Pt Vishwas Shirgaonkar - Vocal

Vishwas Shirgaonkar received his initial musical training from Pt. Anant Kogaje and Pt. Yeshwantbua Joshi, both
stalwarts of the Gwalior gharana. He subsequently received extensive training in the Jaipur/Atrauli gharana gayaki from Pt.
Anandrao Limaye of Kolhapur, and Pt. Ratnakar Pai of the Jaipur gharana over a period of 16 years. Vishwas Shirgaonkar
combines the two major sub-streams of the Jaipur gharana khayal tradition. The specialty and purity of this gayaki - its solid
foundation of bandish, its many-stranded elaboration of the raga, its play with the laya, and its complex tan patterns - are all
evident in his singing. Through a single-minded pursuit of the basic principles of this gayaki, Vishwas reassures the
contemporary audience that the gharana principles are far from outdated. Currently serving as President, India International
Spiritual & Cultural Center, Virginia, USA, a non-profit cultural and performing arts institute and engaged in teaching and
promoting Hindustani Classical Music, Dance, Languages and Yoga in the US. Vishwas holds an M.S. in Systems Management
and a B.E. (Electrical Engineering) and has retired from a successful career in the World Bank managing its financial and
administrative systems.

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