Shantiniketan in concert October 2014

About Shantiniketan
Shantiniketan was founded in spring 2014 by Bee Seavers, Europes and Germany`s most
distinguished santoor player. Bee Seavers is disciple of the great Pandit Shivkumar Sharma since
1995. Shantiniketan have different casts from Eurpoe, USA and India. Outstanding musicians
participating in this group. The premiere of Shantiniketan was on March 12th 2014 at the Indian
Embassy in Berlin (Germany) and was awarded with standing ovation. Since then Shantiniketan was
established as a music group of highest quality and diversity of musical skills. The music of
Shantinketan is based on Ragas combined with glimps of Flamenco and Jazz.
The philosophy of Shantiniketan is a global meeting of the best musicians world wide. The list of
musicians who are participating: Sandeep Popatkar, Indradeep Ghosh, Ajay Prasanna, Andre Lenz, ,
Farooque Khan, Rupak Kulkani,Ramesh Mishra, Bee Seavers, Mukundraj Deo and many more.
Shantiniketan performing on classical music festivals, jazz festivals, world music festivals as well
concert halls world wide.

About Shantiniketan
Shantiniketan was founded in spring 2014 by Bee Seavers, Europes and Germany`s most
distinguished santoor player. Bee Seavers is disciple of the great Pandit Shivkumar Sharma since
1995. Shantiniketan have different casts from Eurpoe, USA and India. Outstanding musicians
participating in this group. The premiere of Shantiniketan was on March 12th 2014 at the Indian
Embassy in Berlin (Germany) and was awarded with standing ovation. Since then Shantiniketan was
established as a music group of highest quality and diversity of musical skills. The music of
Shantinketan is based on Ragas combined with glimps of Flamenco and Jazz.
The philosophy of Shantiniketan is a global meeting of the best musicians world wide. The list of
musicians who are participating: Sandeep Popatkar, Indradeep Ghosh, Ajay Prasanna, Andre Lenz, ,
Farooque Khan, Rupak Kulkani,Ramesh Mishra, Bee Seavers, Mukundraj Deo and many more.
Shantiniketan performing on classical music festivals, jazz festivals, world music festivals as well
concert halls world wide.
Biographies of Shantiniketan Musicians for the Trivandrum Concert
Farooque Lateef Khan, born in Bhopal in 1975, is one of the most accomplished
and promising musicians of the younger generation of Sarangi players in India.
Farooque represents the fifth generation of the musical heritage of distinguished
Sarangi players from Gohad near Gwalior in Madhya - Pradesh. This musical
heritage includes Ustad Fazal Khan, the father of Ustad Ghansi Khan, famous for
his mastery of the intricate 'Tappa' style. Ustad Ghansi Khan taught his sons who
included Ustad Uday Khan, Ustad Chhuttu Khan and Ustad Haddu Khan who
were the father and paternal uncles and the teachers of Ustad Abdul Lateef Khan,
Farooque Lateef Khan's eminent father.
Farooque Lateef Khan began learning Sarangi from his father at the age of twelve. The intense
'taleem' which he received from Ustad Abdul Lateef Khan Sahab, every morning and evening, is
clearly reflected in his thoughtful and virtuosic playing style. His playing embodies the intricate
delicacy of his father's style as well as rare and impressive techniques which his father learned from
one of the most famous Sarangi player of the first half of this century, Ustad Bade Ghulam Sabir
(Ambala Wale).
From Shrimati Annapurna Devi, the daughter of Pandit Ravi Shankar’s Guru
Baba Allaudin Khan, came the legendary Flute maestro Pandit Hariprasad
Chaurasia, and from this Master came his prime disciple Pandit Rupak Kulkarni,
who has given this grand tradition a brand new flavour with his unique sensuality
and creativity. Where others have performed ragas, Rupak has recreated ragas.
Where others have played compositions through the flute, Rupak has written
compositions through the flute. Where others have reminded us of the sensuality of the Krishna’s
instrument, Rupak has proved to us the sensuality of Krishna’s instrument. Rupak is simply an ageold
master of music disguised as a much younger artiste.
As a child prodigy with music blown into his breath by his father late Pt. Malhar Rao Kulkarni,
Rupak has blossomed under the finest tutelage of flute legend Padma Vibhushan Pt. HARIPRASAD
CHAURASIA to become an outstanding exponent of MAIHAR GHARANA. As a first GANDA
BANDH Shagird of Pt. Chaurasia since the tender age of 9, Rupak with arduous training and hard

