Joanna Mack began her pursuit of Classical North Indian Music in 1997. While studying Neuroscience at UCSD, she attended a Classical Indian Music class with sitar virtuoso Kartik Seshadri, a senior disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar of the Maihar Gharana. She had been involved in Western music since childhood but was immediately drawn to Indian music. Recognizing Joanna's inherent talent and drive, Kartikji recommended her to study in Kolkata under the now late Pandit Deepak Choudhury, also a senior disciple of renowned musician Pandit Ravi Shankar. That year, Joanna traveled to India where she fully devoted herself to the pursuit of Indian Classical Music under the guidance of Deepakji. She continued her studies with him in Kolkata from 1997 through 2005. Joanna then returned to the United States, promising Deepakji that her dedication to learn would not falter and that she would accept the responsibility to teach the traditional values and ideas of the Maihar Gharana. Joanna is fulfilling that promise today. She teaches private and group classes and performs in a variety of venues. She was fortunate to be able to study under the now late Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and continues her studies with sarodia Bruce Hamm at the Ali Akbar Khan College of Music in San Rafael and master classes with sitarist Sri Partha Chatterjee.
Tabla kalakar Hari Das is a disciple of the art form of North Indian percussion. He has studied the Tabla for thirty years and has taken his training from renowned maestros of the art form. His teachers include; Pandit Kashinath Mishra and Sri Mithilesh Kumar Jha of the Banaras Baj gharana, Ustad Hashmat Ali Khan, Ustad Akram Khan of the Ajrada gharana, Sri Bharat Kumar Jangam of the Delhi gharana and presently under the guidance of Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri of the Luknow gharana at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California.
His close musical alliance with Sarod Maestro; Ustad Amjad Ali Khan earned him the 1999-2001 Performing Arts fellowship award from The Indian Council for Cultural Relations in India. His three-year training took place at the prestigious music institute: Sri Ram Bharatiya Kala Kendra in New Delhi successfully completing Certificate Course in Hindustan Tabla and Vocal. Specialized curriculum studies were undertaken at the Sur Sangam Music Ashram in Varanasi. Hari Das also took intensive Tabla training at the prestigious Kala Chhaya Music and Dance kendra for one year, 1994 through 1995.
During his time spent in India, he was invited to participate as recording artist for “All INDIA RADIO studios in New Delhi. This included an interview and Tabla Solo demonstration aired internationally.
He has performed and accompanied artists at music festivals in India. the U.S.
In 2007 he was awarded the 2007 Arts Career Grant from the MARIN ARTS COUNCIL in San Francisco’s north bay for his commendable accomplishments in the field of Hindustan Classical music.
Hari currently resides in the Bay Area where he teaches Tabla and performs with traditional Hindustan classical artists as well as in the folk/devotional and east/west fusion. |
