and dedicated services to Indian classical music on 5th January,2007.
Pandit ji is a visiting lecturer at Mumbai University, Goa University, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Lalit Kala Kendra, Pune University, Karnatak University, Dharwad, Indira Kala Vidyapeeth, Khairagarh etc.
He is a member of the Advisory council of Municipal Kala Academy, Mumbai and Tansen Award and Kumar Gandharwa Award Selection Committee, M.P. He is the Founder Member of the "Bandish Tabla Art Promotion Trust" dedicated to Tabla Maestro Late Ustad Amir Hussain Khan, established in 1994 for the promotion of the Art of Tabla.
Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri is one of the most highly respected Tabla players, worthy of highest regard all over the world.
Swapan ji started learning Tabla at the age of five. He received training from his late Pandit Santosh Krishna Biswas of Kolkata, the eminent exponent of the Lucknow Gharana.
Swapan ji holds a Master’s degree in music and has been conferred honors for his distinguished contributions in the field of Tabla by various academic and musical institutions. He is a recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Academy Award from the Government of India, and the American Academy of Artists Award, both of which are reserved only for those artists who have attained the highest level of artistry. He has received the Excellence in Performing Arts Award from the Global Indian Congress in San Francisco, and has been nominated to the esteemed International Percussive Arts Society's Hall of Fame. It was Swapan’s beloved parents, through their own passion for music, who initiated his formal musical training and inspired him in the field of Tabla, paving the path that would eventually lead him to virtuosity.
As a soloist and accompanist Swapan ji has traveled throughout Europe, North and South America, and Asia accompanying Maestros such as Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Vilayat Khan, the late Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, Ustad Amir Khan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj, Dr. Balmurli Krishna, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Dr. L. Subramanium, and Pandit V.G. Jog as well as other eminent artists. In addition, he has produced numerous recordings, including his own Tabla solos and videotapes, and has appeared extensively on television and radio. Two records, Legacy (1997) and Passing on the Tradition (1998), were nominated for Grammy awards, on which Swapan ji collaborated with Asha Bhosle and Ali Akbar Khan.
Swapan ji's music reaches beyond the scope of Classical music to include performances and recordings with musicians such as Stevie Wonder, L. Shankar, Mark O’Connor, John Handy, Larry Coryell, John Santos, the reputed Persian musicians Alizade and Kayhan Kalhor, the African drum master, Malenga, and the renowned guitarists, Vlatko Stefanovski and Miroslav Tadic. He has participated in many International Music Festivals such as Bath, Perth, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, San Francisco, Kuala Lampur, Stuttgart and Berlin. He has composed for several percussion ensembles that have received tremendous appreciation from Western as well as Indian audiences. He is associated with various American and European Universities as a visiting professor.
Swapan ji has held the position as Director of Percussion at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California and in Basil, Switzerland, where students from all over the world receive intensive training in Tabla. He is also the Department Chairperson for the World Music Department at California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles, California. In addition, Swapan ji maintains a rigorous touring and recording schedule throughout the year.
Shri. Madhav Tare was a late bloomer in music. He started learning Tabla in his twenties from Late Shri Aloni sir at Kalyan (a town near Mumbai, India). Later on, he had the good fortune to learn Tabla from Khalifa Ustad Amir Hussain Khan saheb. It was at this point of time when his true musical journey started, with rigorous training and Riyaz. While learning from Ustad Amir Hussain Khan Saheb, Shri Madhav Tare became very close to Pt. Arvind Mulgaonkar ji, Dada Naik, Pandurang Salunkhe, Aaba Dabholkar and many of his Guru Bandhus.
Shri Madhav Tare also believed in imparting traditional training in Tabla to the next generation, so as to pass on the legacy of our rich musical heritage to the next generation. Sandip Mayekar, Ravi Ponkshe, Sanjay Deshpande, Satish Tare, Milind tare (his Sons) and then lately, Ashish Tare (his Grand Son) were among those who were privileged by his training.
Shri. Madhav Tare was a versatile personality. In the early 80's he also learned Harmonium from Pt. Manohar Chimote. He was also actively involved with RSS and Yog Vidya Dham, Nasik to a great extend. All this, while working in Central Railway's Engineering department, he managed well to balance his job and musical passions.
Shri. Madhav Tare passed away on July 5th 2006, leaving behind his legacy in Tabla, well carried forward by his sons Satish and Milind and his grandson Ashish.
