Vinay Desai is a direct disciple of the world renowned Santoor Maestro Padma Vibhusan Pandit Shivkumar Sharmaji. After completing college, Vinay sought out to learn Santoor in India. Having had some background training in Indian Classical music, in 2011, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma guided him to begin his training under Takahiro Arai and Kunal Gunjal before being accepted by Panditji himself. He regularly performs throughout USA (including Hawaii), Argentina, Canada, The Bahamas, Australia, and India. He has performed for some of the well known organizations and prestigious festivals in different countries including Fringe Festival in Adelaide, Mona Foma in Tasmania, Lollapalooza Festival in Argentina (Vinay was one of the first Santoor players to play in an orchestra in Argentina), Festival of Tabla in L.A., KBF Festival in Arizona, Kussum Mahotsav TSA in NJ, Darpan in Texas, Jaipur Literature Festival, SwarZankar in Pune, Hamsadhwani, Matra in Kolkata, and Starglam Entertainment in Canada. Though specializing in Indian Classical Music, Vinay has worked with many different genres. He is known for his meditative and dynamic musical phrases. His devotion to the purity and the depth of Shivkumar Sharma's style comes forth in performance. Vinay continues to spread his Guru’s work not only through performances, but also teaching and lecturing at different places. He has performed with legends including Ustad Tari khan, Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, Ustad Sukhvinder Singh and some of the most renowned up and coming Tabla players.

The concert will begin with a meditative melodic improvisation that takes the listeners to a place of deep stillness. Vinay is known for his superlative melodic improvisations and sharp sense of rhythm. Joined by tabla player Anirudh Alva Changkakoti, they have an astonishing ability to dive into and reinterpret traditional music.

The santoor is a 100-stringed instrument that has its origins in the valleys of Kashmir. Through the extensive hard work of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, this instrument was introduced to Hindustani music in 1955.

Vinay’s initial training in Hindustani Classical Music, vocal/harmonium & tabla, began under the guidance of Shafiq Rahman. After completing college i, Vinay moved to India in 2011 to learn Santoor. With the blessings and direct guidance from Pt. Shivkumar Sharma. Vinay began his studies under Takahiro Arai, a disciple of Pt. Shivkumar Sharma. After the initial training in India, Vinay moved back to the USA and continued taalim under Shree Kunal Gunjal. Vinay feels fortunate to have expanded his knowledge in Hindustani Classical Music under the guidance of Shree Parthasarathi Chatterjee, Shree Jay Gandhiji, and Shree Suryaksha Deshpandejii.

Vinay's passion and dedication to Santoor allowed him to be under the tutelage of Pt. Shivkumar Sharma for several of Panditji's last years.

Anirudh Alva Changkakoti:

Anirudh Alva Changkakoti was identified as a child prodigy at the age of 3 by his guru, Dr. Narendra Verma, a disciple of the illustrious, Ustad Alla Rakha. Dr. Verma trained Anirudh intensively in the Punjab gharana style of tabla playing, which is known for its blend of aesthetics and mathematics.

Over the years, Anirudh’s passion for the instrument only grew stronger, leading him to absorb knowledge and compositions from many other gharanas to create his own unique style of tabla solos and tasteful accompaniment.

Anirudh has won numerous awards at both state and national levels in the US. He has performed across the US, Canada, Mexico, and India, and at prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center. Anirudh has had the opportunity to record with multiple Grammy-nominated and Grammy-winning artists as well. Through his guru’s referral, Anirudh has been training under his hero and inspiration, Ustad Zakir Hussain for the past 15 years.

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