HARISHANKAR Tradition & School | Khanjira & Mridangam Maestro | Konnakkol Artiste | Musician | Composer | Educator | 'Top Grade' in Khanjira & Mridangam | Percussionist | Influencer | Khanjira & Mridangam Artiste (Indian Percussionist)
‘The Brand Ambassador of Khanjira’ Amrit Nataraj a.k.a Bangalore Amrit is the leading top ranking Khanjira artist Percussionist of the world. His power packed p
erformances filled with versatility, speed and intricate pattern presentation merged with aesthetics, grace & beauty have fascinated large audiences and received critical acclaim all over the world. Sri Amrit is the son of Virtuoso Violinist ’Dhanurveena Kesari’ ‘Karnataka Kalashri’ Vidwan Sri BASAVANAGUDI G. Sri Amrit started learning Vocal at the age of 3 at home. He started learning Mridangam at the age of 5 from ‘Mridanga Vaadana Rathna’ ‘Kanataka Kalashri’ Vidwan Sri M. Later on, continued having advanced training in Mridangam from ‘Sangeetha Kalarathna’ ‘Kanataka Kalashri’ Vidwan Sri A. Sri Amrit had the great fortune of learning Khanjira from “Khanjira Legend” Mahavidwan Late Sri G. HARISHANKAR {Chennai}. Sri Amrit is the worthy successor to the throne of his Guru Sri G. Harishankar upholding the tradition of Khanjira playing & taking forward his Guru’s Legacy to greater heights. Sri Amrit also has learnt Violin from his father Late Vidwan Sri BASAVANAGUDI G.NATARAJ & elder sister Smt. Sunitha Ramabhadran. He has performed Violin in many concerts too. Sri Amrit is the only artiste to have been awarded with the 'TOP GRADE' in both Khanjira & Mridangam from the All India Radio, Prasar Bharati, Govt. He is one of the very few artistes to have been awarded Top Grades in Two different Categories. He is also the youngest Khanjira Artist to be awarded with the “A - TOP GRADE” from the ALL INDIA RADIO. Sri Amrit started performing at the age of 7. Since then, he has been performing with Top artists of the world in India and abroad for 40 years. He has been giving performances in ALL India Radio, National TV, and many other TV channels. He has featured in many National & International Music Festivals, Symphony orchestras, Percussion Ensembles, Jugal Bandhi s, Fusion Concerts, Audio CDs, Cassettes, Movies & TV Serials. He has composed, conducted & directed many music, percussion and fusion projects. Sri Amrit has the rare distinction of being one of the very few Khanjira Solo Artistes of the world. Apart from performing & collaborating with Legends of Indian Classical Music & World Music for almost 4 decades, Amrit has been performing Khanjira Solo Concerts for the past 20 years & made an unique position for himself. Sri Amrit has collaborated with international stars like Pandith Jasraj, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Pandith Anindo Chaterjee, Mr. Louiz Banks, Pandith Vishwamohan Bhatt, Ustad Rashid Khan, Mr. Sivamani, Mr. Bernt Berger (Drums, Sweden), Mr. George Brooks (Saxophone, USA), Mr. Victor Wooten (Bass Guitar, USA), Ustad Shahid Parvez, Ustad Shujath Khan (Sitar), Ustad Taufiq Qureshi, Pandith Yogesh Samsi, Pandith Rakesh Chaurasia (Bansuri), Pandith Shubhankar Banerjee (Tabla), Mr. Thomas Stranon (Drums, Norway), Zohar Fresco (Israel), Andrea Picconi (Italy), Abbos Kosimov (Uzbekistan), Aleix Tobias (Spain), Pandith Shubendra Rao (Sitar), Pandith Ramdass Palsule (Tabla), Sri Mattanoor Sankarakutty Marar (Chanda), Stephen Devassy (Keyboards) and many other world renowned musicians. Sri Amrit has worked with Music Directors like 'Oscar