|
| |
|
|
| Music faculty |
| |
| Western Classical Music Department |
| |
| Alison Maggart, Harp |
| Alison Maggart is a harpist who teaches both music theory and Western music history at KM besides individual harp students. |
| |
|
more
Alison Maggart, Harp
Western Music Theory
Foundation Music Theory |
Alison, a native Tennessean, began studying music at the age of five, under the tutorage of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra's primary harpist, Jane Zopff, and by at the age of nine, she was inducted into the East Tennessee chapter of the American Harp Society as managing secretary. Throughout her early music career, she attended various master classes and programs, sponsored by institutions including the Eastman School of Music, North Carolina School of the Arts, Spoleto Study Abroad, and East Tennessee State University.
In 2008, Alison received her Bachelor's of Arts degree from Middlebury College in Vermont, graduating magna cum laude with high honors in the music department. There, she studied composition under Su Lian Tan and Brian Robison, and composed for various Middlebury chamber groups, as well as performed regularly as the harpist for the Middlebury College Orchestra, Chamber Singers, and Community Chorus. In 2008, she was given the opportunity to compose for the Da Capo Chamber Players, and in April 2008, she completed her senior thesis, which consisted of the composition and performance of a chamber piece that showcased the harp as a viable instrument in Modern music.
In the past, Alison has worked as the college radio station's classical manager and as a featured writer for the music magazine. She has also worked for the Utah Film Commission in conjunction with the Sundance Film Festival; Wert & Co., a firm specializing in creative industry placement; and for the New York Greenwich Village Orchestra, as the audience development coordinator.
Her current repertoire includes works by Rutter, Debussy, Francaix, Persichetti, Hasselmann, Salzedo, Tournier, Hindemith, and Roussel. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| Kavita Baliga, Soprano |
| Kavita Baliga is the Western vocal teacher who also directs the chamber choir at KM. |
| |
|
more
Kavita Baliga,
Soprano
Choir
|
 Kavita Baliga earned her Music Bachelors of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of California at Irvine, and her Masters in Music degree in Vocal Performance from The Boston Conservatory, where she studied under the guidance of soprano Sara Goldstein. During her long-standing musical career, Kavita has performed throughout the United States, Switzerland, Italy, and India, and has played roles such as "Juliette" from Gounod's Romeo and Juliette, and "Zerlina" from Mozart's Don Giovanni. She has also won several awards, including first place in both the Satya Devi Memorial Trust and Youth Focus of California competitions.
Kavita Baliga began her musical career at the early age of 5, when she began taking piano lessons which she continued to study for 15 years. For the next 10 years she performed and competed yearly in piano competitions and in addition to piano, learned jazz dancing, Hindustani classical voice, and western classical voice. Kavita earned her Bachelors of music degree in vocal performance from the University of California at Irvine where she studied under soprano Elizabeth Pehlivanian and baritone Robin Buck. In 2005 Kavita was admitted to The Boston Conservatory where she studied under the guidance of soprano Sara Goldstein, and earned her Masters in Music degree in Vocal Performance. While at the conservatory, Kavita performed pieces such as Bach's cantata no. 51, Britten's St. Nicholas, and works by Schubert, Mendelssohn, Wolf, Rodrigo and Rochberg.
Kavita has played roles such as "Juliette" from Romeo et Juliette by Gounod, "Zerlina" in Don Giovanni by Mozart, Bridesmaid in Trial by Jury by Gilbert and Sullivan, and Emcee in the Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler. Her honors and awards include winning 1st place in the Youth Focus Competition of California, and 1st place in the Satya Devi Memorial Trust competition. Kavita has participated in concerts around the U.S., Switzerland, Italy and India and has had the privilege of working with talented and established musicians such as Guitar Prasanna who have helped her find her "voice" in multiple genres of music.
In addition to classical music, Kavita composes and records popular music and her debut cd, "Beautiful Day" is available in online stores such as iTunes and Rhapsody. She is also the Co-Founder of the non-profit organization Uplifted: Art Perpetuating Hope.
