Pandit Tarun Bhattarcharya

Santoor

India’s Global Music Ambassador – Santoor Maestro Pt Tarun Bhattacharya is a pioneering and revolutionary musician who has changed the face of Indian classical music, he is an unparalleled music ambassador of India. A disciple of the legendary Bharat Ratna Late Pt. Ravi Shankar ! Panditji is one of the most celebrated torch bearers of Indian classical music.

He has virtually traversed the globe-performing in some of most awe inspiring venues as Royal Albert Hall, Palace-de-Beaux (Brussels), Theater- De-La-Viile (France), Apollo Theatre (Spain), Jubilee Auditorium (Canada), Kremlin (Russia). The mesmerized list of admirers include Prince Charles, George Harrison, Paolo Solaris and many more respected figures across the Globe.

In 1980 he displayed for the first time ever that one could ‘meend’ or glide notes at the lower octave in a hammered instrument like Santoor. He is also the inventor of “mankas” or fine tuners that help in the tuning of this 100 stringed instrument fast, with a long lasting effect and a very high degree of accuracy. His innovative techniques of playing the Santoor also facilitates in the playing of Krintans, Ekharatans, Boltans broadening the utility of the Santoor in various traditional form of art.

Awards

1. Best Critic Award – Germany
2. Pre Grammy Nomination-1997
3. ‘Excellence in World Music’ from Music of the World – USA
4. Mahakal Samman – Madhya Pradesh., India
5. Surrender Paul Award – Kolkata, India
6. Bhakti Kala Khetra Award – Iskcon, India
7. Jadu Bhatt Award – Kolkata, India
8. Pt. Monmohan Bhatt Special Achievement Award – New Delhi, India
9. Vishnu Pad Alankaran Samman – Gaya, India
10. 39th Bhaskar Rao Music Festival Felicitation- Chandigarh, India
11. Felicitation at Schweinfurt Rotary Club- Germany
12. Vocational Excellence Award -Rotary International District 3291, India
13. Sutanati Parishad Felicitation- Calcutta, India
14. Rotary Peace & Goodwill Ambassador- Rotary Club of Calcutta Metro City
15. Felicitation at National University, USA
16. Felicitation at University of North Texas, USA
17. Felicitation at Harvard University
18. Felicitation at MIT, Boston, USA
19. Felicitation at Browning University, Boston, USA
20. Felicitation at Duke University, USA
21. Felicitation at North CarolinaUniversity, USA
22. Felicitation at University of Virginia, USA
23. Felicitation at Illinois University, USA
24. Felicitation at Yale University, USA
25. Felicitation at University of Champagne, USA

Albums

In addition to working with Shankar on albums such as Inside The Kremlin and Chants of India Maestro Tarun Bhattacharya has released over 100 CDs and Cassettes. He has been the recipient of numerous felicitations like pre Grammy nomination in 97, excellence in world music USA, and his CD “Kirwani” has been acclaimed as the top 10 in the world.
More details can be found in www.santoormaestro.com.