Navaratri Concerts - Hindustani Classical Concert – Oct 1, 2011 7 PM

Dr. Amit Arya (vocal) Milind Karandikar (tabla) Parag Marathe (harmonium)

Amit Arya (vocal)

A medical Doctor by profession but an Indian Classical Vocalist by choice, Amit Arya has been learning vocal music since the age of eight. He initiated his training with Smt. Anita Khare of Vancouver B.C. and progressed to learning from Smt. Asha Lohia under the Pandit Jasraj School of Music in Vancouver. Since 1999, he has had the privilege and blessing of taking advanced training from the living legend, Sangeet Martand Padmavibushan Pandit Jasrajji, as well as his senior disciples: Pandit Hemang Mehta, Pandita Tripti Mukherjee and Pandit Suman Ghosh. In particular, from Pandit Jasrajji and Pandit Hemang Mehta, he has been fortunate to receive intensive training in the vocal techniques of the Mewati Gharana.

Based in Toronto, Amit has the distinction of being one of the only Canadian born Indian Classical Vocalists who have reached a high level in performance. In addition, his extensive training has been done only in North America. In his pursuit of excellence, Amit has studied several texts of music such as Natyashastra, Sangeet Ratnakar and Sangeetangali. He has also extensively studied the history and musical styles of all the major gharanas of khayal music as well as dhrupad.

Amit has performed Indian Classical Music since childhood. He has many performances to his credit in North America. In 2011, he embarked on his first ever tour of India, where he performed at the Taj Mahotsuv (Agra), Habitat Centre (New Delhi) & the Department of Music, SNDT University (Mumbai). He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Mewati Pradeept Award in 2009 from the Pandit Jasraj Institute for Music Research, Artistry and Appreciation.

With the blessings of his Guruji, Amit now runs an institute- the Pandit Jasraj Institute of Music, Toronto (www.panditjasrajinstitute.ca). Through this institute, Amit aims to spread the music of the Mewati Gharana to aspiring students of all ages and levels in the Toronto area.

A highly spiritual person, Amit is an up-coming artiste whose style reflects an aesthetic blend of contemplation in music and technical excellence. His constant mediation on the complexities and basic framework of the Mewati Gharana is molding him into a cerebral musician whose maturity and understanding far exceeds his age. Amit truly believes in “Naaddhinam Jagat Sarvam” – “Underlying the Cosmos there is Sound.” (www.amitarya.ca)

Milind Karandikar (tabla)

Milind basically a mechanical engineer, has now acquired Real Estate as his profession with Cityscape Real Estate; however Tabla and Indian Music are a few of his major passions.

Milind, started learning tabla from renowned Pt. Gurunath Jaripatke and Pt. Bhai Gaitonde of the Farukhabad-Purab Gharana at the age of 10. Along with tabla, Milind also plays pakhawaj and many other percussion instruments. His accompaniment very well compliments to the nature, mood and type of main performing artiste.

He has accompanied many eminent artistes on Tabla, Pakhawaj and other percussion instruments extensively in the middle east, Canada and USA; to name a few, Smt Alka Deo-Marulkar of Jaipur Gharana, Mr. Hemang Mehta, disciple of Pt. Jasraj, accompanied Dhrupad singer Smt Lopamudra Chakrabarti from India on Pakhawaj and prominent artistes of North America like Rajashree Karandikar (Kirana Gharana), Ramneek Singh (Indore Gharana).

Parag Marathe (harmonium)

Parag started learning music from my father, Late Pt. Anant Marathe, a disciple of a maestro, Dr. B R Deodhar. As interest for harmonium developed he started my advanced training from his elder brother Pt. Pramod Marathe.

Parag was fortunate to perform harmonium solo for Pune Radio, when he was in 4th grade. This opportunity developed a keen interest for the instrument. Further training from his guru helped me explore new musical dimensions.

Parag has been honoured to have accompanied many well known artists. He is active as a Teacher and a Performer for a long time.

I started learning music from my father, Late Pt Anant Marathe, a disciple of a maestro, Dr. B R Deodhar. As interest for harmonium developed I started my advanced training from my elder brother Pt. Pramod Marathe.

I was fortunate to perform harmonium solo for Pune Radio, when I was in 4th grade. This opportunity developed a keen interest for the instrument. Further training from my guru helped me explore new musical dimensions.

I am honoured to have accompanied many well known artists. I am active as a Teacher and a Performer for a long time.