JSS Sangeetha Sabha has organised the following music concerts at Navajyoti auditorium in the premises of JSS College for Women, Saraswathipuram, here at 6 pm on both days:

Sept. 8: Renowned sitarist Rafique Khan will perform along with Rajendra Nakod on tabla.

Sept. 9: Veteran vocalist S. Shankar will perform along with Achyutha Rao on violin and Neyveli Venkatesh on mridanga and S. Manjunath on ghata.

For details, contact Rupanagudi Ratna Teja on Mob: 93467-01411.

Artistes’ Profile

Sri Rafique Khan belongs to the sixth generation of musicians from the Dharwad Gharana. Born in Dharwad, he started playing the sitar at the age of nine under the tutelage of his father and his elder brothers. He was also trained in Gayaki Ang by his uncle. He passed his music exams from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Mumbai and graduated with a degree in Philosophy at the University of Goa.

Rafique Khan won the ‘Sur Mani Award’ from Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai, at the young age of 23 years. He has been rated as a ‘Top-Grade’ artiste by All India Radio (AIR).

The unique characteristic of his playing is the purity of the Raga and the balance between the two mixed styles in Gayaki Ang and Tantakari Ang (Vocal & Instrumental Style). His mastery over the instrument is evident in the Gamak Taans, which is considered to be the one of the most difficult techniques on the sitar.

Rafique Khan currently works at AIR, Mangaluru. He is the President of the music organisation Sangeet Bharati Foundation and also has an Academy of Hindustani Music at Mangaluru.

S. Shankar belongs to a family of musicians and was instructed in the basics of Karnatak Music by his own mother, Rajamma Shastri and later became the disciple of Guru Vallabham Kalyana Sundaram at the age of 12. The constant practice, and the experience of being associated with musical stalwarts has made him the most sought-after Karnatak Music artistes for distinguished Sangeeta Sabhas for over five decades. Over the years, he has consistently lived up to high standards of singing in the original Karnatak tradition. Thus earned the rightful place among the most respected, celebrated and acclaimed artistes of this generation. His contributions to the field of music are not just restricted to concert performances but extended to lecture-demonstrations, thematic presentations, innumerable recordings and his sincere and painstaking efforts to bring to light several relatively unknown compositions as  compiled and edited by him in the book ‘Sangraha Krithi Mala.’ He has been conferred with ‘Sangeetha Vidhyanidhi’ by JSS Sangeetha Sabha.