Past Festivals

Ustad Amir Khan Music Festival 2023, by Intonation Evening Session | Shubhangi Sakhalkar | vocals
Accompanied by Vivek Datar on harmonium and Ravi Gutala on tabla

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Shubhangi Sakhalkar is one of the founders of the Ustad Amir Khan Music Festival. Shubhangi brings a brilliant pedigree to her music from the early years of tutelage from Mrs. Kunda Vaishampayan, followed by the devoted learning from the renowned artists, Dr. Prabha Atre and her present guru Smt. Padma Talwalkar and years of ardent "riyaaz".

She has performed in several musical circles and events in India and has accompanied her guru in concerts all over the country, including the highly regarded Savai Gandharva music festival.

Ravi Gutala

Ravi was initiated at a very early age into Tabla by Shri P.Anjaiah, in Hyderabad, India and has been studying Tabla under Maestro Swapan Chaudhuri at Ali Akbar College since 1990. He has been teaching Tabla in South Bay for the past 20 years.
Ravi was recipient of All India National Talent Search Scholarship and was a regular performer at AIR, Hyderabad. He has accompanied many noted artistes such as, Pt.Jasraj, Dr Balamurali Krishna, Smt.Lakshmi Shankar, Dr.L.Subramaniam, Shri Anup Jalota, Master Shashank etc. and has played on 14 CD recordings.

Vivek Datar

Vivek learnt art of harmonium solo and accompaniment from (late) Pt. Vinayakrao Kale, who was a Gwalior Gharana vocalist. Kalebua was a prolific composer, with more than 800 compositions of his own. Vivek has taught several of them to his disciples in bay area. Currently Vivek learns from Vidushi Seema Shirodkar as and when time permits. Seema hails from Mumbai, and is a disciple of Pandit Tulsidas Borkar. 

Vivek has accompanied several noted artists such as Vidushi Veena Sahastrabuddhe, Vishushi Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande, Vidushi Padma Talwalkar, Pt Arun Dravid, Pt Madhav Gudi. He has keen interest in tuning theory and applications. He co-created a unique changeable-reed harmonium with Hinge Brothers from Mumbai.

Vivek resides and teaches in the Bay Area.

Ustad Amir Khan Music Festival 2023, by Intonation Foundation
Evening Session | Kunal Bhandarkar | Bansuri
Accompanied by Ravi Gutala

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Kunal Bhandarkar has been immersed in Indian Classical Music since he was born and began learning tabla at age four. As he grew older, he began learning bansuri from his father, Prasad Bhandarkar, and has studied under him ever since.

He is honored to have the privilege of performing at the Ustad Amir Khan Music Festival and hopes you enjoy what he plays.

Ravi Gutala

Ravi was initiated at a very early age into Tabla by Shri P. Anjaiah, in Hyderabad, India and has been studying Tabla under Maestro Swapan Chaudhuri at Ali Akbar College since 1990. He has been teaching Tabla in South Bay for the past 25 years.

Ravi was a recipient of All India National Talent Search Scholarship and was a regular performer at AIR, Hyderabad. He has accompanied many noted artistes such as, Pt.Jasraj, Dr. Balamurali Krishna, Dr L. Subramaniam, Smt.Lakshmi Shankar, Shri Anup Jalota, Master Shashank etc. Ravi has played on 14 CD recordings and performed in over 980 concerts/recordings.

Ravi designs 3D IC chips for a living!

Ustad Amir Khan Music Festival 2023, by Intonation Foundation
Afternoon Session | Nidhi Agrawal | vocals
Accompanied by Prashant Phatak on harmonium and Shripad Torvi on tabla

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Nidhi has had an interest in classical music since her childhood. At the age of 19, she began her formal training under the renowned artist of Jaipur Gharana Dr. Alka Deo Marulkar ji in the guru shishya parampara in 2010. She has also completed her Ph.D in Music from University of Delhi. Her guru's gayaki is the amalgamation of Jaipur, Kirana and agra gharana, which is the style she tries to follow.

Prashant Phatak

Prashant Phatak is a self taught harmonium player. He has accompanied many artists such as Shrimati Shubhangi Sakhalkar over the past 20 years. He is currently learning Hindustani vocal from Shrimati Sakhalkar.

Shripad Torvi

Shripad Torvi was introduced to Tabla in early childhood by his uncle, vocalist Pt. Vinayak Torvi. His formal education began after coming to the US, where he learned from Shri. Abhinay Padhye for about 5 years. Shripad has accompanied many artists locally and visiting artists from India. He has been continuing his tabla lessons from Tabla Maestro Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri for the last 5 years. Shripad has accompanied artists at the Ustad Amir Khan Music Festival since it was founded.

