Pandit Sudhir Nayak

A disciple of the harmonium maestro and Guru Pandit Tulsidas Borkar, Nayak has also acquired training in the nuances of Hindustani Raag Sangeet from the noted vocalist, composer and Guru Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki. Primarily trained in the Hindustani music tradition, he has also studied various other genres of Indian music and is the recipient of multiple awards.

He has accompanied the stalwarts of Indian classical music, and his performances are regularly featured on Indian television and commercial recordings. He has recorded, commercially produced and composed music with and for record labels and films. At the Golden Jubilee of India’s Independence, Nayak and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi performed at the Central Hall of the Parliament of India.

His love for the harmonium knows no bounds, and he curated an exhibition of antique harmoniums from his personal vintage collection, along with providing information about the history and the status of the harmonium in the International Music Festival ‘Baajaa Gaajaa- 2009.” Now, his collection is poised to become a part of the Harmonium Museum currently underway at the Kala Coast: Global Music and Arts Village, near Udupi.

Nayak is often invited as a visiting lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh and has conducted interactive sessions for music students of Stanford, Berkeley, Brandise, Yale University and Ithaca College, USA, Griffith University, Brisbane among others

Pandit Dhananjay Hegde

A young and talented Hindustani classical vocalist, Dhananjay Hegde was born in a musical family. A child prodigy, Dhananjay was identifying the shruthi or musical note of a car horn or temple bell at the age of four. Observing this talent, his parents encouraged him to learn music. He began learning music at the age of four from his mother Smt. Geeta Hegde. His father, Sri G.S. Hegde is a Tabla player and founder of "SAPTHAK" - a music organization promoting Hindustani Music in Bangalore.

Later, Dhananjay was fortunate enough to have trained under Pt. Venkatesh Kumar from Dharwad, for a while. In 1989, he joined Pt. Vinayak Torvi for advanced learning and underwent rigorous training under Panditji in the Gurukul tradition. The talim received from Panditji moulded Dhananjay into a complete performer. It was not just learning one-to-one from Panditji, but being with him for his concerts all over, made a huge impact on Dhananajay as a performer. After an intense taleem of 14 years, he shifted to Mumbai to pursue his music career and to reach greater heights. A true student, he still seeks guidance from Panditji.

exerpt: Dhananjay Hegde

One of the interesting aspects of Dhananjay’s music is the blend of Kirana and Gwalior Gharana, which he has imbibed from his Guru. Dhananjay aspires to be a honest musician and to follow in the footsteps of maestros of yesteryear.

Yogeesh Bhat

Yogeesh Bhat is an Indian classical percussionist who specializes in Tabla and is recognized as one of the finest tabla artists of the upcoming younger generation of India known for sensitive and thoughtful tabla accompaniment and solo Performances.

Yogeesh was born in a music-devoted family which hails from Sagar, Shivamogga of Karnataka. His tabla lessons began at the tender age of 4 from Vidwan Bhaskar Hegde Muttige and later he pursued it from Pt. Madivalayya Sali. Presently he is mentored and undergoing advanced training from internationally renowned tabla artiste Pt. Ravindra Yavagal and Sri Kiran Yavagal of Bengaluru respectively.

Website: Yogeesh Bhat

Yogeesh’s keen interest in innovation led him to foray into the fields of Carnatic music and fusion music as well. He is currently undertaking training in the Carnatic thala system under Vidwan K U Jayachandra Rao, a very senior and accomplished Mridangam Vidwan from Bengaluru India. Yogeesh has also received training in Hindustani violin and vocals. Academically he holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Shridhar Bhat

Shridhar Bhat hails from Koteshwar, a village adjoining coastal Karnataka, where Abhang, Bhajan and various traditional folk forms are celebrated as daily ritual. The musical atmosphere in his family drew young Shridhar to music. Observing his inclination towards music and arts, his father, K. Venugopal Bhat, a musician himself, gave him exposure to music and other art forms. Shridhar’s keenness to understand music made his father to get him under the guidance of his friend and co-musician, Vidwan T. Haridas Pai of Bramhavara.

Shridhar received introductory musical lessons from T. Haridas Pai for about 5-6 years which developed his musical outlook. Seeing his musical passion, renowned vocalist of Mangalore, Smt. Basti Kavitha Shenoy, directed him to approach the illustrious Harmonium player, music composer and teacher, Shri. Sudhir Nayak of Mumbai, a disciple of Pt. Tulsidas Borkar and Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki. From the past 8 years he is inheriting the nuances of Hindustani Raag Sangeet and its allied forms under the tutelage of his guru Shri. Sudhir Nayak which is helping him develop a comprehensive perspective towards Music and Arts.