Nandan Shastry: Vocalist: Nandan started learning Hindustani Classical Music at the age of 10 under the tutelage of Shri Hemant Kulkarni and has fallen in love with the art ever since. He started stage concerts at the age of 14 and has since been invited to perform all over the world including the USA, United Kingdom, India and Hongkong. He has also been invited to perform at several prestigious events hosted by the Pt. Jasraj Institute of Music, Kusum Mahotsav, and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. He has also been facilitated with the ‘Swara Gandharva’ award presented to him by Zee TV and Maadhyam, USA in 2016. Apart from winning various prizes spanning state, national, and international level competitions, Nandan has received the rare distinction of the ‘Best Singer Award’ presented by the Shankar Mahadevan Academy as well as the honor of singing with Maestro Shankarji himself, all when he was just 13 years of age! Apart from vocal training, Nandan is also an established Tabla player and has accompanied local and visiting artists from India.
Dr. Manohar Apte on Harmonium: A practicing physician for over 35 years, Dr.Apte was a family physician at Tampa VA Hospital and former chairman of the Board at the university of Akron and Northeast Medical University. For the last 8 years, he has been a student of the Pt.Jasraj School of Music and has been an excellent harmonium accompanist to many vocal artists.
Rajesh Bhandari on Tabla: Rajesh started studying tabla at the age of nine at the East Indian Music Academy in New York from Pandit Ravideen Ramsamoojji where he studied tabla, harmonium, and Indian vocal. Rajesh has also studied tabla with Ustad Zakir Hussain for the last ten years.He has accompanied Mitali Banerjee Bhawmik (Vocal), Utsav Lal (Piano)and Ustad Irshad Khan (Sitar) who performed for APAI.
Funding for this event is provided in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council.