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Pandits Venkatesh Kumar & Samar Saha

May 1, 2021 – 8 pm Central Time

(Concert access will be available for 24 hours after the May 1st premiere)

ICMCA is honored to bring this exclusive, pre-recorded concert to music lovers worldwide. We thank the City of Austin and our loyal patrons and members for their unwavering support of the Arts!

The concert is free for all ICMCA 2021 members.

 

For non-members, please purchase your $15 tickets by clicking on the button below.

Instructions on accessing the concert will be emailed to you after your ticket purchase. Thank you!

Pandit Ventakesh Kumar

Pandit Kumar’s musical training began with his late father Huleppa, a folk singer and a puppeteer. At the age of 15, he was enrolled in the Veereshwara Punyashrama run by the saint and Hindustani musician Shri Puttaraj Gawai. For the next 12 years, he lived at the ashram and trained in the Gwalior and Kirana gharana traditions. Kumar-ji blends these styles with the Patiala gharana and even with Carnatic music to present rare and wonderfully expansive musical compositions.

Kumar-ji’s musical career has spanned four decades. His preeminent contributions have been to devotional music and he is most acclaimed for his Kannada vachana and dasara pada singing. His love for students and commitment to teaching music runs deep; Pandit-ji taught at the University College of Music, Dharwad, for 33 years before retiring in 2015.

 

Pandit Samar Saha

Born and raised in Kolkata, Samar Saha’s initial tabla training started with his father Sri Sudhansu Bhusan Saha and brother Sri Tarak Saha. Later, under the tutelage of Sri Satchidananda Goswami and Sri Krishna Kumar Ganguly (Natubabu) of Banaras Gharana, Samar-ji’s style and presentation were developed. Now, a highly sought-after tabla accompanist, Samar-ji has had the privilege of accompanying almost all the top ranking artists of Hindustani vocal and instrumental music.