MUMBAI: Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. Every one of us loves music in one form or the other. Keeping this thought foremost in our minds Pancham Nishad Creative’s presents ‘Aarohi’ a unique event featuring the promising new faces of Indian Classical Music.  Aarohi a two day festival is scheduled on the 3rd and 4th of May, 2018 at the Y.B. Chavan Auditorium, Nariman Point, from 6.00 p.m.  onwards. The event is organised in association with Rangaswar, a cultural wing of Y. B. Chavan Pratishthan. Entry for the event is free.

Aarohi, now in its 17th year, is an annual event since year 2002, is a distinctive concept of featuring the rising stars of ‘Hindustani and Carnatic Sangeet’. So far it has presented 96 artistes and this year it will be 102 artistes. The objective of the festival is to introduce fresh and unknown faces, yet immensely talented and refined youngsters of Indian Classical Music. The event brings forth, this bundle of talent on a common platform to give the music lovers a glimpse of the bright future of the Indian Classical Music.  

Some of the artistes featured in Aarohi like Niladri Kumar, Jayateerth Mevundi, Rahul Sharma, Amaan Ali Khan, Rakesh Chaurasia, Manjiri Asnare Kelkar to name a few today are world renowned artistes.

Pancham Nishad Creative’s Director Mr. Shashi Vyas quoted, “Classical Music has a niche audience.  While it is a known secret that most people prefer to attend concerts of maestros. The recent trend shows that listeners are also keen to hear the young talent and therefore, it is but natural for Pancham Nishad to provide a befitting platform like ‘Aarohi’ to these young rising stars of Indian Music.”

The first day of the festival will highlight performances by talented artistes Neha Gurav, Shahnawaz Khan and Nagesh Adgaonkar

Neha Gurav [Vocal]

Gifted with a mellifluous voice, Neha started learning music at a tender age from well- known vocalist Shri Sanjeev Chimmalgi, a senior disciple of veteran vocalist Pandit C. R. Vyas. Recipient of some scholarships like Maharashtra Lalit Kala Nidhi 2016-2017, Dadar Matunga Cultural Centre, and Ministry of Culture in 2017, she is currently pursuing her masters in Music from S.N.D.T. University

Shahnawaz Khan [Guitar]

Born in a family of musicians steeped in the world of Indian classical music, Shahanawaz picked up the guitar at the age of seven and to the surprise of his family played the first notes of a raga. Initially trained by his father Ustad Aijaz Ahmed Khan and his brother Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan, he further learnt the nuances of gayaki from Ustad Sayeed Patel Khan of Delhi and Kirana Gharana.  He has several awards including the prestigious Junior Kalaratna Puraskar and Kirana Gharana awards to his credit.

Nagesh Adgaonkar [Vocal]

Born with a powerful yet a robust voice, Nagesh learnt till Sangeet Visharad from Pandit Vitthalrao Jagtap in Latur. Later on, he received basic guidance from Pandit Rajendra Kandalgaonkar of Lalit Kala Academy, Pune University in 2008.  Currently, he is honing his skills from famous vocalist of the country Ustad Rashid Khan of the Rampur Sahaswan Gharana. He has participated in many youth festivals and is set to carve a niche for himself in the realm of Indian classical music

The second day of the festival will observe performances by artistes like Bageshree Panchale, Smit Tewari, Bhaggesh Marathe [Vocal]

Bageshree Panchale [Vocal]

Bageshree’s early lessons in music began at home under the esteemed guidance of her father, the renowned Gazalnawaaz Shri. Bhimrao Panchale and her mother Smt. Geeta Panchale. She is currently acquiring the intricacies of Kirana Gharana from her guru Smt Archana Kanhere and has also been a disciple of Smt Apoorva Gokhale who gave her some insights of the Gwalior Gharana. She has performed at prominent festivals in India and is currently pursuing her PHD in Music from Mumbai University. 

Smit Tewari [Sarod]

Smit was initiated in music at an early age by his mother Smt. Chaya Tewari who taught him dhrupad and tabla. He commenced his training in sarod from his father Shri Chandrashekhar Tewari widened his spectrum under the tutelage of Shri. Suprahat Pal of Maihar Gharana. He has presented his recitals at prestigious platforms and has been awarded with scholarship by the Minitsry of Culture, Govt of India in 2010.

Bhaggesh Marathe [Vocal]

Bhaggesh Marathe is the grandson of the legendary vocalist Pandit Ram Marathe. The musical magic of Pandit Kumar Gandharva and Sangeet Bhushan Ram Marathe motivated him to pursue singing as a profession. He started learning music under guidance of his father Pt. Sanjay Marathe and is currently learning at Dr. Gangubai Hangal Gurukul in Hubli under Pt. Kedar Bodas.  With his uncanny ability to capture the attention of the listeners, he is set to become a force to reckon with in the field of Indian Classical Music.