Gayana Sabha, Mysuru, has organised two Hindustani Classical Music Concerts at Vasudevacharya Bhavana, Sri Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha on Sept.22 at 5.30 pm.

The programme includes sitar recital by Ustad Shafique Khan and vocal recital by S. Hiranmayee. They will be accompanied by Bhimashankar Bidanur on tabla, while Vighnesh Bhagavat provides harmonium support.

Ustad Shafique Khan

A scion of Dharwad Gharana, Ustad Shafique Khan is sixth generation musician in the family of illustrious sitar players whose contribution in popularising sitar down the Vindhyas is legendary. He is grandson of ‘Sitar Rathna’ Rahimat Khan. Ustad Shafique was initiated to sitar at a very young age by his father Prof. Abdul Karim Khan who was Head of Faculty of Music at Karnatak University. He also received valued guidance from Ustad Dastgir Khan, Ustad Usman Khan and also from late Ustad Bale Khan — all well-known sitar players.

Naturally his style beautifully reflects the finer aspects of sitar playing of all his mentors. His meditative alaap, systematic development of raaga, magic of gamak taans, aesthetics and appeal are hallmarks of his sitar playing. His performances are melodious blend of both ‘Gayaki Ang’ and ‘Tantrakari Ang.’

He is a top grade artiste of AIR and Doordarshan and has performed in National Programmes on many occasions. He has been conferred with many awards and titles by prestigious music organisations of the country. He has travelled to many foreign countries like US and in Europe and has performed extensively at reputed venues. Presently, he is on the music staff of AIR, Dharwad.

Some of his performances include — Sawai Gandharva Music Festival, Pune; Pt. Kumar Gandharva Pratishtan Dewas, MP; Deenanath Sangeet Sammelan, Goa; Hampi Utsav; Dasara Utsav and many more. 

S. Hiranmayee

Born in 1998, Hiranmayee has been training under Ustad Faiyaz Khan for the past twelve years in Bengaluru, and from Arshad Ali Khan from three years at ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkota, as Scholar. She is also trained in devotional and light music by her mother.

She won the ‘National Scholarship’ for Hindustani classical vocal from Centre for Cultural Research and Training – CCRT (Government of India), Delhi, in the year 2019. She has secured three prizes in the AIR National-level Music Competition in 2014 in the categories of Hindustani Classical Vocal, Bhajans and Thumri.

At the age of seven, she sang for her first Kannada film, ‘Kannadada Kanda’ and few other films. She has won more than 200 prizes in the State and National-level Music Competitions.

She has performed at reputed venues which includes Sri Rama Seva Mandali, Bengaluru; Chowdiah Memorial Hall; Bangalore Gayana Samaja; Taranath Music Foundation’s Music Festival; ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata; Pt. Pravin Godkhindiji’s ‘Dasara Sangeetotsav’; ‘Parampara’ in memory of Pt. Bhimsen Joshi conducted by Bharatiya Sangeet Vidyalaya at Dharwad.