Hrishikesh Gangurde

HRISHIKESH GANGURDE


Hrishikesh Gangurde is one of the most promising vocalists of the younger generation in India today and he is steadily carving a niche for himself as a “Gharaanedaar” vocalist and a knowledgeable mentor to students of Indian classical music.

Born into a music-loving family in Pune, Hrishikesh was initiated into vocal music at the tender age of five by his father Shri Purushottam Gangurde. He later received training for an extensive period of eight years from Dr. Vikas Kashalkar and Pandit Yashwantbua Joshi and learned the intricacies of Gwalior Gharana and gayaki from both these senior gurus. Thereafter, Hrishikesh received the prestigious ITC Sangeet Research Academy scholarship and was placed under the tutelage of the stalwart of Gwalior-Jaipur-Agra Gharana, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar at the ITC SRA gurukul at Kolkata. He received intense training for a period of 6 years where he learned the powerful and pure gharana gayaki of Pt. Kashalkar. Hrishikesh continues to be under Pt. Kashalkar’s guidance even now. While at ITC SRA, he was also fortunate to learn the semi-classical forms like Thumri, Dadra, Hori, Kajri etc from the legend of Banaras Gharana, Vidushi Girija Devi.

At present, he is working as an administrator and a senior Guru at the K.K. Kapoor Sangeet Research Academy, Lucknow and is successfully mentoring music students.


Hrishikesh regularly performs in music concerts and conferences all over India and he has also performed at prestigious venues.

He also performs with eminent Kathak dancer & Guru Pandita Shama Bhate and her troupe regularly. Apart from being a vocalist, Hrishikesh is also an accomplished tabla player. As an added achievement, Hrishikesh has accompanied his guru Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar on the tabla at various concerts. Two of his commercial CDs accompanying Pt. Kashalkar have also been released.

Achievements:

Hrishikesh has won a lot of awards and scholarships since an early age. Some of his achievements are :-

• Pt. D.V Paluskar classical vocal competition
• State level competition by 'Bandish', Ahmednagar
• Bharat Gayan Samaj, Pune
• Classical vocal competition organized by SPICMACAY
• 'Scholarship for Young Talents', CCRT, HRD, Govt. of India
• Dadar Matunga Cultural Centre, Mumbai
• Residential Scholarship by ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata
• “B High” grade awarded by All India Radio.

Qualification:

Hrishikesh has completed his Master's Degree in Commerce and M.P.A.(music vocal) from Shivaji University Kolhapur. He has also done Sangeet Visharad from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya.