Engage Arts

17/05/2020

As we navigate this time of shared isolation, here's a throwback to some outstanding Vocal Traditions of India (VTOI) concerts. Presenting the first in this series : Raag Marwa by Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar, accompanied by Sanjoy Adhikari (tabla) and Tanmay Deochake (harmonium). Watch this space for more concerts.

Engage Arts has been presenting the best of Hindustani classical (vocal) music in Singapore since 2006. Celebrating 10 years of Vocal Traditions of idea ...

14/02/2018

Another scintillating concert

11/02/2018

VTOI 2018 ... scintillating concert underway

11/01/2018

Gana Saraswati Kishori Amonkar represented the gold standard of musical genius. In the documentary on Kishoritai, Bhinna Shadja, tabla maestro Zakir Hussain said, “She has sung ragas that are the most immortal renderings of those ragas…..Performances of Kishoritai’s Bhoop are landmark that take place over hundreds of years and you will talk about them for the rest of your life and for many centuries to come.

Pandit Raghunandan Panshikar was fortunate to learn from her for over two decades. Narrating an incident, he fondly looked back to the day when Amonkar taught him that nothing should hinder his ‘riyaz’ or practice sessions. "I was unwell once, so I called her up to tell her that I wouldn't make it for riyaaz. She asked me to check my temperature. When I told her that it was 101 Fahrenheit, she responded in her typical manner. ‘I presented a concert when my temperature was as high as 103 F. Since yours is only 101, you had better make it for riyaaz.”

Vocal Traditions of India 2018 presents a tribute to the legendary Kishoritai. Presenting her ‘shishyas’ Pandit Raghunandan Panshikar and Mrs Nandini Bedekar.
11 th February, 2018 at Esplanade Recital Studio.
For more info and tickets, call Sarita (81187757) or Anu (96624689) or e-mail [email protected]

12/11/2017

Coming up in early 2018, our annual Vocal Traditions of India concert series. This time, we pay tribute to the doyenne of Hindustani classical music, Gana Saraswati Kishoritai Amonkar. Be enthralled by performances by her lifelong shishyas - Pandit Raghunandan Panshikar, India and Ms Nandini Bedekar, India, accompanied by Shri Bharat Kamat (tabla) and Shri Suyog Kundalkar, (harmonium)

22/02/2017

VTOI Audience Feedback: "Sublime, meditative... tonic for the soul."

We thank our audience for their warm support.

21/02/2017

VTOI 2017 Audience Feedback: "It was a treat to listen to."

We thank our audience for their warm support.

20/02/2017

"So much energy"!

Akash, thank you for the positive feedback, glad that you enjoyed the performance. In Indian Classical music, despite being tuned at the start, the Tanpura and the Tabla often need micro-corrections during the concert due to factors such as temperature. The discerning ears of the masters are very sensitive to minor variations in pitch. And so small adjustments get made and the performance continues. In the VTOI 2017 concert, in addition, the tabla used had a wider diameter than usual and so it was more susceptible to going off pitch due to the draft of the air conditioning.

20/02/2017

Feedback from the Audience: "A Wonderful Program!"

We thank our audience for their warm support.