The Mentors of The Fifth Note

Vishal Krishna is from the Banaras Gharana. Vishal Krishna was born in 1991 in the illustrious family of Acharya Sukhdev Maharaj. He is a descendant of the legendry family and the 4th generation of dancers of the Banaras Gharana. At the tender age of 3, he started his dance training under the strict tutelage of his grandmother Kathak Queen Sitara Devi. Training under the undisputed doyen meant strict discipline and arduous practice for several hours a day. 

Through the years he also learnt from his father respected Kathak exponent, Pt. Mohan Krishan and Pt. Ravi Shankar Mishra. He is the nephew of Natraj Pt. Gopi Krishna ji. Vishal Krishna's Kathak has all the unique favours of Banarsi culture, from the Shiv Vandana with one legged stance to the squatting in full split on the sama. Like a cherubic little Krishna enjoying himself, his pirouettes, poses and the insouciance of rhythmic brilliance with virile and vigorous movements make him a promising young dancer. 

His performances are characterized with grace, bravura and showmanship. Apart from being a dancer of repute, he teaches students and choreographs pieces for audiences both in India and abroad.
Awards
1-Pt.Birju Maharaj Sangeet Samriddhi Samman 2012
2-Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2015
3-Shringaar Mani Award 2007
4-Kala Vibhuti Smman 2016
5-Sangeet Natak Academy Puraskar 2020
6-Padmvibhushan Pt.Kelu Charan Yuva Pratibha Puraskar 2023
7- Nrtiya Mayur Award (Los angles,U.S.A)
2024
8-Kashi Leadership Excellence Award 2024

Shakir Khan is one of the most promising young exponents of the legendary Etawah Gharana,
energetically following in the musical footsteps of his prodigious father and guru — the sitar maestro Padma Shri Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan. Indeed, Shakir represents the eighth generational link in an unbroken chain of musical talent and tradition poured exclusively into the sitar and surbahar. A chain that includes, besides Ustadji, the musical legacy of Ustad Aziz Khan (Shakir’s paternal grandfather), and that of the patriarchal surbaharist Ustad Wahid Khan (Shakir’s great grandfather).

Great Ustad Vilayat Khan is his grand uncle.

As might be expected from such a pedigreed musician, his talent surfaced early in life, Shakir giving his first public performance at the age of eleven. Talent, however, is not enough to master the
Indian classical tradition, and under the careful tutelage of his father, Shakir matured gradually through study, countless hours dedicated to practice (riyaaz) and frequent recitals. The work paid
off, and in recent years Shakir has performed brilliantly for prestigious music conferences some of them including the Dover Lane Music Conference (Kolkata), Sawai Gandharva music festival Pune, the Saptak Music Festival (Ahmedabad), Bombay Festival (Mumbai), the Tansen Music Festival (Gwalior), the Shankarlal Music Festival (Delhi) and many more. He has also performed extensively
worldwide, bringing the joy and subtlety of the Etawah Gharana to audiences in the US, Canada and Europe – the latter including a performance at the famous Woodstock Festival in Poland in 2008. In the recent years. Shakir khan was awarded the Ustad Bismillah khan Yuvah Puraksar award (2023)

from the Sangeet Natak Academy of India for his excellence in the field of music, the Guruvarya B.S Upadhayay memorial award from the Violin Academy (2013), Shri Ram Murti Pratibha Alankaran
award (2021) and Padmanabha charities Vidyasagar award (2008) to name a few.

His growth as a musician has allowed Shakir to accompany his father on stage on many occasions – a father-son duet that veritably explodes with energy. Shakir’s talent has also found official recognition, the young sitar virtuoso winning a Government of India merit scholarship and first prize at the All India Radio (AIR) Music Competition.

Like his father, Shakir Khan stands out for his exquisite sense of sur (melody) and laya (rhythm). He has equally been blessed with a commanding stage presence that quickly wins an audience over to
his musical voice. Shakir ability to adapt his classical knowledge and skill in international fusion projects like the European Jazz ensemble Germany and “Human Evolution”, Spain has been widely
appreciated. He also believes in sharing the gift of his musical knowledge by training & guiding students across the globe in their musical career ahead through the organization “Swar Setu” he
founded in the memory of his late Grandfather Ustad Aziz Khan.

Shubh Maharaj was born in an illustrious musical family of  tabla maestro Pt. Kishan Maharaj as his grandson. His father Pt. Vijay Shankar was a renowned kathak dancer and one of the senior students of Pt.Birju Maharaj, naturally Shubh got music in his blood by both sides of his families.  At a tender age of one his father devoted him in the feet of his maternal grandfather Pt Kishan maharaj the perfect hands to show the correct path to the small tabla player.

