2024 Events
Fall 2024 Concerts
Sitarist Pt. Indrajit Banerjee is one of the leading exponents of the Maihar Gharana. He was born in a family of eminent musicians which includes his guru, Pt. Kartick Kumar (Sitar), Pandit Barun Kumar Pal (Hamsa Veena), Niladri Kumar (Sitar), Partho Das (Sitar), Aparna Roy (Surbahar). Inspired from his sitarist mother, Smt. Manju Banerjee, he has trained under the guidance of his maternal grandfather, Bankim Kumar Pal, Pt. Birendra Kishore Roy Chowdhuri and Pt. Manilal Nag of Bishnupur Gharana. Later, he took intensive training from his uncle, Pt. Kartick Kumar. He is an A grade artist of All India Radio and National Television of India, Panel Artist for Indian Council Of Cultural Relations, has served as Judge for A.I.R (Kolkata), and is a member of the American Federations of Musicians, and voting member of The Recording Academy (Grammies).
Accompanying on Tabla, we will have Austin's own Pt. Gourisankar. A noted disciple of Pt. Shib Shankar Karmakar and Pt. Sankha Chatterjee, Gouriji is a leading Tabla Maestro with a unique combination of Farukhabad, Punjab and Delhi styles. Based in Austin, he has been running SIPM for the past 15+ years and supporting Indian Classical Music invaluably.
Venue: Covenant United Methodist Church, 4410 Duval Rd #6808, Austin, TX-78727
Shri. Bhagyesh Marathe is one of the most talented vocalists of the current generation. Grandson of renowned and legendary vocalist Late Pandit Ram Marathe, Bhagyesh was initiated in the world of music from early childhood. His performances reflect his prolific understanding of the raga, thereby, evoking a unique style of music presentation.
Shri. Pranav Gurav started his music training under his father. Very early on, he got the opportunity to learn from Pandit Nana Mulye. Later he also learnt from Sri Suresh Samant and is currently honing his skill and learning the nuances of tabla playing from Dr Aneesh Pradhan of the Farrukhabad gharana. Currently he is pursuing a doctorate in music.
Shri. Ameya Bichu is a rising star and disciple of Shri Tanmay Deochake & Taalyogi Pandit Sureshji Talwalkar
Friday September 27, 2024 at 7 PM
Venue: Covenant United Methodist Church, 4410 Duval Rd #6808, Austin, TX-78727
A unique concert featuring a talented Sarod player Shri. Abhishek Borkar and Tabla sensation Shri. Yashwant Vaishnav
Date: 29th Sept, 2024
Venue : Austin Yoga Tree (10401 Anderson Mill Rd #105B, Austin, TX 78750)
Time : 4pm
Tickets: Free (Season pass holder get priority)
For this concert, the seating capacity is limited. RSVPs will be accepted on first come first serve basis.
Donations and sponsorships are welcome!
This concert shows Kala Darpan's exemplary dedication to its core value and mission to promote and nurture Indian classical music and the next-gen musicians. Both artists in this concert are brought up in the USA and making their mark in the world of Indian Classical Music.
Shri. Vinay Desai represents not just the youngest generation of Santoor players but also a generation of musician who are brought up globally. He began his studies under Takahiro Arai. He later moved back to USA to learn from Kunal Gunjal 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. Vinay has previously performed throughout India, Argentina, Canada, The Bahamas and the USA including Hawaii
Our own Shri. Rishi Prasad is a very talented upcoming Tabla player completely brought up in Austin under a great Tabla maestro and teacher Pt. Gourisankar. Many of us have witnessed his music journey ever since it started at very young age at SIPM. This is probably one of his first official concerts - which gives us an immense pleasure!
Saturday October 19, 2024 at 5 PM
Venue: Covenant United Methodist Church, 4410 Duval Rd #6808, Austin, TX-78727
India Music Festival
Date: November 9, 2024
Venue: Covenant United Methodist Church, 4410 Duval Rd #6808, Austin, TX-78727
Audience tickets for this event are just $10 for adults and $5 for kids (5-18 years). While create separate ticket links, please use Zelle or Venmo if you want to buy a ticket.
