Tansen  Academy  of  Music (R)

       "Surmani" (Dr.) Shivanand Ballesh Bhajantri is the younger son and disciple of Padmashri Pandit Dr. S. Ballesh Bhajantri, He is a Hindustani Classical Vocalist, Shehnai, Harmonium, and Banarasi Dukkad player, and He is a Co-Founder of Tansen Academy of Music, Chennai ® (Taan Institute).

 

           He is done his Sangit Visharad from Akhila Bharatha Gandharava Mahavidyalaya, and He has finished his Vidwath Anthim from Karnataka State Govt Music Exam and B. Music  Karnataka University. In 2022, he was honored with the Honorary Doctorate award from Mother Theresa University, in Chennai. 

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          Shivaji had his initial Hindustani Classical Music training from his grandfather Pandit Sanna Bharamanna and at 5 years he started his musical learning from the Late Pandit Dr. DP. Hiremath guruji of M.K Hubli for nearly 10yrs in Kirana Gharana style.

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Website :

www.krishnaballesh.com, www.shehnaiballesh.com 

www.tansenacademy.com, Contact: +91 9952993992

            Shivaji is one of the early disciples of Pandit Kodhand Salunke of Karsundi (Patiala Gharana), Later, He learned Patiala Gharana Khayal Gayaki from his father Pandit Dr.S. Ballesh. Shiva is inspired by Voice culture and Gayaki Ang of Guruji Ustad Rashid Khan Saheb. Now presently, under Ustad ji's blessings. 

 

Currently, Shiva is the guru of nearly 100 students in Chennai, teaching Hindustani Music Basic Foundation. Shivanand learned the nuances of Tabla from Table Nawaz Ustad Nazim Hussain, son of Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan. He is multi a skilled artiste playing Shehnai, Harmonium, Tabla, and Dukkad (Banarasi Drums). He has accompanied his father Pandit S. Ballesh in many concerts with Vocal support and accompanied Harmonium for vocal concerts and also Dukkad (Banarasi Drums) for Shehnai concerts. 

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Notable concerts - Vocal  & Shehnai 

Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahostav, Pune

Shri Baba Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan, Jalandhar, Punjab

Delhi Classical Music Festival, Sahitya  Kala Parishad, Delhi

Ganga Mahotsav, UP Govt., Benaras

Kashi- Vishwanath Festival - Benares

Tansen Sangeet Samaroh, Bhopal

Shehnai Mahotsav, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal

Sur Singar Sansad Sangit Sammellan, Mumbai

Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur Sangeet Utsav, Dharwad

Smt. Gangubhai Hangal Sangeet Sammellan, Hubli

Ganayogi Panchakshari Gavayi Sangeet Sammellan, Gadag

Pandit Kumar Gandharv Sangeet Sammellan, Belgaum

Spirit of Unity Concert, Tirupati 

Pt. Motiram - Pt. Maniram Music festival, Ernakulam, Hyderabad

Gaanayogi Swar Utsav , Dharwad

 

Notable Jugalbandi performances

He has played Shehnai alongside many senior artists like Shri. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan, Shri. Ronu Majumdar, Shri. Atul Kumar Upadhyay, Rafique & Shafique Khan along with Pt.S. Ballesh and was blessed to have the accompaniment of seniors like Yogesh  Samsi, Ravindra Yavagal, and Subhankar Banerjee. 

 

Accompanied Hindustani Vocals with his Guruji Ustad Rashid Khan Sahab in many concerts, notably :

Bombay Barkha Ritu , Ustad Rashid Khan, Banyan Tree 

Chennai ‘Aadi Anant' Music Fest, Organized by Citi and NCPA

Jalsa - Music for the Soul’, Art and Artistes, Kozhikode, Kerala

The splendor of Master's, Ustad Rashid Khan in Chennai 

The Hindu Nov Fest, Chennai, Hyderabad -  Naad Ninaad, Jugalbandi of Ustad Rashid Khan and Sitar Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan 

Bengaluru ‘Aadi Anant' Music Fest, organized by NCPA.

 

Fusion, Folk  & Popular Music

Krishna has performed with playback singer and music composer A. R. Reihana for the "Indian Fusion Music Festival", held in Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center, Maryland, United States of America & 

In 2019, he performed in Malaysia with music composer A. R. Reihana for Sufi and Film music festivals held in Malacca.

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Contribution to Hindustani Sangeet

Co-Founder: Tansen Academy of Music

To propagate the legacy of his Gurus’ Ustad Bismillah Khan Shehnai & Pt. Puttaraja Gawai co-founded the Tansen Academy of Music in Chennai along with his father for promoting Hindustani music and shehnai. The institute has over 500 students who learn classical music - Vocal, Tabla, Sitar, Flute, and Shehnai

 

Ras Barse Utsav- in commemoration of Guru Ustad Bismillah Khan, is his brainchild. An annual music festival, it's a vibrant platform to promote Hindustani classical music in Chennai and South. The Ustad Bismillah Khan Kala Puraskar and Yuva Kala Puraskar are conferred on this occasion.