Pushkar Lele

Pushkar started learning music at the young age of 3 years. Initially he was tutored in vocal classical music by Pt. Gangadharbua Pimpalkhare (disciple of Pt. Vinayakbua Patwardan) of the Gwalior for eight years. He then took lessons from Shri. Vijay Koparkar (Disciple of Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande and Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki) for another eight years. Pushkar then received the guidance of Guru Pt. Vijay Sardeshmukh and Pt. Satyasheel Deshpande (both being senior disciples of Pt. Kumar Gandharva). A rigorous study of more than two decades with all these renowned and able Gurus has enriched him with a rich fund of knowledge. He holds a Masters Degree in Music from Lalit Kala Kendra (Centre for Performing Arts), Savitribai Phule University. He also holds a Diploma in Public Relations & Corporate Communications from Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai.

Pushkar is a recipient of the Central Government scholarship for classical vocal music awarded by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) as well as the scholarship from the Department of Culture, Government of India. He has featured on TV Channels like E-TV (Marathi), Zee Marathi, Doordarshan (Sahyadri) and has been exclusively interviewed on Akashwani Sydney and Worldspace Radio.

Along with pure classical, Pushkar also presents Natyasangeet, Bhavgeet, Bhajan, , , Dadra, Hori and other semi-classical and folk forms with exceptional ease and mastery. Pushkar’s many projects include ‘Mala Umajalele Vasantrao’, AV presentations like ‘Sagun-Nirgun’, ‘Kumar Gandharva Darshan’, ‘Pravaahee’ and ‘Triveni-Rang’. Pushkar has been featured as one of 35 Young Achievers from all over India, belonging to various fields by INDIA TODAY magazine.

Pushkar is the Founder-Director of ‘Gandhaar School of Music’ where students are trained in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music using a contemporary approach. He is on the panel of Guru-s of Lalit Kala Kendra, University of Pune as well as Shadja.com, a virtual gurukul to teach classical music online.

1

SOME NOTEWORTHY AWARDS: 1. Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar Award (2001) of Sharada Sangeet Vidyalaya, Mumbai 2. Late Shri. Jaywant & Late Smt. Vasanti Paingankar Smruti Puraskaar (2004) instituted by Pandit Jasraj Mitra Mandal Public Trust, Pune 3. Late Shri. Sitaram & Late Smt. Malati Dixit Smruti Puraskar (2004) instituted by ‘Ganavardhan’, Pune 4. Dr.Vasantrao Deshpande Yuva Kalakar Puraskar (2004) instituted by Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande Memorial Foundation, Chinchwad 5. ‘Sur Mani’ (2004) by Sur-Singar Samsad, Mumbai 6. Gayanacharya Ramkrishnabua Vaze Puraskar given to outstanding artistes by Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Pune (2004) 7. Sudhir Phadke Yuvonmesh Puraskar (2006) instituted by Indradhanu, Thane 8. Sanatan Sangeet Puraskar (2009) instituted by Sanatan Sangeet Sanskriti, New Delhi, given to distinguished young artistes in recognition for their outstanding contribution to Hindustani Music. Past recipients of this award include music maestros like U. Shrinivas and A R Rahman. 9. Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki Smruti Yuva Puraskar (2011) instituted by Tarangini Pratishthan 10. Citadel Honours (2012) by Magna Publishing Company 11. Manik Varma Puraskar by Swaranand Pratishthan, Pune

PERFORMANCES: Pushkar's debut public performance was at the age of 7 years during Datta-Jayanti Festival in Pune. He now tours frequently all over India and abroad giving performances at many prestigious music conferences. Some noteworthy amongst them are:

• ‘Darbar Hall’ of Laxmi Vilas Palace - Vadodara • Hubli, Bantwal, Karkala and Shimoga Art Circles – Karnataka

• Sahyadri Swaramanch, Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Sadhana-Kalamancha, Sur- sauvardhan, Bharat Gayan Samaj, Ganavardhan, Rotary Club, Bharat Natya Sanshodhan Mandir, Cultural Centre, , ‘Kamayani’, Ramkrishna Muth, Kesari Marattha Trust, Pune Festival, Sangeet Pratibha Festival by Academi, Dinaayan Kala Parva, Satguru Jangli Maharaj Trust - Pune