Kavita is currently a faculty member of KM Music Conservatory in Chennai, India. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| Michael Lindsey, Percussion |
| Michael Lindsey is a percussionist who teaches Western music theory and jazz history at KM besides heading the percussion studio. |
| |
|
more
Michael Lindsey, Percussion
Music Theory
|
Michael Lindsey is a percussionist from Indianapolis, Indiana. A student of Western classical, Hindustani, and Carnatic music traditions, he has been performing for over twelve years. He studied French horn, trumpet, and jazz bass guitar before focusing on percussion at the age of fourteen. Michael attended undergraduate studies at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where he was graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance and Classical Civilizations. He graduated with honors and was elected into both Eta Sigma Phi and Pi Kappa Lambda honor societies during his senior year.
While attending DePauw University, Michael performed regularly in many major ensembles and chamber groups. As a member of the DePauw University Percussion Ensemble he played with artists such as Ed Thigpen, Glen Velez, Jerry Tachoir, Joanna Kurkowicz, and Michael Spiro. In the winter of 2007, the Percussion Ensemble traveled to Europe where they performed concerts in Slovenia, Austria, Germany,the Czech Republic, and in Croatia where they were the featured guests of the International Percussion Ensemble Festival in Bjelovar, Croatia. His most recent solo repertoire includes works by Joseph Schwantner, Elliot Carter, Keiko Abe, and Bruce Hamilton. His teachers have included Craig Pare', Amy Lynn Barber, and Dan Fyffe.
A lover of Indian music, Michael has been studying tabla since he first came to India in 2006. In Chennai he has also studied kanjira, mridangam, morsing, vina, and Carnatic singing. His gurus have included N. Sunder, Rajeesh Davale, Karthick Subramaniam, Papanasam Sethuraman, and Roja Kannan. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| Andrew Throdahl, Foundation Piano |
| Andrew Throdahl is a pianist who teaches Foundation-level piano as well as a course on opera at KM. |
| |
|
more
| Andrew Throdahl, Foundation Piano |
| Andrew Throdahl began studying piano at the age of seven. From 2001 to 2005 he studied under Fabio and Gisele Witkowski at the Hotchkiss School. In 2002 and 2004 he went to the Amalfi Coast Music Festival, where he had master-classes with Paul Badura-Skoda and Luis de Moura-Castro. In 2004, he won second prize in the Audrey Thayer Piano Competition. In 2009 Andrew graduated magna cum laude from Middlebury College, where he won the College Concerto Competition in 2006, and the Chamber Music Competition in 2006 and 2007. At Middlebury he studied under Diana Fanning. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| Das Daniel, Foundation and Preparatory Piano |
| Das Daniels is a pianist who teaches both Foundation and Preparatory-level piano as well as piano classes for non-majors at KM. |
| |
|
more
| Das Daniel, Foundation and Preparatory Piano |
Das Daniel completed his Advance Senior Level in Violin and Piano at the Trinity College of London; he also received a degree in Music Theory and Correspondence at the Berklee College of London. He has been teaching piano and sending his pupils to the Highler Level Examinations conducted by the Trinity College of London since 1998.
From 1978 to 1998, he has served as the music director at the Santhome Communication Center, where his regular activities included composing, arranging, and conducting Christian devotional songs, video programs, and sound & lights. From 1986 to 1991, he was a member of the chamber orchestra conducted by the late Padmashri Handel Manuel.
Over the years he has worked with the music composers G.V. Prakash, Shankar, Ganesh, K. Bhagayaraj, M.S. Viswanathan, and Ramamoorthy. For many he served as music coordinator, conductor of the strings section, violinist, or keyboardist. He is able to work in various languages. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Western Classical Music Strings Department |
| |
| Joshua Pollock, Department Head/Violin |
| Joshua Pollock is a violinist who teaches Western violin and sight-singing at KM and also a course focusing on correct practicing techniques. |
| |
|
more
Joshua Pollock,
Violin
Head of Strings Department
|
 Born in Canada and raised in the USA, Joshua Pollock began his performing career at the age of twelve with a solo debut with the St. Petersburg Chamber Orchestra. Since then, he has continued to enjoy a career as a soloist, recitalist and as a chamber and orchestral musician. Venues include many of the world's leading halls, including Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Symphony Hall and Jordan Hall in Boston, Barbican in London, Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame, and Severance Hall in Cleveland, as well as having been broadcast on National Public Radio in the USA and on Russian State Television.