SPRING 2024 Concerts
Proud to present an illustrious Hindustani vocal artist Shri. Omkar Dadarkar!! Born in Mumbai on 30 July 1977, he was initiated in singing by his parents, both Marathi Natya-Sangeet performer. He took initial training under Dr. Ram Deshpande and received scholarship from C.C.R.T.(New Delhi). Later he has honed his skills under the tutelage of his aunt the legendary vocalist Padmashree Manik Verma, Pt. Yashwantbua Joshi (Gwalior Gharana) and Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar (Guru at I.T.C. Sangeet Research Academy). He got training of light classical form under Vidushi Girijadevi and Srinivas khale. Omkar’s performances in all over India and abroad are highly applauded.
Omkar received the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (2009), Vidyasagar Award (Music Forum), “Shanmukhananda Hall-Mumbai-Sangeet Shiromani” award and “Chaturanga Sangeet Shishyavrutti Award” (Chaturanga Pratishthan). He was awarded by Sangeet Natak Academy New Delhi, Govt. Of India. He is working at I.T.C. as a Guru.
He will be accompanied by Shri. Sanjay Deshpande on the Tabla and Shri. Siddhesh Bicholkar on the Harmonium.
Saturday May 5, 2024 at 5 PM
Venue: Bethany United Methodist Church, 10010 Anderson Mill Rd, Austin, TX 78750
Kala Darpan is thrilled to bring a Dhrupad Concert to Austin music lovers. Dhrupad is the most ancient vocal music art from India and the eminent artist Pt. Uday Bhawalkar is among the foremost Dhrupad vocalists of the country. He has been a strong force in its growing recognition, popularity and resurgence, worldwide. He’s a disciple of Ustaad Zia Fariduddin Dagar (vocal) and Ustaad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (Rudra Veena), the towering pillars of the Dhrupad tradition. Since his first performance at Bhopal in 1985, Uday ji has performed in a number of prestigious festivals and events in India and abroad. He has also collaborated with artists from other disciplines and cultures. Uday ji has contributed to the soundtracks for international arts films. He has taught internationally at institutions such as the Rotterdam Music Conservatory, The University of Washington, Seattle and the Asian music circuit, London, to name a few. He is a Guru at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy at Kolkata and Bengal Foundation’s ”Parampara Sangeetalay”, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
In recognition for his artistry he has received many prestigious awards including the Kumar Gandharva Samman (2001), the Raza Foundation Award (2007), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2021) and Hanumant Award (2023).
He will be accompanied by Shri. Sukhad Munde on the Pakhawaj and Shri. Kirit Singh on taanpura and vocals.
Saturday April 13, 2024 at 5 PM
Venue: Covenant United Methodist Church, 4410 Duval Rd #6808, Austin, TX-78727
Pt. Nishad Bakre is bringing to us gayaki of the Gwalior, Jaipur and Agra gharanas. Born 1981, started his early lessons from his father, Shri. Sadashiv Bakre. Later he received his training under the guidance of Dr. Ram Deshpande, Pt. Dinkar Kaikini, Pt. Madhukar joshi, Dr. Arun Dravid and Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar.
Pt. Bakre is a recipient of the Kesarbai Kerkar scholarship of the NCPA (Mumbai), the Gyan Pravah Scholarship (Kolkata), the Yuva Puraskar of the Kanebua Pratishthan (Pune), Pt. K.G. Ginde Memorial Award (Mumbai), and recently Pt. Ram Marathe Award of the Municipal Corporation, Thane city. He has performed in different parts of India and has been acknowledged and appraised for his artistic prowess.
He will be accompanied by Shri. Abhay Datar on the Tabla and Shri. Anant Joshi on the Harmonium.
Saturday April 13, 2024 at 5 PM
Venue: Covenant United Methodist Church, 4410 Duval Rd #6808, Austin, TX-78727
