About
Vidushi Dr. Kamala Shankar
Vidushi Dr. Kamala Shankar
Vidushi Dr. Kamala Shankar is the first woman Indian classical slide guitarist, who is a renowned performer at Hindustani Classical Music recitals, both in India and abroad. Kamala has developed her own unique style of playing the guitar by blending gayaki and tantrakari ang (instrumental technique) with an in-depth knowledge of playing this specialised guitar. She has been conferred the ‘Kumar Gandharva Samman’ 2009 by the Government of Madhya Pradesh and Sangeet Nataka Akademi Samman by the Uttar Pradesh Government in 2013. She has been under the tutelage of Guru Padma Vibhushan Pt. Chhannulal Mishra Ji (Kirana Gharana) of Varanasi. Kamala completed her doctorate in guitar in 1998 from Banaras Hindu University. She is a Top-Graded AIR Artist. Kamala is also the founder Director of Shankara Arts Foundation, a seat for learning music in a ‘Guru-Shishya-Parampara’ way at Varanasi. The Shankara Music Festival, held every year, is dedicated to the legendary M.S. Subbulakshmi.
Pt. Shailendra Mishra- Tabla -
Though born and raised in Kolkata, Shailendra Mishra represents both the Benaras and Farukhabad Gharana. His unique and individualistic presentation has garnered worldwide acclaim through his solo and accompaniment concerts. He has collaborated with stalwarts of Indian classical music, including Pt. V.G. Jog, Pt. Shrikant Bakre, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Smt. Laxmishankar and M.S. Gopalkrishnan. He has performed extensively across the USA, Europe, Middle East, and SouthEast Asia.
Shri Nirmal Saini- Guitar support -
Shri Nirmal Saini has a natural inclination towards the guitar and he has been practising classical music for the last 11 years under the guidance of eminent musician Vidushi Dr. Kamala Shankar, following the Guru Shishya tradition. Currently, he is an approved guitar artiste of All India Radio. He has represented his college in several youth festivals and performed alongside his Guru in events such as Spic Macay, Shankara Arts Festival, and Ganeshotsav.