*Pre-sales will close @ 3:30pm EST on the day of the event, but admission can still be purchased in-person @ venue ($30 cash / $32 card); doors open @ 7pm.

Chhandayan (a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization) is proud to present an authentic experience of Indian Classical Music in the heart of New York City. This concert series is designed to recreate the same setting this music has been presented in for hundreds of years in India: an informal gathering (baithak) where the invisible barrier between performer and audience falls away to create an intimate experience for both. This performance will feature two virtuoso musicians:
Sahana Banerjee - Sitar,
Dibyarka Chatterjee - tabla

Sitting: In the main room on the floor with back jack support, chairs in the second and third room.
Dress Code: Casual, comfortable (suitable for floor seating); please take off your shoes before entering the studios.
Food and beverage: Only water is allowed inside the studios. Please bring your own supply.

For other similar events, please visit: www.chhandayan.org

Sahana Banerjee
Sahana Banerjee is one of the leading female sitar players of India belonging to Rampur Senia Gharana.  Sahana was born in a family of rich musical heritage and was readily recognized as a child prodigy at an early age of four. Her father Prof. Santhosh Banerjee, a celebrated Sitar & Surbahar player of India and former Head of the Department of Instrumental Music of Rabindra Bharati University, in Calcutta. Prof. Banerjee was a disciple of famous Veenkar Ustad Md. Dabir Khan of Rampur Senia Gharana whose family lineage traces back to Mian Tansen himself. Sahana has also received extensive training on vocal music from her illustrious mother Mrs. Chhabi Banerjee, daughter of Sangeetacharya Kashinath Chattopadhyay of Rampur Sahaswan Gharana.

Sahana’s unique presentation reflects the traditional Veenkar Dhrupad Style of Rampur Senia Gharana maintaining the purity of Raga along with her own aesthetical blends of Gayaki. She is a recipient of the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, (National Award) awarded by Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi. She is a Grade ‘A’ artist of All India Radio and National Television and has been giving recitals since 1995. Sahana is an empaneled artist of SPICMACAY, an organization for the preservation and promotion of India music and has given several concerts in different cities of India.

In 1990, she won the Pandit Nikhil Banerjee Challenge Trophy at the Dover Lane Music Conference and was conferred the Best Instrumentalist award.  Apart from India, Sahana has extensively performed for prestigious festivals and Concerts in Europe, UK, USA, Australia, Middle East, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & Morocco. Some of the major performaces are like Darbar Festival (London), Theatre De la Ville (Paris), Mawazine festival (Morocco), LearnQuest Festival (Boston), Bozar Fest (Belgium), Elb Philharmonie (Hamburg), Welthaus (Germany) …etc. Sahana has also performed in many occidental music festivals in collaboration with famous musicians of Europe, some of which were broadcasted by National Radios of France, Venice, Swiss Romande & Radio Klara (Belgium).

Dibyarka Chatterjee
Dibyarka Chatterjee is a young and promising tabla player from the Farrukhabad Gharana. His natural inclination towards tabla became evident shortly after his birth, and at the age of five he was initiated by his illustrious father Pt. Samir Chatterjee. Since then he has been going through the rigorous discipline of lesson and practice.

 

Dibyarka was born in Kolkata (and spent the first 10 years of his life there), where he was already performing for the All India Radio as a child prodigy. Shortly afterwards, he moved to the U.S. with his family, he was recognized for his talent by music lovers and tabla enthusiasts and started performing with his father and in group performances composed and directed by him. He has also performed with the Dance Theater of Harlem, NYC, with the Battery Dance Co. in “Songs of Tagore”, with Janaki Patrick in “Ka-Tap”, with Pt. Jasraj, Smt. Lakshmi Shankar, Ud. Shujaat Khan, Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta, Pt. Ramesh Mishra, Ud. Mashkoor Ali Khan,  Smt. Shubhra Guha, Sri Partha Bose, Smt. Tripti Mukherjee, Steve Gorn, and others. He has been collaborating with fusion musicians like Salman Ahmad (Junoon), Gary Lucas, Najma Akhtar, and others. He has performed in some prestigious venues like the Chhandayan All Night Concert, Indian Consulate (NYC), City Center (NYC), Lincoln Center (NYC), Place des Arts (Montreal), etc.