Hindustani Sangeet Vidyapeeth

Beginnings

Dr. RB SONTAKKE AND DR MANI SONTAKKE ARE THE FOUNDERS OF HINDUSTANI SANGEET VIDYAPEETH – FOUNDED IN THE YEAR 1989 IN BANGALORE.

Dr. RB Sontakke is one of the senior most disciples of Pt Omkarnath Thakur and Dr Mani Sontakke is the disciple of Pt Lalmani Mishra. Both Dr R B Sontakke and Dr Mani Sontakke were educators in Benaras Hindu University, for well over 40 years.

Dr. R B Sontakke and Dr Mani Sontakke established the Hindustani Sangeet Vidyapeeth in Bangalore where they coached hundreds of students who are also busy performers in the field.

Dr Prakash Sontakke

Dr Prakash Sontakke is a vocalist as well as a multi instrumentalist.

His training was under the gharanedar style of Guru shishya parampara of Pt Omkarnath Thakur under his parents Dr R B Sontakke and Dr Smt Mani Sontakke. He has a vast experience of almost 2500 concerts all over the world. He is also a very recognised composer with his compositions. Featuring in Grammy award winning albums. His classical Compositions have also been widely appreciated.

Chaitra Sontakke

Indian Classical Music is a very powerful instrument of communication and the creation of a sensitive world.

With over 21 years of experience in teaching Hindustani Classical music, Teacher training programmes and Leadership Programmes, Chaitra Sontakke is an educator, performer and a mentor. Chaitra Sontakke is associated with the Shankar Mahadevan Academy of Music- working as Curriculum Coordinator (Hindustani Vocal). This involves creating content and designing the curriculum for beginner, intermediate and advanced level of courses.

Demystifying Rare Ragas and taking Indian Classical Music to people has been her area of work.

She firmly believes in the teaching concepts that she imbibed in her music education through the Guru Shishya Parampara. Born in a family of music lovers she was initiated into singing Bhajan and songs by her Grandmother Smt. Narayani Pai. She started formal training from Sri Subramanya and received advanced training under Dr.Smt. Mani Sontakke and Dr. Rajabhau Sontakke. Her qualifications are a Masters Degree and MPhil in Music apart from B.E in Electrical and Electronics. She is pursuing her PhD from the Jain(deemed to be) University under Dr. Arati Rao.

Her performance focuses on the serenity and the spiritual aspect of Hindustani Classical Music. Music is an essential element in building leaders of tomorrow. She was attached with the Valley School, the Prakriya School and the Deens Academy. Her association with Vidushi Bharati Balakrishnan gave her creative insights into music education and thematic presentations.

She has been the main vocalist in thematic presentations with her husband Dr Prakash Sontakke. ‘ Ragas Everywhere’ is one such presentation that celebrates the presence of Ragas in various genres of music of the world. She has presented the theme concert, ‘Bhakti’ which explores poetry by saint poets across India in Hindustani and Carnatic styles and ‘Bhavani- Dayani’ that explores genres of Bhakti, folk and classical music performed by women. She has put together musical themes like ‘Colours of Music’ and ‘Ragas and emotions’, which showcased the glimpses of Natyageet parampara until “ Katyar KalzyatGhusli “ for the Shankar Mahadevan Academy.

Known for handling difficult Ragas with ease, her Jugalbandis with Carnatic Music are successful and have been critically acclaimed .

She has been performing in various music festivals all over the country as well as abroad