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The Impact of Nishaant Singh on Music Education, Breaking Barriers and Pioneering the Pakhawaj Legacy

Nishaant comes from a long lineage of folk musicians, and the legacy goes back to four generations. He has been playing Pakhawaj for over a decade now. His unique style and techniques have earned him great acclaim in the music world and is proud to have worked with some of the best stalwart musicians and young maestros in the Indian Classical Music industry. Whether it's the traditional sound of his ancestors that you are interested in, or a more modern and experimental approach, he is confident that he can create the perfect musical experience for you.

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about Artiste

Nishaant Singh, a disciple of Pandit Chanchal Kumar Bhattacharya, is a well-known Pakhawaj performer from the Lala Keval Kishan Gharana-Bengal Parampara and a torchbearer for the instrument among his peers. Son of 'Mardal Maharaja' PadmaShri Awardee Kaajee Singh, Nishaant Singh hails from a well-known traditional folk musical family with four generations of music history. He is India's most versatile Pakhawaj artist at present, performing solo as well as with Dhrupad Vocal, Bhajani's, String Instruments such as Rudra Veena, Surbahar, Sitar, Sarode, and Santoor; Wind Instruments such as Flute; and Kathak, the Indian classical dance style. Hence, Nishaant is currently regarded as one of India's best Pakhawaj players due to his wide range of accompanying capabilities. He is also a certified folk singer and Shreemaadal performer for All India Radio. He is a top-tier Pakhawaj player affiliated with the Cine Musicians Association (CMA), Film Industry, Mumbai.

 

With his global popularity, he is the only Pakhawaj player in the country who is acquainted with Swami Vivekananda's compositions. Singh is currently a guest lecturer at Pakhawaj's Department of Cultural Affairs at Ramakrishna Mission Vidya Mandira College in Belurmath, Kolkata.

 

He is the youngest and first Fulbright Associate in Pakhawaj, having studied under Padmashri Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri at Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California. Singh's distinctive blend of traditional and contemporary approaches has earned him international prominence, making him a sought-after performer and professor in the profession. His innovative approach to teaching and performing has inspired a new generation of musicians to explore the rich heritage of Indian classical music.

 

Nishaant's Story

Nishaant finished his high school from Tashi Namgyal Academy in Gangtok, Sikkim, in 2002. He began his musical career with Tabla at the age of four, coached by his father, and continues to sing in the same folk tradition as his family. Nishaant's love of music and dedication to his craft have led him to experiment with different genres and collaborate with artists from diverse backgrounds, enriching his musical journey even further. His father encouraged him to accompany light Aadhunik songs, and he initiated his professional studio recording career in Mumbai at the age of 14. At the age of 17, he received Tabla Taleem from Guru Late Shri Pratap Singh (A.I.R. Kurseong). He received his B. Mus. degree in 2003-2005 and his M. Mus. degree in 2005-2007 from Visva-Bharati University, where he had the wonderful opportunity to learn the Traditional Pakhawaj Parampara of Lala Keval Kishan Gharana under the guidance of Pt. Chanchal Kr. Bhattacharya, as well as the first CCRT National Scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India in 2005-2007. Nishaant has been taking guidance from his Guru Pt. Chanchal Kumar Bhattacharya for the past 20 years and has also had the privilege to learn the marvelous compositions and formats of Punjab Gharana from Pt. Gobinda Bose for the past 15 years. He also received specific training from Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri, the pioneer of Lucknow Gharana. He has performed solo and accompaniment throughout India and abroad, representing Bengal's only Pakhawaj Parampara. Nishaant's dedication to his craft and extensive training under renowned gurus have allowed him to showcase the unique Pakhawaj Parampara of Bengal on both national and international stages. Audiences have been captivated by his performances, whether solo or as an accompanist, showcasing the rich traditions of Punjab Gharana that he has mastered over the years. He has undoubtedly mastered his craft with exceptional expertise.

With his global popularity, Nishaant is the only Pakhawaj player in the country who is acquainted with Swami Vivekananda's compositions. Nishaant has recorded a solo audio album named Bols and Rhythms from Vivekananda, produced by the Institute of Culture, Ramakrishna Mission, Golpark, where he played Pakhawaj/Tabla. The album consists of 34 compositions in 5 different Taalas, written by Swami Vivekananda and extracted from the book Sangeet Kalpataru. He has also recorded an audio-visual project on the same subject named, Sur-o-Chhando Vivekananda, which is blended with beautiful Kathak dance supported by Sarod. The entire project was directed by Dr. Sarbananda Chaudhuri.