Award Winner' Sri A. Rahman, Sri Rajan (of Rajan-Nagendra duo), Sri Hamsalekha & Sri Manohar. Sri Amrit performed as a prime member of world renowned 'Sruthi Laya' Percussion Ensemble led by Guru Sri Kariakudi R. Mani for almost 2 decades. Sri Amrit has given performances in the CHICAGO World Music Festival 08, MADISON World Music Festival 08, Global Union Fest MILWAUKEE, Symphony Space (NEW YORK), Painted Bride Arts Center (PHILADELPHIA), ARIZONA State University, FIJI ISLANDS, ABU DHABI, UNITED KINGDOM, AUSTRALIA, MALAYSIA & SRILANKA. Sri Amrit is the head of a Percussion group ‘LAYA- NAADAAMRIT’ which, through the INDIAN COUNSIL FOR CULTURAL RELATIONS {I.C.C.R.} GOVT. OF INDIA, was invited to Mexico to perform in the prestigious CERVANTINO festival in 2011. As a SOLO ARTISTE
Sri Amrit is one of the main forces in bringing the Khanjira to the ‘Centre stage’ as a SOLO Instrument. He has many Khanjira Solo concerts to his credit. He has been conducting & performing many Percussion Ensembles & Fusion shows with Khanjira as the lead instrument for almost two decades now. He has created a unique space for Khanjira Solos through his series of 'KHANJIRAMRIT' Solo Concerts & other innovative concepts. Sri Amrit performed as a ‘SOLO ARTISTE’ with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra as a member of ‘Sruthi Laya’ in 2010. Sri Amrit performed as a ‘SOLO ARTISTE’ with world renowned musicians in the “GLOBAL SAI SYMPHONY” in 2015, to commemorate the 90th Birth anniversary of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Sri Amrit & performed as a ‘SOLO ARTISTE’ in Mekudeshet Sacred Music Festival Jerusalem in 2016. Sri Amrit performed as a ‘SOLO ARTISTE’ in ‘Sai Symphony’ by the WUPPERTAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA at The Historiche Stadthalle, Germany in May 2017. Sri Amrit performed as a ‘SOLO ARTISTE’ in Sai Symphony by the SHANXI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA at Taiyuan, Shanxi Province in North China in November 2017. Sri Amrit performed as a ‘SOLO ARTISTE’ in the first ever Special Percussion Trio concert at the DARBAR FESTIVAL 2017 (UNITED KINGDOM). Sri Amrit led & performed as a ‘SOLO ARTISTE’ in ‘PERCUSSION DISCUSSION’ - a Special Percussion Concert at AMMAN, JORDAN organized by Shoman Foundation 2018. Sri Amrit performed as a ‘SOLO ARTISTE’ in the Jerash Festival Jordan 2019. Sri Amrit made a ‘Special Appearance’ in the song ‘Elay Makka’ for Coke Studio Tamil Season 2, directed by Girishh Gopalakrishnan
Sri Amrit has released a Solo album named “KhanjirAmrit” which is mainly oriented on highlighting the scope, strength, beauty & other nuances of Khanjira as a Solo instrument. As a GURU
Sri Amrit has been teaching Khanjira, Mridangam, Konnakol & various aspects of Indian Classical Rhythm & Music to many students all around the world. Thus spreading the rich culture & heritage far & wide & passing them on to the next generations. Many of his students are performing in concerts from several years. There are many of them who have secured ‘A’, ‘B High’ & ‘B’ Grade from the All India Radio. Apart from that, there are many foreign students from places like USA, UK, Europe, Australia, Israel, Jordan, Malaysia, Thailand & many more, have learnt & are learning from Sri Amrit offline & online. COURSES
