LocalMeetup San Antonio
Manjiri Asnare-Kelkar was born in a traditional music family. Her father, Pt. Anand Asanare was a well-known Tabla Player. Manjiri had her initial training under Pt.C.T.Mhaiskar in Sangli. She later inherited the rich tradition of Jaipur Atrauli gharana from Pt. Madhusudhan Kanetkar, the Doyen of the Gharana. The effect of Pt. Kanetkar’s long association with Ustaad Bhurji khansaheb is aptly reflected in Manjiri’s Gayaki. She also had the privilege of taking Taleem from the renowned maestro Gaan Saraswati Smt. Kishoritai Aamonkar. Manjiri’s polished and seasoned voice with open Akaar, her easy glides, intertwining of Laya and swara, so fine as to make the two inseparable- a noteworthy feature of the Jaipur Gharana make her performance spell binding. Her performances bear eloquent testimony to her training by her illustrious Guru.
Manjiri has received wide acclaim for her performances at Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav Pune, Kesarbai Kerkar Sammelan Goa, ITC sammelan Kolkata, Dowerlane Conference Kolkata to name a few. She is the recipient of the prestigious Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar Scholarship instituted by N.C.P.A Mumbai for the year 1994. She has been awarded the prestigious Ustad Bismilla khan Yuva Puraskaar by Sangeet Natak Academy, the Gaan Hira award by the S.N.D.T University, the Pt.Kumar Gandharva Award by the Madhya Pradesh Government and recently has been awarded the Gaan Saraswati Puraskaar. She has recorded many albums which have been very well appreciated by the listeners all over.
Suyog Kundalkar is an established harmonium player of the younger generation. He has achieved a distinct identity of his own at a very young age. He started training in Harmonium at the age of six from Smt. Ranjana Godse. Since 1997, he has been a devoted student of the renowned harmonium soloist, accompanist and musicologist Dr.Arawind Thatte. A keen student of classical vocal music, Suyog has trained under Shri. Suhas Datar and Smt. Lalita Khadilkar. He has accompanied maestros such as Gaansaraswati KishoriAmonkar, Dr.Prabha Atre,Smt. Girija Devi, Smt. Vasundhara Komakali,Smt. Malini Rajurkar ,Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Pt.Vyankatesh Kumar, Smt. Veena Saharabuddhe, Ustad Rashid Khan, and many others. He has toured in countries like Switzerland, UK, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, UAE Russia and Bangladesh. He has performed as a soloist in Pune, Mumbai, Kolhapur, Bangalore,Goa,Banaras,Singapore and Boston (USA).
Sanjay Deshpande was born in a music loving family and was introduced to the art of playing Tabla under Late Pt. Sabade at Pune Bharat Gayan Samaj. Later he received his training from the renowned Tabla player Pt. Suresh Talwalkar of Delhi-Farookabad Gharana, in a Guru Shishya Parampara . He also had the privilege of understanding the beauty of Punjab Gharana under the guidance of world renowned Tabla maestro Ustad. Alla Rakha Khan Saheb. At present he is taking guidance from Shri. Yogesh Samsi and Pt. Vivek Joshi.
Sanjay is recipient of the coveted “Ahmedjaan Thirakwaa Scholarship” for Solo Performance. He has performed in major conferences such as Sawai Gandharwa Music Festival Pune, Paluskar Smarak Conference, Shankarlal Samaroha in New Delhi, I.T.C. Sangeet Sammelan. Dowerlane Conference, Kolkata, accompanying renowned artists like Smt. Vasundhara Komkali, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Pt. Smt. Malini Rajurkar, Pt. Jasraj, Dr. Prabha Atre, Pt. Dinkar Kaikini, Dr. Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande, Smt. Veena Sahastrabudhe.
