Vocals
Manoj Govindraj (Hindustani classical vocals): He was only three, when he began singing ‘bhajans’ while on a pilgrimage trip to Shirdi, India. So began a long lasting relationship with music. At eleven, Manoj started learning music professionally. “I was very sure I wanted to be a singer, but no one sings in our family. Also, in India, it was not easy getting a good break in commercial singing, so my father wanted me to make a career out of something more viable financially.” But Manoj’s soul was in music and music followed him wherever he went. A gold medalist in music from the University of Mumbai, India, Manoj has won several awards, the most prestigious one being the Sur Singar Samsad Award in 1995 for light vocal.
At AIM, Manoj teaches Hindustani light vocal as well as the harmonium. “No other art form in the world is greater than music because you need to feel the abstract. I just feel that I am born for it – after my death I would like people to remember me as someone who spread love through music” comments Manoj Govindraj.
Rajesh Paranjape (Hindustani classical vocals): Rajesh Paranjape commenced his music lessons at the young age of ten from his father Shri. Vinayak Paranjape. Having completed his Electrical Engineering,he decided on a promising carrier and dedicated himself totally to music. Thereafter he took intensive training from Dr. Ram Deshpande who is one of the leading Hindustani vocalist. Dr. Ram Deshpande initiated Rajesh in the various fine aspects of music, combining the Gwalier , Jaipur and Agra Gharana in his Gayaki. Rajesh Has passed his Sangeet Visharad (Bachelor Degree) from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya with first class. He has accompanied his guru throughout India. Last 2 years he has been trained by Pt. YashwantBuva Joshi, Maestro of Gwalier Gharana.
Some of his prominent performances include Pt. Ram Marathe Festival, Thane, Swara Sanskaar Sangeet Sammelan , Mumbai, Khayal Trust ,Mumbai ,Devnandan Ubhaykar Yuva Sangeet Festival, Bangalore. His special performances were held by National Centre for Performing Arts (N C P A), Mumbai in different cities like Nashik, Pune, and Ichalkaranji etc.
He was invited as a scholar by an Educational Institute to demonstrate and share his perspective about ‘Awareness of young generation towards Indian Classical Music.’ He has been associated with Sharda Sangeet Vidyalaya, SNDT College, Mumbai as a Music Teacher for more than 2 years.
He has captured attention of connoisseurs for his ability to deliver fast tonal patterns with clarity and vigor.
Carnatic classical vocals:
Gowri Ramakrishnan
(Carnatic vocal, Indian classical violin): Smt. Gowri Ramakrishnan has been learning music since the age of five. Thanks to her grandmother who started her on violin as well as on vocals. And who has the foresight to further that musical education by sending her to Bombay (now Mumbai) and learn from a well-established, famous guru. That was just the beginning of her musical journey. Much acclaimed, and the recipient of many awards, Smt. Gowri Ramakrishnan has been giving solo performances with a list of music’s who’s who, across the globe, starting at a very young age. One of the most sought after teachers for both violin and Carnatic vocals, Smt. Gowri Ramakrishnan believes that ‘Music is like an ocean. “The more you get into it, the more there is to know”.
Saraswati Chandrashekhar (Carnatic classical vocals, Veena): True to her name (Saraswati, in Hindi, is the name of the goddess of Knowledge), Smt. Saraswati is a much accompalished veena player, and a carnatic vocalist, trained by none other than her own mother, Smt. Gowri Ramakrishnan. Her music education was furthered under Smt. Gomathi Sitaram of Mumbai and her initial veena lessons were under Mrs. Shakunthala and Sri. Devakottai Narayana Iyengar of Bharathiya Sabha. A winner of numerous awards from highly acclaimed institutions, Smt. Saraswati has performed in concerts in India, US as well as the UAE. A musician who believes that her work should speak for her, the only time one will ever be able to guess her accomplishments is by the way she makes her veena sing!