Sri Amrit has released an instructional educational DVD in 2007 called “Khanjira - The journey within…” which is a very useful guide for learners to practice the traditional classical authentic method of Khanjira playing. The DVD got huge popularity receiving great acclaim amongst performers & learners worldwide. Sri Amrit has also released an online Khanjira Course titled 'KHANJIRA... The Rhythm Chakra' for the benefit of the beginners. This course is uniquely crafted, teaching the special techniques of playing the Khanjira creating a lifetime opportunity to learn the authentic techniques of Khanjira, the Indian frame drum from Khanjira Legend Late Guru Vidwan Sri Harishankar's school of thought. The course is designed in such a way that anyone interested & passionate about music & rhythm can learn from it & benefit immensely from this treasure trove of lessons. Many students around the world have benefited from this course. More & more aspirants are registering to this course. CLINICS, LECTURE DEMONSTRATIONS & WORKSHOPS
Sri Amrit has conducted a Clinic on ‘MODERN KHANJIRA ART’ & gave a ‘Khanjira Solo’ performance in the PERCUSSIVE ARTS SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION - PASIC 2007 in Columbus {Ohio, USA}. Sri Amrit has conducted many Workshops & Lecture Demonstrations for many prestigious institutions, which includes Berkley School of Music (BOSTON) & ARIZONA State University and more. Sri Amrit performed a Khanjira Demonstration - Solo titled ‘Naada Chakra’ for the Bangalore International Centre in June 2011. Sri Amrit’s Lecture demonstration on “Sri G. Harishankar’s Playing Techinques of Khanjira” was awarded the ‘Best Lecture Demonstration Prize’ by the Madras Music Academy in 2011. Sri Amrit gave a Lecture demonstration on ‘The Evolution, Growth & Development of Deva Vadya Khanjira’ in the 52nd Anuual Music Conference of Bangalore Gayana Samja. PRIZES & SCHOLARSHIPS
Sri Amrit is a recipient of the CCRT Scholarship for Khanjira from the Ministry of Human Resource & Development. Sri Amrit is a recipient of Karnataka State Scholarship for consecutive 3 years. Sri Amrit won the I Prize in the ALL INDIA RADIO National Level Competition for Khanjira
Sri Amrit has also won the II Prize in the ALL INDIA RADIO National Level Competition for Mridangam. Sri Amrit has won the I Prize for Mridangam, in the National Level Competition conducted by South Central Cultural Zone (Nagpur), in the year 1996. AWARDS & TITLES
Sri Amrit has been awarded with awards like
“ARYABHATA YOUTH AWARD”
“KHANJIRA PRAVEENA”
“ANANYA YUVA PURASKARA”
“CMANA PRIZE - 2004”
“SALLARI GAANA LAYA VITTHGAR”
“YUVA KALA BHAARATI”
“LAYA PRATHIBHAMANI”
”NADAJYOTHI PURASKARA”
”GURUKALASRI”
“SATHYASHREE”
”LALITHA KALA SUMA”
given in recognition to his prowess in the field of Khanjira & Rhythm. Sri Amrit was awarded with ‘SMT. RAJAM VAIDYANATHAN DISTINGUISHED MUSIC TEACHER AWARD’ by Karthik Fine Arts, Chennai. Sri Amrit is the first Khanjira Artiste to be awarded as the ‘ASTHANA VIDWAN’ of Sri Avadhoota Datta Peetam by Parama Poojya Sri Ganapthi Sachchidananda Swamiji. Sri Amrit is the first Khanjira Artiste to be awarded the ‘KHANJIRA VIDWAN SRI H. RAMACHAR MEMORIAL AWARD'. Sri Amrit has been awarded the ‘BEST SENIOR UPAPAKKAVADYA PRIZE’ from The Music Academy, Chennai. Vidwan Sri Amrit.N stands as a bastion of Indian Percussion upholding the tradition, classicism & authenticity of the art of Khanjira playing, which otherwise is a less privileged art form. He is contributing enormously towards placing Khanjira as a unique individual instrument in the mainstream of International & World Music, spreading the art extensively & passing it on to the next generations.