Joshua completed his Bachelor of Musical Arts degree from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, and his Master of Music degree from the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. As a Guildhall Artist, he has been generously supported by the Leverhulme Trust and the Edwin Evans Award. He has also attended and been supported by the New England Conservatory of Music, the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Interlochen Arts Academy, and the Walnut Hill School. Prominant teachers have included David Takeno, Miriam Fried and Paul Biss.
A keen recitalist, Joshua has performed throughout the UK and US in various artnerships. Recent chamber music collaborations include performances with violin virtuoso Sarah Chang at an EMI Records Showcase, a concert series with the Bampton Classical Players and recitals with the Onestra Piano Trio.
An experienced orchestral player, Joshua has led the Guildhall Opera Orchestra, the Indiana Contemporary Music Orchestra and was associate concertmaster of the Indiana University Philharmonic Orchestra.
Mr. Pollock has a keen interest in a variety of cross-disciplinary activities. Recently he was featured onstage performing solo Bach with the Curve Foundation Dance Company of Edinburgh. He has collaborated with the New York City Baroque Ballet Company and performed traditional Brazilian music as part of the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame's World Music Festival 2003. Joshua was comissioned to both arrange and record string parts for Salamander, an album by Doug Gillard of 'Guided By Voices. Arrangements also include traditional Polish music originating from the Tatry mountains. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| Eilidh Martin, Cello |
| Eilidh Martin is a cellist who teaches music appreciation, a course on chamber music, as well as the cello students at KM. |
| |
|
more
Eilidh Martin, Cello
World Music Appreciation
|
Cellist Eilidh Martin attended the Royal College of Music in London as a "foundation scholar" where she earned her Bachelors of Music degree. She gained her Masters from the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York, where she studied with the American cellist, Steven Doane. As a soloist chamber musician and Baroque specialist, Eilidh has given performances through Europe, the States, and Canada at leading venues and festivals.
Scottish cellist Eilidh Martin attended St Mary's Music School in Edinburgh before being offered full scholarship places to the top three music colleges in London. She took a place aged 17 at the Royal College of Music to study with the American cellist Steven Doane. There she won many solo and chamber music prizes and was awarded the Earl of Dalhousie Award for oustanding achievement and potential upon graduation. She continued to complete her Masters at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY where she held an assistantship to the Ying Quartet. Her studies were supported by awards from the Countess of Munster Trust, Musician's Benevolent Fund, Scottish International Education Trust and Leche Trust amongst others. The Caird Foundation gave her the Bloch prize for the finest Scottish auditionee in addition to a Travelling Scholarship for further studies of baroque cello in Amsterdam with Jaap ter Linden. There she studied on the advanced solo performance programme.
As a continuo cellist Eilidh has toured with Amsterdam Baroque Ensemble, with her baroque ensemble 'Alea'- prizewinners in the Van Wassenaer Early Music Concours 2007 and with BBC's 'Harmonieband' Ensemble lead by Charles Hazelwood for both radio and television series. Recent solo performances include unnacompanied Bach for the Royal-Over-Seas- League Series at the Edinburgh Festival, the RNCM International Cello Festival in masterclass and at Prussia Cove's International Musician's Seminar in Cornwall. Whilst in Scotland she regularly performs and records with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Scottish Ensemble.
As a member of Ensemble na Mara, a string trio/ piano quartet. Eilidh has taken part in performances throughout Europe and further afield.These include numerous Wigmore Hall recitals, performances and recordings while holding a residency at the Banff Centre- Canada, recitals at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Barbican's Mostly Mozart Festival and Sheffield's Music in the Rounds Series. They commissioned, supported by the Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust, and premiered a work by the English composer Timothy Salter, leading to a subsequent recording for USK records. Awards include first prize in the 2007 Royal Over-Seas League Chamber Music Competition, invitation to join the Tunnell Trust Young Artists Scheme and a debut recital and tour from the Kirckman Concert Society. Eilidh plays a beautiful old Kennedy cello circa 1820 which was kindly purchased for her through a Dewar Trust Award from the Scottish Arts Council.
