Dedicated to promoting Indian Classical Music and Dance
Faculty Members
Sanjoy Banerjee, Founder, Artistic Director & Faculty
Sanjoy Banerjee is a distinguished vocalist of international repute from India and one of the leading exponents of the Kirana Gharana of North Indian classical vocal music. He was a scholar at ITC Sangeet Research Academy under the able guidance of Late Sangeet Bidushi Malabika Kanan and Late Pt. A. Kanan, who considered him as their worthy successor to their musical heritage.
With his sonorous and unwavering voice he has enthralled audiences at home and abroad, performing extensively in the UK, Germany, Bangladesh, Canada, USA and within India including at the West Bengal State Music Academy Festival, Swara Samrat Festival, Bishnupur Music Festival, 2023 G-20 Sumit Kolkata, Sur Singar, Swai Gandharva, Salt Lake Music Festival, Sangeet Piyasi, Sapthak, Ustad Faiyaz Khan Sangeet Sammelan, Learnquest Music Conference, The Rubin Museum, Chhandayan All night Music Festival, India Consulate in New York City, Maverick in Woodstock among others.
He has received many awards and honors including the prestigious 2023 Jadubhatta Award from Salt Lake Cultural Association, Surmani Award from Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai, National Scholarship from Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Government of India and Junior Fellowship from Department of Culture, Govt of India.
In addition, Sanjoy Banerjee is a successful Guru teaching at his own institution - Suromurchhana in India & US, and at Chhandayan Center of Indian Music, New York, producing students who have already earned appreciation.
He can be contacted at learnfromsanjoy@gmail.com
For information about Pt. Sanjoy Banerjee visit https://sanjoybanerjee.in/
Namami Karmakar
Namami Karmakar is regarded as one of the finest vocalists among the younger generation of the Kirana Gharana. She had her initial training under Smt. Malini Mukherjee Bhowmick. Then she began learning under Late Pt. A. Kanan and Late Sangeet Bidushi Malabika Kanan and currently she is under the able guidance of their disciple, Sanjoy Banerjee.
She has a Masters in Classical Vocal Music from the prestigious Rabindra Bharati University. She has successfully ranked in the prestigious Dover Lane Music Competition and West Bengal State Music Academy, performed at major conferences and also in TV channels to great acclaim. At present Namami is a faculty at Chhandayan Center of Indian Music in New York and Suromurchhana India & US, imparting training to local as well as international students. She has a proven track record as a successful teacher as her students have earned applause from audiences and maestros of classical music.
She has performed at The Rubin Museum, Ragas Live, Suromurchhana concerts in New York and Maryland.
Namami can be reached at namamivocalist@gmail.com
For information about Namami Karmakar visit https://namamikarmakar.in/
Andrew Shantz
After earning a bachelor's degree in jazz piano from the renowned William Paterson University jazz program, Andrew Shantz became immersed in the world of Hindustani classical music when he traveled to Kolkata, India in 2008. He was initiated into Hindustani vocal music there, by Smt. Madhumita Saha. Currently, Andrew studies pure classical khayal under Sanjoy Banerjee and light-classical styles under his Guruma, Madhumita-ji. He also receives special guidance and training from tabla maestro Pt. Samar Saha. Andrew has made three trips to India for vocal studies and has continued to learn rigorously from Pt. Sanjoy Banerjee in the US. He is the recipient of several scholarships - including the New Jersey State Council on the Arts Folk Arts Apprenticeship - and other honors such as first place in the adult vocal category of the 2017 Marathi Vishwa classical music competition. He is also a member of Brooklyn Raga Massive since its inception. Andrew teaches Hindustani vocal in Denville, Jersey City, and Somerset, NJ.
Andrew is available at andrewshantzmusic@gmail.com
In person Music lessons in New York City