work has mastered Dhrupad, Khayal and Tantrakari styles equally well. His recital is always a rare
treat combining Dhrupad and Khayal Gayaki, melodious Aalap and scintillating Tatkar (Tonguing
technique used for Jhala) innovative improvisation with mesmerising Layakari, superb breath
control and dexterous finger work. No wonder his concerts are loved and lauded not only by
common music lovers but even by connoisseurs and music maestros such as Pt. RAVISHANKAR
and Pt. BHIMSEN JOSHI.
TOP grade artist of all India radio Rupak’s first solo flute performance was at the age of 11 at
Darbar Hall, Baroda where he spellbound around 1500 music lovers. Since then he has performed
in almost all prestigious music conferences in all over India and Abroad. He is also very sought
after musician in World Music and is one of the most popular among young generation.
Pt. Mukundraj Deo
One of the finest young Tabla Players from our country, Mukundraj Deo
comes from a family with great liking of Dance and Music. He has received
inspiration and promotion for his art from his mother Dr. Mrs. Manjiri
Deo, a Kathak Dancer [Disciple of Late Natraj Gopikrishna] and father,
Mr. Shreeram Deo, a true lover of Dance and Music.
He has undergone a rigorous training of Tabla from Late Pt. Brijraj Mishra of Bananas Gharana and Pt.
Mridangraj of Ajrada Gharana. He completed Sangeet Visharad and Alankaar in Tabla with first class from Akhil
Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. His talent was acclaimed in the form of National Scholarship from
Government of India in 1990, a prestigious title Taalmani from Sursingar Samsad, Bombay in 1993 and National
fellowship in 1997. He is an 'A' grade artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan. Apart from this he also holds a
Bachelors Degree in Commerce.
Mukundraj has written a book on Tabla in Marathi named 'Susamvad Tablyashi''. Recently he has been awarded
by title 'PANDIT' by Savarkar Seva Sanstha, Thane.
He has the distinction of having accompanied Maestroes like Natraj Gopikrishna, Pt. Birju Maharaj, Dr. Prabha
Atre, Begum Parveen Sultana, Ustad Dilshad Khan, Pt. Jasraj, Late Pt. C.R.Vyas, Dr. N. Rajam, Ustad Raiskhan,
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, , Pt. Shivkumar| Sharma, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pt. Ramnarayan, Pt. Satish Vyas, Rahul
Sharma, Pt. Ronu Majumdar, Ashatai Khadilkar, etc.
He has travelled overseas to Gulf countries, Japan, U.K., U.S.A., France, Switzerland, Hongkong, foray,
Seychells, Mauritius and also participated in International Music Festivals in Adelaide - Australia, York early
Music Festivals - England, Fes world Music festival - Morocco, Festival at Sydney era House - Sydney, La -
Digue Music Festival - Seychelles.

The artist Dr. Bee Seavers, born in Germany,(German Mother and US
Father) is Germany`s and Europe`s most distinguished musician on
Santoor in Indian classical music and
founder of the Worldmusic Group Shantiniketan in 2014. Recognized as
a world renowned musician Bee Seavers carrier started as Jazz musician
in 1965 till 1978 in the USA and Germany. The ancestor of his father
was a Pathan from Kashmir and immigrated to the US in 1895. Since
1979 he learned the ancient instrument Santoor from India. As a disciple
of Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, soon he became Europe‘s most distinguished musician on Santoor
and expert of North Indian Classical Music. He is decorated with different awards. including the
‘Roshan Ara Begum Award, the highest decoration in Pakistan for outstanding musicians. While
keep on lecturing as Ethnomusicologist, he followed many invitations round the world for playing
concerts. He also was honoured as German Ambassador for intercultural music relationship
between India and Germany by Mercedes Benz. Today Bee Seavers is Europes outstanding santoor
artist. He performed with many outstanding musicians from India like Kumar Bose, Hariprasad
Chaurasia, Sandeep Popatkar. His interpretation of Indian Classical Music combined with his
western influence established a new field in classic and modern music interpretation. Since
Millennium he works also as novelist and script writer. His lates novel `blue ants never sleep` ( a
love and crime story of Bollywood 1950) is written as movie script (title: shades of Fame) for
Indias popular director Deepa Metha.
Andrew Lenz started guitar playing when he was eight years old. He studied
classic guitar first followed by Latin and Jazz lessons. At the music
conversatorium of Hamburg in Germany he was awarded for his first public
latin/classic &jazz pop concert. Later he came under the tutelage of the
prominent virtuose spanish guitar player Rafel Cortes and Paco de Lucia. Today
Andrew is one of the leading flamenco and jazz guitar players. In spring 2014 he
was called by Bee Seavers to join Shantiniketan for his unique guitar style.