Melbourne Hindustani Classical Music Society
The home of Hindustani Classical music in Melbourne
2pm Saturday 7th March
Smt Rajrupa Chowdhary (Sarod)
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Smt Rajrupa Chowdhury (Sarod) successfully carries forward the legacy of the Senia Shahjahanpur Gharana and stands as one of India’s finest and mature sarod maestros. Having received talim from the likes of Siddhartha Roy Chowdhury, Pandit Ajay Sinha Roy and later Prof. Sanjoy Bandopadhyay, she is noted especially for her intense raag emotions and spirited presence.
Chowdhury has featured in solo recitals for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall. She was also the youngest Sarod player to perform at the North American Bengali Conference held at New York, USA in 1995. Chowdhury holds a Masters in Instrumental Music from the Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, and is an A grade artist of the All India Radio, as well as an empanelled artist of ICCR (The Indian Council for Cultural Relations). Her emotive music has carved out a strong presence and niche in the world of Hindustani Classical Music. Ramendra Singh Solanki (Tabla accompaniment) is a Tabla player from the Ajrada Gharana who learnt his craft from his father, Ajay Singh Solanki and Ustad Nisar Hussain Khan of Jaipur. He has performed extensively as a Tabla accompanist as well as solo artist. Ramendra is an A grade artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan, and features regularly in their programs.
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All 2026 festival events will be held at Hawthorn Arts Centre - 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122
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7:30pm Saturday 7th March
Vd Kalapini Komkali (Vocal)
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Endowed with a wholly original, melodious and rich voice, Vd Kalapini Komkali is widely recognised as one of the finest classical vocalists of the younger generation. She is the daughter and disciple of the legendary Pandit Kumar Gandharva and has also been trained by her illustrious mother, Vd Vasundhara Komkali. Kalapini ji not only learnt from her distinguished parents the technique and grammar of her art, but also inherited a capacity for creativity and reflection.
Kalapini ji made her solo debut in 1993 and has since performed at many of India’s most prestigious music festivals and institutions including Sawai Gandharv and Saptak. She has earned acclaim for both her classical recital and thematic presentations which are rooted in both tradition and imagination. Apart from performing, she has organised music festivals across all major cities of India. Acknowledging her contribution to Indian Classical Music, she was awarded the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2023 by the Government of India. Kalapini Komkali’s performances are marked by youthful imagination, artistic thoughtfulness and a mature command over various aspects of classical vocalism. Ramendra Singh Solanki (Tabla accompaniment) is a Tabla player from the Ajrada Gharana who learnt his craft from his father, Ajay Singh Solanki and Ustad Nisar Hussain Khan of Jaipur. He has performed extensively as a Tabla accompanist as well as solo artist. Ramendra is an A grade artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan, and features regularly in their programs.
Abhishek Shinkar (Harmonium accompaniment) has trained under the renowned harmonium artist Sri Pramod Marathe, and has performed at numerous festivals across India and the US. He completed a Masters of Arts in music from Pune and was also a scholarship recipient from the Indian Government’s Ministry of Culture. Shinkar is known for his ability to seamlessly compliment vocals, tabla solos and various classical instruments. |
All 2026 festival events will be held at Hawthorn Arts Centre - 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122
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10am Sunday 8th March
Pt Uday Bhawalkar (Dhrupad Vocal)
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Pt. Uday Bhawalkar is among the foremost Dhrupad vocalists and has been a strong force in its growing recognition, popularity and resurgence , worldwide. He’s a disciple of Ustaad Zia Fariduddin Dagar (vocal) and Ustaad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (Rudra-Veena), the towering pillars of the Dhrupad tradition.
He has an engaging style and is able to reach out and communicate with audiences of all backgrounds. He believes when immersed in the note and raga, the self dissolves and only the music remains. Uday ji has widely performed in the UK , Europe, USA, Canada, Mexico , Singapore, Japan, Israel, Morocco, Bangladesh and Nepal. He has collaborated with artists from other disciplines and cultures, and contributed to the soundtracks for international arts films. He has taught internationally at institutions such as the Rotterdam Music Conservatory, The University of Washington, Seattle and the Asian music circuit, London. He is a Guru at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy at Kolkata, Benegal Foundation’s ”Parampara Sangeetalay”, Dhaka, Bangladesh. In recognition for his artistry he has received many prestigious awards including the Kumar Gandharva Samman given by the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh (2001) and the Raza Foundation Award (2007) given by the eminent painter S H Raza, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2021, Kalidas Samman 2022 and Hanumant Award 2023. Pratap Awad (Pakhawaj accompaniment) Pratap Awad is a distinguished Pakhawaj maestro from Maharashtra, deeply rooted in the Nana Panse tradition. He holds an M.A. in Pakhawaj from Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune, and has trained extensively within a lineage of Indian percussion. With a career spanning over two decades, he has established himself as a sought-after accompanist in both Hindustani and dhrupad traditions, performing across leading Indian and international festivals. Awad has accompanied top-tier classical artists, notably dhrupad vocalist Pandit Uday Bhawalkar and rudra veena maestro Ustad Bahauddin Dagar, gaining acclaim for his rhythmic precision and dynamic dialogue |
All 2026 festival events will be held at Hawthorn Arts Centre - 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122
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7pm Sunday 8th March
Ustad Shujaat Khan (Sitar)
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In his country he is considered a national treasure… a musical legend….Ustad Shujaat Husain Khan is one of the greatest North Indian classical musicians of our time. He belongs to the Imdad Khan gharana of the sitar and his style of playing sitar, known as the gayaki ang, is imitative of the subtleties of the human voice.
Shujaat ji’s musical pedigree extends seven generations. He is the son and disciple of the great sitarist Ustad Vilayat Khan. His grandfather, Ustad Inayat Khan, his great-grandfather, Ustad Imdad Khan, and his great-great-grandfather, Ustad Sahebdad Khan, were all leading artists of their respective generations. Shujaat ji has performed at all of the prestigious music festivals in India and has toured extensively through the world. Captivating audiences with his unique style of sitar play, his exceptional voice, and his intuitive and spontaneous approach to rhythm. Amongst the many awards and other tokens of international recognition he has received, Shujaat ji's 'Lost Songs of the Silk Road' was recognized on Amazon.com's "The 100 Greatest World Music Albums of All Time" list in August of 2009. Zuheb Khan (Tabla) Zuheb Ahmed Khan is one of the leading torchbearers of the famous Ajrada gharana. Born into a family of musicians, he received extensive training from his father Ustad Naushad Ahmed Khan, his maternal uncle Ustad Akram Khan, and his grandfather Ustad Hashmat Ali Khan, who are all notable exponents of the gharana. He has performed at several prestigious platforms worldwide and accompanied world-renowned artists like Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan, Ustad Shujaat Khan and Kenny Baron. His playing is marked by his uncanny intuition and masterful improvisational dexterity.
Shariq Mustafa (Tabla) is an acclaimed tabla player hailing from the Farrukhabad gharana and represents the fifth generation of the legendary Thirakwa musical lineage. Initiated into tabla at age four by his father, Ustad Rashid Mustafa Thirakwa, he blends deep traditional knowledge with contemporary, innovative sounds. He is a sought-after performer globally, having played at major festivals and accompanied renowned artists such Ustad Majad Ali Khan and |
All 2026 festival events will be held at Hawthorn Arts Centre - 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122
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