As the heritage passes on, Shubh formally got his grandpa's shaagirdi in 1993 and joined the legacy of Pt. Kanthe Maharaj's family.
The sadhna begun and gradually the relation of grandfather and grandson evolved to a strict teacher and a hardworking dedicated pupil (guru and shishya).

In 2000 Shubh gave his first tabla solo performance as an upcoming child prodigy at a tender age of 12 and since then he got the privilege of performing at several reputed stages of Indian music festivals with his guru and alone.

He was fortunate to perform in front of the legendary Pt. Ravi Shankar and recieved his blessings. By the date he has accompanied several leading maestros of Indian classical i.e: Pt. Hari prasad chaurasia, Ud. Amjad Ali khan, Vidushi Girija Devi, Pt.Rajan Sajan Mishra, Dr. N Rajam, Pt.Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Ud Shahid Parvez and lots more!!

Armaan Khan is an upcoming artist in the world of Hindustani classical music, a 20 year-old vocalist who has already made a name for himself with his incredible talent and dedication to the art form. Born to the legendary Padma Bhushan Ustad Rashid Khan, Armaan has music running through his veins and has been immersed in the

world of Hindustani classical music since the age of two.

Armaan hails from the Rampur Sahaswan Gharana, a style of music that places a strong

emphasis on the clarity of swaraand the gradual progression of ragas. This Gharana was founded by the great Ustad Inayat Khan, and Armaan has inherited its rich legacy and taken it to new heights with his unique style and interpretation.

Despite being steeped in tradition, Armaan's music is far from old-fashioned. He blends modern and international music styles seamlessly, creating a sound that is both classic and contemporary. His voice is powerful and evocative, capable of

expressing a wide range of emotions and capturing the essence of each raga he

performs.

Armaan's musical journey began at a young age, when he started learning from his father. He has since grown into a confident and accomplished musician and has already received accolades for his performances. In 2021, he was awarded at the prestigious

Dover Lane Music Festival, cementing his place among the most promising young musicians of his generation. Armaan has already performed at various prestigious events and venues across India and Abroad in places like Dubai Bahrain US New Jersey summer fest and MIT Boston 2023, has been praised for his ability to blend traditional

styles with modern elements. He is considered one of the most promising young artists in  the genre and is poised to make a significant impact on the world of Hindustani classical music. He is recently awarded with Lokmat Sur Jyotsna 2024, Sri Shanmukha Sangeetha Shirimani Awrad 2024. Armaan has also performed at ABP Ananda

Puraskar 2024, Sankat Mochan 2024, NABC Chicago USA 2024, Sahitya Aaj Tak 2024

& many more.

Armaan has been involved in charitable work and social causes. He has performed at charity concerts to raise funds for various causes, including education and healthcare, and has been an advocate for promoting peace and harmony through music.

He is active on social media and has a growing following. He shares his music and insights about the music industry with his fans and has also used his platform to raise awareness about important issues.

Armaan is an avid reader and has a keen interest in literature, which has also influenced his music. He has been known to incorporate verses from classical poets into his performances, adding an extra layer of depth and meaning to his music.

With his talent, dedication, and innovative approach to music, Armaan Khan is set to

become a force to be reckoned with in the world of Hindustani classical music. His music is a testament to the power and beauty of this ancient art form and a glimpse into the future of Indian music.

Dr Sathya Prasad alias Dr JKV Rithik Madhavan, a music composer, programmer, and sound engineer, owns a State of the Art studio in Chennai.

Dr JKV Rithik Madhavan has worked with Kosmik Music Company for decades as an in-house principal musician and technician, releasing several albums in different genres with all of the world’s top musical talents. He has also performed solo piano performances across the globe. He has worked with a wide range of celebrities throughout the globe, owing to his significant knowledge, competence, and participation in the realms of sound and music. His abilities include piano playing, keyboard and beat programming, recording, sophisticated editing, mixing, and mastering, flawless notation writing in Western and Indian traditions, sound synthesis, and more.

He is enthusiastic about passing on his legacy to the next generation after successfully displaying all of his talents in the field for more than two decades.

Janaki Iyer, a prominent playback singer from Mumbai, has collaborated with several renowned music directors and sang in various languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujrati, Kannada, and Malayalam.

She has received several honours for her songs, including Azhaghai pookudae, Ussumu larasae, Aval appadi ondrum Azhagillai, Aasai aasai, Unakaga varuven, Arumbae, and others.

She’s also a performing Hindustani and Carnatic vocalist.

Janaki left no stone unturned and has extraordinary adaptability and flexibility to sing in any genre such as carnatic, Hindustani, western, pop, Arabic, and so on, without losing authenticity.

Furthermore, she sings Ghazal, Abhang, and various light music events in India and overseas.

Because of her interest in technology, Janaki has also received training in audio and music creation. She finds enormous satisfaction in teaching the next generation about music, technology, and vocal culture.