Sougata Roychoudhury - sarod
Tejas Tope - tabla

Sitting: In the main room on the floor with back jack support, chairs in the second and third room.
Dress Code: Casual, comfortable, descent. Please take off your shoes before entering the studios.
Food and beverage: Only water is allowed inside the studios. Please bring your own supply.
CHHANDAYAN'S PROGRAMS ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE.

Sougata Roy Chowdhury
Sougata Roy Chowdhury, a distinguished Sarod performer and teacher, is celebrated as one of the most gifted musicians of his generation. Honored with the prestigious Aga Khan Music Awards in 2019, Sougata was born into a family deeply rooted in Bengali artistic traditions. His upbringing in Santiniketan provided a rich cultural environment that nurtured his musical talents from a young age. His father, Prof. Sarbari Roy Chowdhury, a celebrated sculptor and music aficionado, possessed one of the most extensive collections of Indian classical music in the country, and mother, Srimati Ajanta Roy Chowdhury, a distinguished Indian classical vocalist from the Agra Gharana, further instilled in him a deep appreciation for classical music.

Sougata's musical journey began under Ustad Dhyanesh Khan, son of the legendary Padmavibhushan Ustad Ali Akbar Khan Sahab. After Ustad Dhyanesh Khan's untimely demise, he continued his training under Ustad Aashish Khan. His interactions with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan Sahib during annual visits to Kolkata significantly enriched Sougata’s deep love and passion for the Sarod.

Additionally, he was under the tutelage of the Pandit Santosh Bandyopadhyay, a prominent Sitar and Surbahar maestro, who was highly respected and knowledgeable Guru for an extended period. More recently, he studied with Padmashree Pandit Rajeev Taranath, a renowned Sarod player and esteemed Guru for several years, who greatly elevated Sougata’s artistry.

Sougata’s profound reverence for Ustad Ali Akbar Khan’s teachings guides his musical expression, embodying the Maestro’s deep musicality and spiritual connection to the art form. His commitment to preserving and perpetuating the Maestro’s legacy reflects a profound respect for the traditions and teachings passed down by his esteemed respected Gurus.

Sougata is the co-founder of the ‘Sarbari Roy Chowdhury Foundation,’ an organization dedicated to honoring his father’s legacy. He, along with his family and friends, actively continues this legacy by sharing knowledge with his disciples and promoting ongoing research in the field. The ‘Sarbari Roy Chowdhury Foundation’ is committed to enhancing key. aspects of cultural interactions both in India and globally, focusing on performing arts, visual arts, and fine arts.

Tejas Tope
Tejas Tope is an aspiring young Indian percussionist who comes from Long Island New York. Tejas has been learning tabla from Pt. Samir Chatterjee for over 15 years. Additionally, since 2011, Tejas has been attending classes in the Summer with Ustad Zakir Hussain. At Zakirji's invitation, Tejas performed a tabla solo at the Barsi of Ustad Alla Rakha on February 3, 2018 at Shanmukhananda Hall in Mumbai.

Tejas Tope has also been learning Pakhawaj from Pandit Mohan Shyam Sharma for the last 5 years. He has also had the opportunity to study with Pandit Manik Munde and Shri Pratap Awad.

Tejas received First prize in the instrumental category from 2005-2011 at the annual Vedic Heritage’s Holi Youth Talent Competition held in Hempstead, Long Island, NY. In the summer of 2006, he played at the 6th Marathi European Sammelan in Almelo, Netherlands, at the 13th BMM Convention in Seattle (June 2007), and 15th BMM Convention in Chicago (July 2011). In October 2007, Tejas had his Rangamanch Pravesh and presented tabla solo as a part of Chhandayan Concert Series. Tejas received first prize in the Swardhara Competition held by Marathi Vishwa of New Jersey in 2010 and 2012. Tejas is recipient of Chhandayan’s most prestigious Jyotsna Award in the student category in 2011.

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