Eilidh has a keen interest in traditional music and recently had her book of Scottish traditional tunes for the cello published by Taigh na Teud music publishers. She enjoys singing Gaelic songs and has performed at various festivals like the Belfast and Oxford Folk Festivals. She has recorded on various folk albums including ones for Red Skies, fiddler Donald Grant and traditional harpist Catriona Mackay amongst others. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| George Philips, Violin |
| George Philips is a violinist who teaches pedagogy, conducting, and heads both the choir and world choir at KM. He also teaches Western violin |
| |
|
more
George Philips , Violin
|
Violinist George Philips began his musical training under the careful guidance of Miriam Giannone and Netta Hadari. He was concertmaster of the Greater Bridgeport Youth Symphony, where he performed several solos. In addition he played as a soloist with his high school chamber orchestra. Mr. Philips has performed in masterclasses for several internationally renowned violinists including Pamela Frank, Ida Kavafian, Rachel Barton-Pine and Nicholas Kendall. A keen chamber musician, George has performed with many chamber ensembles and during the summers he coaches children's chamber music groups.
Mr. Philips' specialty is teaching young children in ways that are engaging on many levels, and adults in a very systematic and logical manner. He has taught in several high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools in both urban and suburban settings. Improvisation and singing are integral parts of his teaching philosophy. He is familiar with most mainstream pedagogical ideas such as those by Kodaly, Orff, Gordon Music Learning Theory, and Suzuki.
An avid orchestral musician, Mr. Philips has played in many orchestras including the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra, Eastman Philharmonia, Eastman Philharmonia Chamber Orchestra, and the Greater Bridgeport Youth Symphony. In addition to playing in orchestras, George is a well-respected conductor in the Fairfield County area where he did many workshops with school orchestras. During the summers he also directed the orchestra for the Fairfied Teen Theatre program. For them he has conducted, "Beauty and the Beast", and "Big".
As a recitalist, Mr. Philips has performed at many venues in the United States and France. In recital he has performed the sonatas of Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert, as well as the virtuoso encore pieces by Sarasate, Wieniawski, and Kreisler. His main areas of expertise are the short virtuoso works and the Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin by Bach. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Hindustani Department |
| |
| Meera Savoor, Voice |
| Meera Savoor is a Hindustani vocalist who teaches in the Prepatory-level Hindustani course at KM. |
| |
|
more
Meera Savoor, Hindustani Voice
|
Meera Savoor, a senior vocalist of the Agra Rangila Gharana, is a senior grade AIR artiste and a regular performer on Doordarshan Chennai.
She has given numerous private and public performances in India and in the UAE and sung at several prestigious Sabhas and Sammelans including the National Centre of Performing Arts, Mumbai and Tansen Samaroh at Gwalior where she had the privilege of performing in the year her Guru was presented the Tansen Award. She has several tapes to her credit featuring Hindustani Classical Music and Bhajans, released by Sangeeta Cassettes.
Meera Savoor is a disciple of Pandit Rama Rao Naik of Bangalore the Agra Gharana maestro, who learnt directly under the legendary Ustad Faiaz Khan of the Agra Gharana. She has imbibed his rich knowledge and is proficient in rendering Khayal, Thumri, Dadra and Bhajans. Her music shows a keen sense of classicism and a deep impress of the Agra Gharana. Her voice well honed over years of regular practice, has a rare feminine charm and lilt. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| Rajeesh Dhavale, Tabla |
| Rajeesh Dhavale is a tablist who accompanies the Hindustani vocal department at KM as well as teaching tabla |
| |
|
more
Rajesh Dhavale, Tabla
|
Rajesh was groomed into the fine art of Tabla playing by his grandfather Veerana Kamkar of Mehboob Khan Sahib Gharana ,who was also the recipient of the much coveted Sangeet Ratna Award of the Govt. of Karnataka. Later on Rajesh came under the tutelage of Ustad Hidaayat Khan Sahib from Jahangir Khan Sahib Gharana, Rajesh also got 'Vidvat' in Tabla from the Govt. of Karnataka. Rajesh is also a Bhigh grade artiste at the All India Radio. At the age of 13, Rajesh was awarded the CCRT National Scholarship to pursue his further training in Tabla.
Rajesh has accompanied many renowned artistes' on the Tabla like Smt. Lakshmi Shankar in Vocal; The late Shri Vishveshwaran on the Santoor, Shri Janardhan on the Sitar, Sri M.S Gopalakrishnan on the Violin and Sri T.V Gopala Krishnan in a Vocal Concert.