Indian classical instruments
Veena:
Saraswati Chandrashekhar (Carnatic classical vocals, Veena): True to her name (Saraswati, in Hindi, is the name of the goddess of Knowledge), Smt. Saraswati is a much accompalished veena player, and a carnatic vocalist, trained by none other than her own mother, Smt. Gowri Ramakrishnan. Her music education was furthered under Smt. Gomathi Sitaram of Mumbai and her initial veena lessons were under Mrs. Shakunthala and Sri. Devakottai Narayana Iyengar of Bharathiya Sabha. A winner of numerous awards from highly acclaimed institutions, Smt. Saraswati has performed in concerts in India, US as well as the UAE. A musician who believes that her work should speak for her, the only time one will ever be able to guess her accomplishments is by the way she makes her veena sing!
Tabla:
Shripad Jail(Tabla): He has learnt under Pt. Arvind Mulgaonkar, Pt. Ashok Godbole, Ustad Allah Rakha and Zakir Hussain and also under the lineage of the Punjab Gharana, a gold medalist from the University of Mumbai, a TABLA ALANKAR from GANDHARVA MAHA VIDHYALAYA, as well as an “A” grade artiste for ALL INDIA RADIO.
And to boot, he has played with some of the biggest names in Indian Music. Namely: Pt. Jasraj. Begum Parveen Sultana. Pt. Prabhakar Karekar. Suresh Wadkar. Anuradha Paudwal. Shankar Mahadevan. Shri. Upendra Bhatt. Shripad was teaching at the Fine Arts society, the Vijaya Sangeet Vidhyalaya, as well as at the Pt. Jasraj school of Music (Tampa, Fl.) prior to his new assignment at AIM.
Violin:
Gowri Ramakrishnan (Carnatic vocal, Indian classical violin): Smt. Gowri Ramakrishnan has been learning music since the age of five. Thanks to her grandmother who started her on violin as well as on vocals. And who has the foresight to further that musical education by sending her to Bombay (now Mumbai) and learn from a well-established, famous guru. That was just the beginning of her musical journey. Much acclaimed, and the recipient of many awards, Smt. Gowri Ramakrishnan has been giving solo performances with a list of music’s who’s who, across the globe, starting at a very young age. One of the most sought after teachers for both violin and Carnatic vocals, Smt. Gowri Ramakrishnan believes that ‘Music is like an ocean. “The more you get into it, the more there is to know”.
Percussion (Mridangam, Ghatam, Kanjira):
Nandakumar: Percussion artist extraordinaire Shri. Nandakumar, joins AIM. Awarded the bharat ratna M.S. Subbulakshmi as well as the best teacher award from Shanmukhananda Fine Arts School, Shri Nandakumar plays and teaches many percussion instruments including mridangam and ghatam. Group and individual classes available. Call now.
Western Classical instruments
Keyboard:
Sanjay Chittaranjan Shah (keyboard, Indian Notation): Here is a musician whose true love is music, so much so that he gave up his career in computers to pursue music fulltime. Music to Sanjay is more than a passion – it’s his life. His love for music helped Sanjay start his own music group. The group has been performing concerts in USA and India, for the past 15 years! At AIM, Sanjay translates his music passion to teach the keyboard as well as light vocals to both, adults and children. Sanjay believes that not everybody who learns the keyboards wants to become a pianist (or a keyboardist). “Sometimes its fun to incorporate music in your life by learning how to play an instrument as an accompaniment to vocals only!” At AIM, we say, why not? Anything to incorporate music in one’s life!
Gerry Coutinho (western notation): Its amazing the kind of responses that Gerry’s name gets – people are simple in awe of his achievements! A man who can definitely be called a master of his art, Mr. Coutinho plays Jazz, Country, Pop as well as Semi-classical western with aplomb, on the piano. A teacher of the western notation system, Mr. Coutinho was the key pianist at the internationally acclaimed Taj Group of Hotels in India for more than 20 years before heading to the US. An alumnus of the Trinity College of Music, London, Mr. Coutinho brings his tremendous knowledge and his undying passion for the Piano, to AIM. And hundreds of students have benefited from it. No doubt!
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