Kala Bhavan Teacher Biographies |  
| | | Suman Ghosh is a renowned vocalist from the Mewati Gharana of Hindustani Classical Music where generations of musicians have emerged with the gift of spirituality. Quite like his illustrious Guru, Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj-ji, the elements of musical aesthetics and spirituality in Suman-jis voice comes alive through his soulful renderings. A rich and mellifluous voice with delicate ornamentations, complete command over the diction of music and a superb understanding of the rhythm are the hallmarks of his performance. Suman-ji received his earlier training from his mother Smt. Monika Ghosh, Pandit Shrikant Bakre and Padmabhushan Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh. He also underwent practical and theoretical training in Indian classical vocal music at the Sangeet Research Academy, Calcutta. A truly gifted vocalist, his talent was evident in those early years as he won many awards including two Presidents Awards (instituted by All India Radio), the Sangeet Research Academy Award and the Dover Lane Music Conference Award (Calcutta). At the age of seventeen, he became a graded artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan (the national radio and television media of India). After completing his post-graduation from the University of Calcutta, Suman-ji joined the Gramophone Company of India Ltd. (HMV) as a music expert.
He has performed the world over and is a recipient of many honors in India and abroad, with many music CDs to his credit. In some of those, he has provided vocal support to his GURU and pathfinder, the legendary Indian Vocalist, Pandit Jasraj-ji. Under Pandit-ji, Suman Ghosh has been able to cultivate a diction, a voice, a technique and a language cut to the size of the Mewati Gharanas reigning Guru.... The upper reaches of his voice has the same ringing quality of controlled falsettos which gives the style its remarkable reach and texture [The Times of India]. Not only a performing artist but also a superb trainer, with his commendable narrative skills, Suman-ji is one of the few musicians from the field to admirably combine performance with academics. Well-known for his spiritually inspiring concerts, innovative workshops and lectures, Suman Ghosh shuffles between performance and academics with equal ease |
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| | | Supradipta is an outstanding dancer with a natural flair for choreography. She has been trained in Odissi by the renowned Odissi exponent Guru Smt. Aloka Kanungo. Her training in Odissi was monitored, from time to time, by Late Padma Bibhushan Guru Shri Kelucharan Mohapatra. Supradipta has the rare distinction of receiving the Sangeet Kriya Visharad in both the dance forms of Odissi and Bharatnatyam. She has also received top awards both from the Rajya Sangeet Academy and the Nehru Talent Search. While training under her guru, Supradipta assisted Smt. Kanungo in the formation of Shinjan, a troupe of dedicated dancers, which has traveled and enthralled audiences all over India . During this period, she not only developed into an excellent exponent of Odissi, but she also worked with Smt. Kanungo in the role of Assistant Director/Choreographer. Supradipta has performed as a soloist as well as in groups in several major dance festivals in India and in the U.S.A. She has performed at several prestigious programs all over India including the Puri Beach Festival, Konarak Dance Festival, Vishnupur Dance and Music Festival, Srirampore Music Conference, Uday Shankar Festival, and the Khajuraho Dance Festival. Supradipta has been a regular artiste in network television at Kolkata. Her first introduction to the western world as a dancer came through her Odissi performance which was featured by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in their documentary on Indian culture. Supradipta moved to U.S.A. in 1997. Along with obtaining her MBA degree, she has continued to perform and choreograph in various cultural shows. She also became actively involved in teaching and organizing workshops on Odissi. In 2000, she was invited to perform at the first World Odissi Conference held in Washington D.C. In 2003, Late Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra inaugurated her foundation Kalaangan, an institute for the promotion of Odissi. As a choreographer she has collaborated with exponents of other dance forms including Late Guru Shri Bipin Singh and Guru Kalavati Devi (Manipuri) and Guru Smt. Rani Karna (Kathak). She has also worked with other Odissi Gurus like Smt. Sutapa Talukdar, Smt. Poushali Mukherjee and Guru Giridhari Nayak. Her latest endeavor was a joint venture on Chandalika, which was staged in Houston in December 2005. Supradipta illuminates the world with her dance. ----- Dr. Sunil Kothari (Dance Critic) Supradipta was equal to the myriad possibilities of Odissi which involves various emotions and immense versatility. She stuck to the subtleties of restrained expression, making it an aesthetic experience. ----- Hindustan Times. |
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| | | Dynamic and talented, Subhendu Chakraborty has charmed audiences with his sensational rhythms in India and the USA for the last twenty-five years. He was trained by Sri Maharaj Bannerjee, disciple of Ustad Ahmedjan Thirakua, in the Delhi Style and Sri Sujit Saha, disciple of Legendary Ustad Keramatulla Khan, in the Farukhabaad style of playing.
In, he performed on All-India Radio in Calcutta. After coming to US in 1983, he has accompanied many renowned artists from vocal and instrumental to dance.
Three years later in 1986, he founded his tabla school of rhythm. Over the last twenty years, Subhendu has adapted his teaching to all ages from five to sixty. Currently his school, BolTaal, has over 15 dedicated students. Some of his students, both past and present, are established in the music field or pursuing higher studies in music.
In addition to accompanying Indian classical artists, Subhendu has experimented with Modern Jazz and has accompanied and recorded many albums with a Houston-area band, the Free Radicals, a six time in a row winner of the BEST FUNK/R&B /BEST JAZZ and BEST DRUMMERS award by the Houston Press.
Dedicated to bringing tabla to a wider audience, Subhendu has supported and founded organizations (Saptak) to bring renowned Indian musical artists for performances to Houston such as Ustad Alla Rakha, Ustad Zakir Hussein, Pandit L. Shakar, Pandit Swapan Chauduri, Pandir Shiv Kumar Sharma, and Pandit Kumar Bose.
Subhendu teaches at The Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center in Biostatistics and pathology informatics. His hobbies include carpentry, art, and stagecraft. He is dedicated to his community and frequently takes on major projects for the Houston Durga Bari Society, a local church and culture center of Hindu faith.
Subhendu has been married to his wife, Meera for the last twenty years and has two children, Rupak, 17, and Ranjani, 15. |
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| | | Neil Sen is a freelance artist who has exhibited his work in different parts of the country and produced illustrations for magazine covers. He is currently involved in teaching numerous classes both for kids and adults and has been doing so for over 7 years. He has also been a consultant and artist for several organizations.
"Neil is a natural teacher, he makes everything look so simple. As a teacher he is one of the best art teacher, I have come across --- Caron Reed, COO Houston Blood Center
"Neils passion towards art is contagious; I am grateful to him what he taught me. --- Dr Sheela Sadhawani MD, Southwestern Disease Center
"Neils classes are excellent. He is an inspiring teacher and because of that he teaches so well. Thank you for helping me feel more creative & artistic Sandi Lo Cosceo --- Freelance Interior Decorator
"Mr Sen has a great sense of humor which makes his class fun and exciting. He made my daughters develop the love for art. Thank You"--- Pragya (mother of Maya, Madhavi & Divya)
"I completely enjoyed the class. I have learned that I can be an artist. You are an excellent instructor and I think you should teach more. Thank you for being so positive---- Robin Crawford, Houston. |
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