In the last fifteen years, Rajesh has prepared many students on the Tabla. Presented a Program at the Hamsadhwani conceived and directed by him called the Tabla titled 'Tal Bol and Laya.' featuring a solo performance and then a jugalbandi with Shehnai and the Sitar. He is enthusiastic about choreographing more such programs. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| Munna Shaokath Ali, Voice |
| Munna Shaokath Ali is a Hindustani vocalist who teaches both Foundation and Preparatory-level Hindustani vocal students at KM. |
| |
|
more
Munna Shaokath Ali, Hindustani Voice
|
Munna Shaokath Ali studied Hindustani Classical under the Gurukul tradition and was groomed by Mohammed Abdul Baki for over fifteen years in the Agra Gharana Gayaki of Faiyyaz Khan fame.While being groomed in the traditional style of Agra Gharana , Munna Shaokath Ali started to give performances from the tender age of seven and came to be affectionately called as the ' Munna Qawwal'. He chose the genre of Qawwali which was perfected by Shankar Shamboo ,the celebrated Sama Qawwals at Hazrat Moinnuddeen Chishti , Ajmer.While he had rigorous training in the classical medium ,he also had extensive lessons in Urdu and Arabic. This stood him in good stead and he emerged as poet and a
lyricist of note having written the soul-stirring"Piya Haji Ali"for the Bollywood Film Fiza;and Zikr-'Ahle talab A Jao Zikr Mein' for The Forgotton Hero - Subhash Chandra Bose, both under the unparalleled music direction of Shri A. R
Rahman.
Founded the Bharat Qawwali Sangam in Bangalore and trained many students into this medium and gave over two thousand sama performances at the various Dargaahs all over India. Also performed at the palace of Nawab Safdarjung in Hyderabad and for Mysore Maharaja and in the presence of Indira Gandhi at Nagpur.
Presently, President and Founder member Amir Khusro Sangeet Academy, a non-profit Trust given to promoting Hindustani classical in the region.
An artiste with the All India Radio Bangalore, he has sung more than 100 Devotional Cassettes and trained some of the well known names as play- back singers. His repertoire includes extensive Raga delineations in the traditional Dhrut pieces and the light classical modes like the Ghazal. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
| Shruti Jauhari, Hindustani Classical Voice |
| Shruti Jauhari is a Hindustani vocalist who teaches the Foundation-level Hindustani vocal students as well as Hindustani music theory at KM. |
| |
|
more
Shruti Jauhari, Hindustani Classical Voice
|
Shruti Jauhari was born into an academic and music-loving family from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. She was drawn to Hindustani Classical music during her early childhood by a keen musician and critic-her father, Dr. R. M .Verma, Retd. Prof & Dean, Science Faculty. Her first guru, he introduced her to the works of eminent singers, such as Parveen Sultana, Kishori Amonkar, Ustaad Amir Khan, all of whom have inspired and influenced her singing.
At the age of eight, she started taking music lessons from Pandit G R Kulkarni of Maihar Gharana. Since, she has also undergone extensive training by Prasad Bhatt, from the family of court musicians of Beora State (MP) for Thumari; legendary Dr. K.K Yesudas for voice culture; and Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty in Kolkata from advanced Hindustani Classical voice.
After having finished her Masters in Zoology with a Gold Medal at Graduate and Post Graduate levels, she immediately went on to complete her Masters in Music from Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh, MP, the only university in India exclusively established and recognized for teaching Hindustani Music. In order to pursue her music career, she has given up lecture assignments for M. Sc. Zoology and a merit-based research fellowship from the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute in Nagpur.
Since 1988, she has been a regularly featured on All India Radio. In 1989, she received the first place award in performance, as well as the Best Light Music Vocal Artiste Award at the State Inter-University Classical Music Contest held by the MP State Government. She has performed at Udaipur, Benaras, Lucknow, Bhopal, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. Shruti is widely known in Chennai for performing live Old Hindi Film Songs by Lata Mangeshkar.
Sruti has over twelve years of teaching experience in Hindustani Classical and Light Vocal Music, and conducts regular classes and courses. She has been the visiting faculty of the Music Department of Madras University. Currently, she is working for Non-Hindi speaking connoisseurs of Hindustani
Classical Music. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
