Festival Muses of Mindfulness
Festival Muses of Mindfulness brought us and our loved ones happiness. This festival featured talented vocalists who have their roots in Indian classical music. Together with Zuiderstrandtheater we proudly presented to you Pandit Anirban Bhattacharyya, Pandit Hemang Mehta, Shri Prewien Pandohi-Mishre, tabla maestro Yama Sarshar and Jasdeep Singh Degun on Sitar and Deniz Schelfi on Tanpura. The concept of Muses of Mindfulness is unconventional. These muses tell a story of mindfulness by creating different moods during the festival.
The Artists
Prewien Pandohi-Mishre is a singer-composer-teacher, who is specialized in intertwining Indian classical raga’s with spiritual and meditative mantra’s or kirtan’s. His music is rooted in the traditional genres, but also touches contemporary styles. With his sonorous, earthy voice and warm personality he is able to win the hearts of the audience. Prewien has collaborated with international artists such as the Mumbai based Filter Coffee and Indian vocalists Vasuda Sharma and Nirali Kartik. He has performed for the Holland-India Music Festival and Sacred Songs Festival. He studied under the guidance of the late Shri Koustav Rai and currently he learns from Shri Chiranjib Chakraborty. Listen to ‘Water, Raag Megh’
Anirban Bhattacharyya is an exceptional singer-ethnomusicologist-music director, balancing between traditional and cross-over music. Anirban has created a unique space for himself. After being awarded a President of India Gold and Silver Medal from All India Radio in Khyal and Thumri, and champion in Thumri from State Music Academy and also National Scholar in Rabindra Sangeetaat an early age of 25 years, there has been no looking back for him. Anirban has toured across the globe and has shared the stage with Tabla Wizard Ustad Zakir Hussain, the living Kathak legend Pandit Birju Maharaj and the Bollywood sensation Shankar Mahadevan. Anirban is a senior disciple of Pandmashree Ajoy Chakraborty. Listen to: ’Albeda Sajan’
Hemang Mehta belongs to the Mewati tradition of music. Hemang was blessed to be initiated into this school as early as the age of seven. He was trained by the school’s senior exponent, Pandit Chandrashekhar Swamy for many years and later from the great Sangeet Martand, Padmavibhushan Pandit Jasraj himself. Hemang’s music is an extension of his personality and philosophy to reach out to God through singing, as he truly believes in the concept of ‘Naad Brahma’. He is a product of the time tested ‘Guru- Shishya Parampara’ but still imaginative and creative enough to exploit the freedom within discipline, innovation and tradition. Hemang strikes a most appealing balance between intellectual sensitivity and aesthetic creativity. Listen to: ‘Raag Darbari‘.