Ustad Amir Khan Music Festival 2023, by Intonation Foundation
Afternoon Session | Suruchi Alawani | vocals

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Sangeet Visharad, Vocalist, Hindustani Classical Music
Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalay, Mumbai
Suruchi Alawani was introduced to music at the age of 7 by my mother. She started the formal training of Hindustani Classical Music under the guidance of Mrs. Ranjana Bhide (Pune, India) and completed Sangeet Visharad. She is still continuing her study of Hindustani Classical Music in the US under the guidance of Mrs. Shubhangi Sakhalkar who is a disciple of Dr. Prabha Atre and Vidushi Padma Talwalkar.

Prashant Phatak

Prashant Phatak is a self taught harmonium player. He has accompanied many artists such as Shrimati Shubhangi Sakhalkar over the past 20 years. He is currently learning Hindustani vocal from Shrimati Sakhalkar.

Shripad Torvi

Shripad Torvi was introduced to Tabla in early childhood by his uncle, vocalist Pt. Vinayak Torvi. His formal education began after coming to the US, where he learned from Shri. Abhinay Padhye for about 5 years. Shripad has accompanied many artists locally and visiting artists from India. He has been continuing his tabla lessons from Tabla Maestro Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri for the last 5 years. Shripad has accompanied artists at the Ustad Amir Khan Music Festival since it was founded.

Ustad Amir Khan Music Festival 2023, by Intonation Foundation
Morning Session | Kanika Pandey | vocals
Accompanied by Prashant Phatak on harmonium and Shripad Torvi on tabla

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Kanika Pandey is a performing artist with a prolific imagination, an educator with a clear vision and dedication, and a passionate being with deep desire to give back to the community. Born in a music loving and musically dedicated family in Jaipur (India), Kanika was initiated into music by her father Pt. S. S. Pandey, who is an accomplished sangeet guru himself, thus music was an integral part of her growing up years.

After receiving a solid foundation in music from her father, in 1995, Kanika began her taleem (training) under the tutelage of the finest maestros, Padma Vibhushan Pts. Rajan and Sajan Mishra of Banaras gharana, learning the subtle nuances and stylistic techniques of the art form.

Prashant Phatak

Prashant Phatak is a self taught harmonium player. He has accompanied many artists such as Shrimati Shubhangi Sakhalkar over the past 20 years. He is currently learning Hindustani vocal from Shrimati Sakhalkar.

Shripad Torvi

Shripad Torvi was introduced to Tabla in early childhood by his uncle, vocalist Pt. Vinayak Torvi. His formal education began after coming to the US, where he learned from Shri. Abhinay Padhye for about 5 years. Shripad has accompanied many artists locally and visiting artists from India. He has been continuing his tabla lessons from Tabla Maestro Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri for the last 5 years. Shripad has accompanied artists at the Ustad Amir Khan Music Festival since it was founded.

Ustad Amir Khan Music Festival 2023, by Intonation Foundation
Morning Session | Saayan Mitra | Sarod
Accompanied by Pradosh Sarkar on tabla

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Saayan Mitra is a sarodist in the tradition of the Maihar-Senia gharana. He was introduced to sarode at a young age by his father and his formal learning began under the tutelage of his guru, Shri Bruce Hamm 14 years ago. Besides pursuing music he works at Adobe Research.

Pradosh Sarkar

Pradosh Sarkar is an engineer by profession and a passionate Tabla enthusiast. He was initiated into Tabla at a young age by his father, Shri Paresh C Sarkar. Later on he went to learn from Late shri Uttam Chakraborty, a prominent disciple of Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri. For the past 17 years, he has been training under the guidance of Padmashri Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri himself. Pradosh is a regular accompanist in the bay area.

Ustad Amir Khan Music Festival 2023, by Intonation Foundation
Morning Session | Revathi Narayanan | vocals
Accompanied by Prashant Phatak on harmonium and Shripad Torvi on tabla

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Exposed to Carnatic music throughout her formative years, Revathi took to learning Hindustani classical music as an adult, under the caring tutelage of Smt. Shubhangi Sakhalkar. She currently performs and teaches in the Bay Area and loves working on creative, music projects with children. She sings for the deep spiritual fulfillment of herself and her audience.

Prashant Phatak

Prashant Phatak is a self taught harmonium player. He has accompanied many artists such as Shrimati Shubhangi Sakhalkar over the past 20 years. He is currently learning Hindustani vocal from Shrimati Sakhalkar.

Shripad Torvi

Shripad Torvi was introduced to Tabla in early childhood by his uncle, vocalist Pt. Vinayak Torvi. His formal education began after coming to the US, where he learned from Shri. Abhinay Padhye for about 5 years. Shripad has accompanied many artists locally and visiting artists from India. He has been continuing his tabla lessons from Tabla Maestro Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri for the last 5 years. Shripad has accompanied artists at the Ustad Amir Khan Music Festival since it was founded.