Morning Melodies – A Diwali Celebration with Saurabh Kadgaonkar
Artists:
Saurabh Kadgaonkar, Bharat Kamat (Tabla), Amey Bichu (Harmonium)
Artist Bio:
Saurabh Kadgaonkar
Saurabh Kadgaonkar is a gifted Hindustani classical vocalist celebrated for soulful renditions rooted in both the Kirana and Jaipur gharanas. He began his musical journey under his father, Shri Sunil Kadgaonkar, and has been a senior disciple of Pt. Raghunandan Panshikar – himself a disciple of the legendary Kishori Amonkar for over 14 years.
Holding an M.A. in Vocal Music from Shivaji University and a Sangeet Visharad, Saurabh is known for his rich, emotive voice and versatile repertoire, spanning khayal, bhajans, Natyageet, and semi-classical genres.
A milestone in his career was performing at the prestigious 70th Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav in Pune in December 2024, where his vocal recital created a devotional ambiance and was met with enthusiastic audience chants.
Saurabh also contributes significantly to music education – he’s been teaching at Pune’s Gandharva Mahavidyalaya since 2007 and has performed under the aegis of All India Radio and the Ministry of Culture, including receiving a scholarship in 2011.
Bharat Kamat
Bharat Kamat is an acclaimed tabla maestro of the Benares gharana, hailed for his dynamic accompaniment, precise tone, and rhythmic clarity. Born into a distinguished musical family in Pune, he began tabla training at age five under his father Pt. Chandrakant Kamat – a disciple of Pt. Samta Prasad, and later absorbed the rich Benares repertoire.
With a career beginning in 1987 under Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki, Bharat has toured globally, performing alongside luminaries such as Pt. Bhimsen Joshi (for 18 consecutive years across over 1,000 concerts), Pt. Mallikarjun Mansur, Kishori Amonkar, Pt. Jasraj, and many others. He is a recipient of first prize in tabla from All India Radio (1991), and is a frequent performer at festivals such as Sawai Gandharva, ITC Sangeet Sammelan, Vasantotsav, and Ragmala.
Besides performing, Bharat teaches at his Pune home, continuing the pedagogical legacy of his lineage
Ameya Bichu
Amey Bichu is a rising harmonium artist from Pune, whose sensitive accompaniment and deep grasp of Hindustani classical music have drawn considerable attention. Trained under Shri Tanmay Deochake, Taalyogi Pt. Suresh Talwalkar, and Vidushi Padma, he holds a B.A. in Music (Harmonium) from Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University and has studied for over six years under eminent mentors.
An active performer, Amey spearheads Gandhaar Creatives—an initiative promoting classical music.
He has accompanied distinguished artists like Pt. Talwalkar, Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri, Raghunandan Panshikar, Amiya Ranjan Bandyopadhyay, and others across India, winning recognition and awards at national competitions.