Sanjoy Banerjee with Namami Karmakar

HIGHLIGHTS OF GURU-SHISHYA PARAMPARA

Raga is a Sanskrit word that means “coloring.” In musical terms it represents a feeling or emotion. One of the characteristics of Indian music is the assignment of definite times of the day and night for performing raga melodies.

Through his soulful presentation and improvisations, combined with mastery over sargams, taans, and renditions of Khayal, Sanjoy Banerjee explores the melodic beauty and majestic splendor of ragas which evoke deep emotions within his listeners.

Opening the evening, and accompanying Banerjee, is his student, Namami Karmakar, an emerging and talented vocalist regarded as the foremost torchbearer of the Kirana Gharana. The evening will celebrate the great tradition of the guru-shishya parampara (teacher-disciple lineage) of Indian classical music.

Sanjoy Banerjee - vocals

Namami Karmakar- vocals

Dibyarka Chatterjee - tabla

Prasad Ramanan - violin

Andrew Shantz, Harry Einhorn, Dibyakalyan Basu - vocal support and tanpura

About the Musicians

Sanjoy Banerjee is a fine vocalist and distinguished exponent of the Kirana Gharana. He was a scholar at ITC Sangeet Research Academy under the guidance of the late A.T. Kanan and Sangeet Bidushi Malabika Kanan, who considered him to be the successor to their musical heritage.

Banerjee has received many honors, including the Surmani Award from Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai; a National Scholarship from India’s Ministry of Human Resource and Development; and a Junior Fellowship from India’s Department of Culture. He is a successful guru teaching at his own institution (Kolkata Suromurchhana) and at the Chhandayan Center of Indian Music, New York.

Presented with Harrice Miller Entertainment and community partner Sunny Thakkar.

Musical performances at the Rubin Museum are made possible by the Carlo and Micól Schejola Foundation. Additional support is provided by funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.