Manjiri Asanare-Kelkar

Born in a traditional music family, her father, Pt.Anand Asanare was a well known Tabla Player.He was the guiding spirit behind her musical journey.Manjiri had her initial training under Pt.C.T.Mhaiskar in Sangli.She has inherited the rich tradition of Jaipur Atrauli gharana from Pt.Madhusudhan Kanetkar,the Doyen of the Gharana.The effect of Pt.Kanetkar’s long association with Ustaad.Bhurji khansaheb is aptly reflected in Manjiri’s Gayaki.She also had the privilege of taking Taleem from the renowned maestro Gaan Saraswati Smt.Kishoritai Aamonkar

Manjiri exhibits astonishing depth of understanding in her music.Her pliant,polished and seasoned voice with open Akaar,her easy glides,interwinning of laya and swara,so fine as to make the two inseperable- a noteworthy feature of the Jaipur Gharana make her performance slick ,scintillating and spell binding.Her performances bear eloquent testimony to her grit and determination,and exacting the training by her illustrious Guru.

Manjiri has received wide acclaim for her performances at Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav Pune,Kesarbai Kerkar Sammelan Goa,ITC sammelan Kolkata,Dowerlane Conference Kolkata,Harvallabh Sangeeet Sammelan Jalandhar,Shankarlal festival Pune etc.She has enthralled the audience in countries like USA,UK,France,Australia,NewZealand etc.

Manjiri is the recipient of the prestigious Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar Scholarshipinstituted by N.C.P.A Mumbai for the year 1994.She has been awarded the prestigious Ustad.Bismilla khan Yuva Puraskaar by Sangeet Natak Academy.She has been given the Gaan Hira award by the S.N.D.T University.She has also been awarded the Pt.Kumar Gandharva Award by the MadhyaPradesh Government.Recently she has been awarded the Gaan Saraswati Puraskaar.She is an ‘A’ grade artist of the All India Radio.She has recorded many albums which have been very well appreciated by the listeners all over.

Web: Manjiri Asanare-Kelkar

Sanjay Deshpande

Sanjay Deshpande is a talented Tabla Player based in Pune, INDIA. He was born in a music loving family and was introduced to the art of playing Tabla under Late Pt. Sabade at Pune Bharat Gayan Samaj. Later he took Taleem (lessons) from the renowned Tabla player Pt. Suresh Talwalkar of Delhi-Farookabad Gharana, in a Guru Shishya Parampara .He also had the privilege of understanding the beauty of Punjab Gharana under the guidance of world renowned Tabla maestro Ustad. Alla Rakha Khan Saheb and Pt.Yogesh Samsi. At present he is taking Taleem from Pt. Vivek Joshi.

Sanjay is recipient of the coveted “Ahmedjaan Thirakwaa Scholarship” for Solo Performance. He has accompanied renowned artists like Smt. Vasundhara Komkali, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Pt. Smt. Malini Rajurkar, Pt. Jasraj, Dr. Prabha Atre, Pt. Dinkar Kaikini, Dr. Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande , Smt. Veena Sahastrabudhe and many such great artists.

He has performed in major conferences such as Sawai Gandharwa Music Festival Pune, Paluskar Smarak Conference, Shankarlal Samaroha in New Delhi, I.T.C. Sangeet Sammelan . Dowerlane Conference, Kolkata.

Sanjay has performed abroad in Countries like U.S.A, U.K, U.A.E, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Russia,Belgim, Holland, Qatar, Israel, South Korea etc. He has also participated in the “World Vocal Festival” in Sweden.

Web: Sanjay Deshpande

Dnyaneshwar Sonawane

Initial training in Harmonium from renowned Harmonium player Pt. Bapu Kulkarni of Nashik, for nearly eight years, gaining knowledge of basic playing techniques and structures of the Gayaki (Vocal music styles) in Hindustani Raag Sangeet.

Continuing music education under the tutelage of internationally acclaimed Harmonium player Pt.Sudhir Nayak of Mumbai, developing skills in the art of playing Harmonium as an accompanying instrument as well as exploring techniques for solo Harmonium presentations, apart from being groomed in the nuances of Hindustani Raag Sangeet and allied forms of Indian music.

Recipient of the “Naad Sadhak Puraskar 2019”, instituted in memory of late Pt. Pramod Bhadkamkar ji; presented by Pt. Ram Deshpande and organized by Rigved Sansath, Nashik.

Web: Dnyaneshwar Sonawane