OCTOBER
The Artists

Pandit Narendra Nath Dhar
Narendra Nath Dhar is one of the finest exponents of the Seniya Gharana who is known for his innovative and refined style, as well as for upholding the traditional pattern of pure and untainted Ragdari. Born in Calcutta in 1954, Pandit Narendra received his initial training in sarod from his father, the late Shri Nemai Chand Dhar, who himself excelled in sarod playing.
After the death of his father, Narendra came under the tutelage of Shri Samarendra Nath Sikdar, and later, under the late Pandit Radhika Mohan Maitra. The doyen of sarod played a crucial role in nurturing Narendra as one of the topmost sarod players of his generation. His musical prowess received a further honing under Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.
Pandit Arup Chatterjee
Pandit Arup Chattopadhyay is recognized as one of the most outstanding and sought-after tabla artists of this generation. He has established himself as a top-notch accompanist as well as a formidable soloist. Arup’s performances are admired for their exceptional tonal quality, clarity and deep compositional repertoire—all presented with an innate sense of rhythm and melody.
Arup began learning tabla at age six from his father, the eminent tabla player, Pandit Pankaj Chattopadhyay. He then came under the tutelage of the world-renowned tabla maestro, Pandit Shankar Ghosh, and is one of his premier disciples. He was awarded Top-Grade by All India Radio and Television.


Arjun Verma
Arjun Verma was trained on sitar by the legendary Maestro Ali Akbar Khan and has spent his entire life steeped in the tradition of North Indian Classical Music. The son of internationally performing sitarist Roop Verma, who was a disciple of Ali Akbar Khan and Ravi Shankar, Arjun began learning sitar from his father at age five. After the Maestro’s passing, Arjun continues his training under the guidance of Ali Akbar Khan’s son, Alam Khan. Arjun has also received guidance from Smt. Annapurna Devi.
Nilan Chaudhuri
Nilan Chaudhuri is a Bay Area-based percussionist, educator, and performer. Initiated into the tradition of Indian Classical Music at the age of five by his father, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, Nilan has been performing as a tabla soloist and accompanist for nearly two decades. Prior to beginning his formal training with his father in 2000, Nilan studied tabla with Brad Van Cleve, Tim Witter, and Uttam Chakraborty, all of whom are senior disciples of his father.
