User:Gaya1087/sandbox



= Vidushi Sunanda Sharma = Vidushi Sunanda  Sharma  (born on 22nd  October)  is  a  Hindustani  Classical  Vocalist. She  sings Classical,

Semi-Classical  and Folk songs  of Punjab and Himachal.

Early Life :
The  refreshing breeze  of Himachal  mountain peaks  and the  delicate  stream  of the sacred river Ganges  in Benares  meet  creating a  spellbound aura  of mysticism  and tenderness  in the  enchanting voice  of Sunanda  Sharma. Her soothing rendition of the  Benares  Gharana  style  of gayaki  exudes  a  musical  fragrance  that  captivates  everyone's  heart  and soul. Sunanda  was  born in village  Dah in Kangra  district, Himachal  Pradesh, on 22nd  October, to Late Pandit  Sudarshan Sharma  and Smt  Sudesh Sharma;  she  has  two brothers  Suvan Sharma  and Saurabh Sharma. Her father was  a  Violinist  who taught  her classical  music, bhajans  and songs  in 12 different  regional  languages  in her childhood. She  is  a  post  graduate  as  well  as  gold medalist  in  Hindustani  classical  music  from  Punjab University,  Chandigarh.

Personal life:
In 2009 Sunanda married Dr. Jai Shankar; Norway based Doctor and a Tabla

Player. Since they both belong to the music fraternity, they named their only daughter ‘Kedara’

based on a popular raag in Hindustani Classical Music Raag Kedar.

Career:
She always wanted to learn Benaras Gharana style of music since childhood and her

wish came true when Late Smt Girija Devi took her under her wings after spotting her at the

Hariballabh Sangeet Sammelan, Jallandhar. This was the beginning of a training in the

Gurushishya parampara which saw Sunanda living, serving and learning music from her guru in

Benaras and Kolkata for 9 years and thus her music has a distinct flavour of the musical grandeur

of the temple town of Kashi. The guidance continued till Girija Devi ji was alive. The Guru and

her shishya performed together many a times and used to leave an imprint of their music, which

was a melodious blend of shastra and bhav paksh on the consciousness of music connoisseurs at

festivals, concerts, baithaks etc., in India and abroad.

Once a proud guru Smt Girija Devi in an interview to The Indian Express summed up the

accomplishments of her disciple in these words, "My legacy will be taken forward through the

beautiful thumris, chaitis and kajris sung by Sunanda. She has amazing control over her taans.

Praise coming from her Guru is the best compliment a disciple can get.

 Cultural Performances: 

National:
- Sunanda feels blessed to have performed at the feet of the divine in various Temples

of India such as, in the presence of Shri Satya Sai Baba in Puttaparthi, Shri Nath Dwara-

Rajasthan, Chamunda Devi-Himachal Pradesh, Ek Ling Maharaj Temple-Udaipur, DurgaMandir- Benaras and other pilgrimage temples.

Her rendition elevates traditional classical music

to its pristine beauty of spiritual aura.

Sunanda has exhibited her brilliance in prestigious and noteworthy concerts such as

• Kumbh Mela 2019, Prayagraj.

• Baba Hariwallabh Sangeet Sammelan, Jallandhar.

• Bangalore Habba.

• Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan.

• Concert in Kolkata.

• Ganga Mahotsav, Varanasi.

• SPIC MACAY Music in the Park Jaipur and Delhi.

• Morning ragas concert, Sangeet Natak Academy New Delhi.

• Concert “Musical Journey from India to Norway” New Delhi.

• Nehru Centre Concert, Mumbai.

• Pancham Nishad concert in Mumbai •Concert at Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh.

• Concert at Prayag Samet Samiti, Allahabad.

• Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasiya’s 80th Birthday concert.

• Sangeet Natak Academy Concerts, Allahabad and Lucknow.

• Saptak Festival, Ahmedebad.

• Shruti Mandal Concerts, Jaipur.

• Tansen Sangeet Sammelan, Gwalior.

• Thumri festival, New Delhi & Mumbai.

• India Music Summit, Jaipur

She also has to her credit some of the unique "jugalbandis” with the legendary Sarod Maestro

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

International:
Sunanda’s international performances have moved audiences in the UK, the

USA, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Belgium and Sweden. It includes recitals at the

World Music festivals in Germany and twice in Belgium.

Some of her recitals abroad include:

• Concerts at Thetre Da La Ville, Paris, France 2019.

• Concert at Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Italy 2018, 2020

• Concerts at Cadogan Hall, London 2016, 2017, 2018.

• Concert at Norwegian Parliament in Norway 2016.

• Concerts at Thetre Da La Ville, France 2015.

• Concert Tours, Norway, 2006-2018.

• Solo & jugalbandi concert tour in Denmark, 2008.

• Annual Asian Music Circuit summer Concerts, U.K. 2000- 2018.

• World Music Festival, Belgium, 2004.

• World Voice Festival, Dusseldorf, Germany, 2002.

• Swaranjali Concert, Columbus, USA, 2001.

Festival Of India, South Africa, 2019

Awards and Recognition:
• PHD Art and Culture sammaan July 2018.

• Atal Bihari Vajpayee National Award for Promotion of Art and Culture, 2018.

• Visiting Teacher at the Asian Music Circuit’s renowned annual summer school at the

School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London (2000-04) and the

Royal Academy of Music, London (2005-2012).

• Best singer award for her album with Music Today in 2010

• Visiting Classical Vocal Teacher at Kala Ashram, institute of the legendary Kathak

Dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj, 2006 and 2007.

• Panel Artist for prestigious organizations such as SPICMACAY and the Indian Council

for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

• Talented Young Ladies Award, International Women’s Day, Bharat Nirman, 2004.

• Indian Junior Chamber’s Outstanding Young Persons Award, Chandigarh 1989.

• Pathankot Sangeet Samiti’s Saptarishi Award.

Musicography:
• ‘Hari’– Devotional Meera bai bhajan by Pragnya.

• The Great Big Punjabi Wedding-Punjabi folk by Music Today.

• ‘Dharohar’- Classical and Semi-Classical music by Times Music.

• ‘Surganga’- Classical and Semi-Classical music by Times Music.

• Swarsanchay- Classical and Semi-Classical music by Virgin Record.

External resources

https://www.indiatoday.in/mail-today/story/melodies-that-invoke-fragrances-of-yore-1500866-2019-04-13

https://www.meetup.com/London-South-Asian-Classical-Music-Meetup/events/239858593/

https://indiaculture.nic.in/sites/default/files/events/PanelofArtists17.07.2017.pdf

https://www.asianage.com/entertainment/music/170419/benarasi-tradition.html

http://everythingexperiential.businessworld.in/article/Vocalist-Vidushi-Sunanda-Sharma-Performs-at-Amphitheatre-Ashoka-Hotel-New-Delhi/16-04-2019-169347

http://www.theglobaltimes.in/pdf_issues/pdfVol9Issue34Page1.pdf

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/music/vidushi-sunanda-sharma-to-perform-live-in-venice-italy-on-saturday

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/that-voice-from-the-hills-773980

https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2019/dec/27/music-festivals-bring-art-closer-to-masses-sunanda-sharma-2081324.html