Touching India through music and singing!

Finding a music/choir director for the ambitious Singing India was a challenging task. We needed a person who traversed the western and Indian musical traditions. Who could direct western voices in 4 parts harmonies and understand the nuances of both traditions. We needed the wish list of being a multi-instrumentalist, a vocalist in western and Indian styles and the need that they speak fluent English, and hope they speak not only Hindi but Bengali. That we found such a person who not only does all these things, but does them beautifully, is a godsend. Below are some of the achievements and credentials of our Director of Indian Music - Anubrato 'Anub' Ghatak. Studied Western Classical Music (subjects Violin, Viola and Conducting) under Maestro Abraham Mazumder, one of the foremost conductors and educators of India. Achieved an international degree with distinction in the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music, London. Studied piano with Sandhya Verma, classical guitar with Biplav Singh, cello and double bass with Somnath Makhal, and Music Theory with Anita Hazra, as well as Music Pedagogy Courses, choral and instrumental masterclasses at Würzburg University in Würzburg, Germany, under full scholarship from Goethe-Institut. Performed all over India, as leader/concert master/assistant conductor. Performed in Berlin and Munich (at the Gasteig) as orchestra leader with members of the Munich Philharmonic, Orpheus Ensemble and Odeon String Trio. Been part of several rock bands, including JUST, the Jadavpur University band as guitarist and singer. Presently a founder member of the eclectic rock band Anarkyst. Frequently collaborated with folk artists across India, including Bauls from Shantiniketan, Fakir and Sufi singers as well as leading and arranging the ensemble for The Tagore Symphony Project. Beyond these extraordinarily impressive credentials, what permeates Anub's professional life is a deep love of music. Whether he is singing a Baul song or his beloved Beatles, he is transported in the playing and the singing of the music. His skills and talents aside, Anub's love of all music is what makes him a rare find, the proverbial musical needle in a haystack!