Carft and Color presented by Samarth Nagarkar
Sunday, 27 Sept 2026, 10:00 AM
Buffalo Grove Park District Community Arts Center, Room 20. 225 McHenry Rd., Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
An Interactive Lecture-Demonstration presented by Samarth Nagarkar
A program in two movements
Part 1: Anatomy of Khyal
Part 2: Bandish ki Thumri: Rhythm and Rasa
The first, Anatomy of Khyal, offers a rare real-time window into the architecture of Hindustani music, featuring a live performance of a raga accompanied by visual commentary, mapping the music as it unfolds, avartan by avartan.
The second, Bandish ki Thumri: Rhythm and Rasa, turns from structure to splendor, offering a curated selection of compositions in a vibrant, rhythmically alive stream within the thumri tradition. The repertoire draws from compositions by Bindadin Maharaj, Emperor Wajid Ali Shah, Sanad Piya, Vinod Piya, and other gems from Lucknow’s golden age, presented with transliterations and translations, inviting audiences into the poetry as much as the music.
Artists:
Samarth Nagarkar (Vocals), Tejas Tope (Tabla), Praneet Marathe (Harmonium)
Artist Bio:
Samarth Nagarkar
Samarth Nagarkar is a khayal vocalist of Hindustani classical music – a singer, educator, and author regarded as a flag-bearer of raga music worldwide. Trained in the guru-shishya tradition under Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar and Pt. Dinkar Kaikini, he is rare in his command of three gharanas: Gwalior, Agra, and Jaipur. He has performed at Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and festivals across the globe, authored the acclaimed book Raga Sangeet, and is a Voting Member of the Recording Academy. He founded Raga Sangeet Creative and co-founded Brooklyn Raga Massive.
Tejas Tope
Tejas Tope has been studying tabla with Samir Chatterjee, as well as with Ustad Zakir Hussain for over two decades – both of whom Tejas has also had the opportunity to
perform alongside.
He has performed globally with a variety of art forms (including as a soloist) across the U.S., Europe and India. Additionally, Tejas has studied Pakhawaj with Pandit Mohan Shyam Sharma, Pandit Manik Munde, and Shri Pratap Awad.
Tejas is based in New York City.
Praneet Marathe
Praneet Marathe is a distinguished harmonium player and educator, deeply rooted in a rich musical lineage. Trained by his father, Pt. Pramod Marathe, and mother, Smt. Parineeta Marathe, he has accompanied eminent artists like Dr. Arun Dravid and Pt. Shounak Abhisheki on prestigious global platforms.
He founded Gandharva Mahavidyalaya North America in 2023, expanding Indian classical music education internationally. A passionate innovator, he has developed “Swarlipi,” a digital-friendly notation system, and structured online learning modules. His commitment to preserving and modernizing classical music continues to inspire students worldwide. In addition to his performances and teaching, he actively promotes Indian classical music through concerts, workshops, and mentorship programs.