Popular Music of India

Pandit Gautam Kishore Kale (vocals) has been performing professionally since childhood, having studied with Padmavibhushan Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj. In 2023, he received the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Government of India. He has performed across India, including Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samahroh in Varanasi; Tansen Samahroh in Gwalior; Ustad Amir Khan Samahroh in Indore; Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki Samahroh in Goa; Chowdhury House Music festival in Kolkata, and many more.

Pandit Ashis Sengupta (tabla) received his initial training from his father Shri Ranjit Kumar Sengupta and was later groomed by Pandit Nanku Maharaj, Pandit Mahapurush Mishra, and Pandit Krishna Kumar Ganguly, and is now a disciple of Pandit Swapan Choudhury. He is an exponent of the Banaras and Lucknow “schools” (gharana) of playing and is emeritus faculty at the University of Delhi. He is the author of Facets of Tabla Playing, and he has also written many journal articles. He has toured around the world and won numerous awards.

Shri Sarang Sudhanshu Kulkarni (harmonium) is a highly accomplished and versatile musician. He is considered one of the leading figures among the new generation of classical musicians. Sarang's musical lineage is deeply rooted as he inherited the art of music from his father, Pt. Dr. Sudhanshu Kulkarni, an internationally renowned scholar musician, and his mother, Mrs. Rohini Kulkarni. He embarked on his harmonium journey at a young age and honed his skills to mastery. Sarang is an 'A' grade artiste of All India Radio & Doordarshan.

Sponsored by: 

• Mount Holyoke College: The McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives, Department of Art History and Architectural Studies, Amy M. Sacker Memorial Lecture Fund
• Smith College: Smith College Lecture Committee, Religion Department, South Asian Studies, Ada Howe Kent Fund
• Amherst College: Center for Humanistic Inquiry, the Religion Department, and the Hamilton Fund.