2

• National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA), Dadar - Matunga Cultural Centre,Nehru Centre, Karnatak Sangha, Uttunga Sauskritik Parivar Trust (Vile Parle), Ajivasan, Mumbai Education Trust, Kal Ke Kalakaar Sangeet Sammelan by Sur-Singar Samsad, Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, Maharashtra Seva Sangha (Mulund), Sapt- Rang by the Drishti Foundation (Chicago), ‘Chaitrapalavi’ by Chaturanga Pratishthan, IMG Brittania Library- St. Xavier’s College, ‘Aarohi’ by Pancham-Nishad, Nadabrahma-Boriwali, Khayal Trust – Mumbai

• Maifil, Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande Smriti Samaroha by South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC), Sauvadi, Saptak, Kalidaas Festival – • Balkrishnabua Sangeet Sadhana Mandal – Ichalkaranji • Gayan Samaj Dewal Club – Kolhapur • Shiwanand Pratishthan – Dombivili • Kalyan Gayan Samaj - Kalyan • Pancham, Swaragandha – • Swar-Sangam - Sangamner • Saptak, The Genius, Kusumagraj Pratishthan - Nashik • Vilasrao Deshmukh Pratishthan - Latur • Yogi Sitaraam Maharaj Tembye Sansthan - Amravati • Khalvayan - Ratnagiri • Abhiruchi - Karad • Shivanand Swami Sangeet Mahotsav - Aundh • Samraat Club - Sawantwadi • Ajanta-Ellora Festival – Aurangabad • Parampara Evam Samagaman Festival organized by Ustad Allauddin Khan Sangeet Evam Kala Academy - Narsinghpur • Kala Academy (Panjim), Vasco Damodar Utsav, Shantadurga Temple (Calangute), Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki Smriti Samaroha, Smt. Anjanibai Malpekar Smriti Samaroha - Goa • Mitra Vartul Trust – Bhavnagar • Sawai Gandharva Music Festival – Kundgol • Drishti Foundation - Bijapur • Chatrapati Shivaji Mandal – Dewas • Swara Sauwad, Triveni Museum - Ujjain • Bharat Bhavan, Tribal Museum - Bhopal • Shree Gajanan Maharaj Devasthan Nyas, Tansen Samaroha - Gwalior • Patna Jn Durga Puja Samiti – Patna • Mamasaheb Mujumdar Smriti Samaroha, Late Sharad and Madhav Khargonkar Smriti Samaroha, Abhinav Kala Samaj, Shree Ganesh Mandal – Indore • Surmandal, Jashn-e-Deccan Festival – Hyderabad

3

• Prayag Sangeet Samiti - Allahabad • Devnandan Ubhayekar Yuva Sangeet Utsav, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (Southern Regional Center) – Bangalore • Pandit V. D. Paluskar Jayanti Sangeet Samaroha, VSK Baithak, Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival, HCL Concert Series at the India Habitat Centre, ‘Shadaj’, Bhakti Utsav, ICCR, Delhi International Arts Festival – New Delhi • Rajasthan International Folk Festival, Jodhpur

Internationally, Pushkar has successfully toured USA, Australia, UAE, Belgium, Netherlands, Israel and Singapore.

Pushkar has been showered with blessings and appreciation by musicologists, critics and stalwarts of classical music like Dr. Gangubai Hangal, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Shri. P.L. Deshpande, Pt. Chota Gandharva, Gundecha Brothers, Vidushi Malini Rajurkar, Pt. Jasraj, Vidushi Kishori Amonkar, Vidushi Girijadevi and many others.

Apart from being a performer par excellence, Pushkar is an engaging communicator with an easy and interactive style of communication. He regularly conducts workshops on Hindustani Classical Music Appreciation which have become extremely popular. Stanford University (USA), NCPA (Mumbai) and Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (SRC, Bangalore) are just some of the important places where he has conducted these workshops. He also delivers lec- dems for school children under the SPIC-MACAY program.

Pushkar has many albums to his credit brought out by Fountain Music, Ninaad Creations, Dreams Entertainment and Sonic Octaves.

-- Contact -- 773/1-A, Flat No. 101, Madhura Apartments, Behind Kamala Nehru Park, Off Bhandarkar Road, Erandwane, Pune - 411004. Maharashtra, INDIA M: +91-98812 37591 Email: [email protected] Website: www.pushkarlele.com www.youtube.com/lelepushkar

4