PT Ram Deshpande:
He is a renowned vocalist of the present generation and an artist of commendable talent. His journey into classical music began in Nagpur, Maharashtra, where he was initiated by Shri Chepe, Shri Panake, and Pandit Prabhakar Deshkar.
He rose to greater heights as a vocalist of Gwalior and Jaipur Gharana under the guidance of PT Yashwantbua Joshi and PT Ulhas Kashalkar. He also received guidance in the Agra Gharana from PT Babanrao Haldankar and in the Bhatkhande Parampara from PT Yashwant Mahale.
He earned a postgraduate degree in music from Nagpur University with a gold medal. His doctoral thesis on ‘Mishra Ragas’ (Combination Ragas) was completed under the guidance of Pandit V. R. Athavle. Gandharva Mahavidyalaya has selected him as a guide for doctorate students. He is the music director of the short film “Gaanyogi” about Pandit D. V. Paluskar and the “Guru Para Brahma” music album by Red Ribbon Company. He composed “Vande Mataram” in Raag Mala of 24 Ragas.
He has participated in many prestigious music festivals like- Sawai Gandharva, Tansen Sangeet Samaroha, etc..He is also the director of Gandhar Music Academy, where many talented students study classical vocal music under his guidance.
Sanjay Deshpande:
Accompanying on Tabla is Sanjay Deshpande. He was introduced to playing Tabla by Late PT Sabade . Later he took Taleem from the renowned Tabla player Pt. Suresh Talwalkar of Delhi-Farookabad Gharana, in a Guru Shishya Parampara .He also had the privilege of understanding the beauty of Punjab Gharana under the guidance of world renowned Tabla maestro Ustad Alla Rakha Khan Saheb and Pt.Yogesh Samsi.
Sanjay is recipient of the coveted “Ahmedjaan Thirakwaa Scholarship” for Solo Performance. He has accompanied renowned artists like Smt. Vasundhara Komkali, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Pt. Smt. Malini Rajurkar, Pt. Jasraj, Dr. Prabha Atre, Pt. Dinkar Kaikini, Dr. Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande , Smt. Veena Sahastrabudhe and many such great artists.
He has performed in major conferences such as Sawai Gandharwa Music Festival Pune, Paluskar Smarak Conference, Dowerlane Conference, Kolkata. He is empanelled as GURU at the Lalit Kala Kendra, University of Pune and Bharati Vidyapeeth Pune.
Abhishek Shinker
Accompanying on Harmonium is Abhishek Shinker. He took primary music lessons from Shankar Mahajan for 8 years. He continued to learn vocal and harmonium under the guidance of Pt. Nathrao Neralkar at Aurangabad for next 5 years under Gurushishya Parampara.
Later, he took formal lessons on harmonium under Pt. Pramod Marathe at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Pune under Gurushishya Parampara for 5 years, and still continues to learn from PT Pramod Marathe Ji. He is also fortunate to receive guidance from Taalyogi Pt. Sureshji Talwalkar.
He has accompanied various artist such as, Pt. Suresh Talwalkar, Pt. Nathrao Neralkar, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Pt. Vijay Ghate, Pt. Ramdas Palsule, Vidushi Kalapini Komkali, Pandita Padma Talwalkar, Pt. Raghunandan Panshikar, Shri Bhuvanesh Komkali, Smt. Manjusha Patil Kulkarni, Smt. Devaki Pandit to name a few.
He has Masters of Arts Degree in harmonium and has won many awards and scholarships like Pt Vishnu Digamber Paluskar Scholarship,
Scholarship from Ministry of Culture, India; secured second position in the National Youth Festival for Harmonium.