Nishaant has also had the opportunity to accompany Pakhawaj with renowned artists like Padma Shri Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha (Gundecha Brothers), Dagar Brothers, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Ustad Aashish Khan, and others. Nishaant has been extremely fortunate to perform duet with the living legend Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri, the pioneer of Lucknow style, in California Institute of Arts, Santa Clarita, California.

​Nishaant is a graded artiste of A.I.R. in Folk Song and Shree Maadal, as well as a “Top” graded Pakhawaj artiste of Cine Musicians Association, Mumbai, India. He has been frequently performing in DD Bharati and also playing Pakhawaj in background score music for Films and T.V. serials in different languages. He has also played Pakhawaj in Films and TV Serials, such as Sikander, a Punjabi Film, Sajarur Kanta, a Bengali Film, International Collaborations, and many more.

Achievements of Nishaant Singh which makes him most unique in the entire world ---> (click on all links below)


Nishaant is the “only authentic Pakhawaj player” within more than 8 billion Nepali population all over the world (According to the world census survey 2024).


Special news coverage from Sikkim Television Network / Sikkim News 24 / East Mojo- Guwahati
 

SSC CHSL or SSC Combined Higher Secondary in India, Government of India has included the achievement of Nishaant Singh as a “General knowledge question in their syllabus from 2022.

Historic
collaboration with the Gypsy Jazz, World Earth Day 2023, San Francisco, USA

Historic Collaboration of Pakhawaj with African Kora by Daniel Berkman, San Francisco, USA

Historic interview on Pakhawaj at the KPFA Radio 94.1 FM, Berkely, California U.S.A 2022.

Historic Performance at the Walt Disney, California Institute of Arts, Valencia, California, USA performing duet with Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri in the World Music Festival 2022

Historic Performance at the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, California USA for Solo Pakhawaj Performance 2023

Historic Lecture Demonstration on Pakhawaj Playing of Swami Vivekananda 2023 California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California, USA

Historic Lecture Demonstration on Pakhawaj 2023, Vedanta Society, San Jose, USA

Historic Collaboration with the African Kora by Daniel Berkman in San Francisco

He is the “youngest and first” Fulbright Associate in Pakhawaj who has conducted research under the guidance of Padmashri Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri from the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California.

Nishaant Singh becomes the first Pakhawaj player to be studied as a General Knowledge ques

Programs organized by Ministry of Culture and External Affairs- Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in India and abroad/ Eastern Zonal Cultural Center (EZCC)/ Sangeet Natak Academi (SNA) with Shri Debanjan Bhattacharjee

 

Invited to perform at the Annual Conference of Prayag Sangeet Samiti two times in collaboration with ICCR.

 

Performed solo at Shilpa Gram organised by EZCC 2015.Invited to perform at Hi-Tec city, Hyderabad in collaboration with ICCR

 

Invited to perform in an at Kashipur, Uttarakhand in collaboration with ICCR.Performed solo Pakhawaj twice at the Surangan Festival organized by SNA, Guwahati

 

Performed Duet Pakhawaj and Tabla by Shri Madhurjya Barthakur at Sangeet Pratibha organized by SNA, Shillong

International Performances & representation of India

Nishaant and Debanjan have received accolades for their innovative fusion of traditional Indian music with contemporary elements, captivating audiences worldwide. They performed as an Indian Government Cultural Delegate by the Indian High Commission- Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Govt. of India. Their performance at the International Cervantino Festival 2015 promises to be a cultural extravaganza that showcases the rich heritage of Indian music on a global platform. Mexico, at six locations—Guadalajara, Guanajuato, Lyon, Monclova, Durango, and Torreon—is invited to perform at the most famous Latin American festival, the International Cervantino Festival 2015, in collaboration with the ICCR, Govt. of India. Canada at three locations—Toronto, Winnipeg, and Sudbury—in association with the ICCR, Govt. of India, and Shri Debanjan Bhattacharjee. Both Nishaant and Debanjan have a record of performing more than 200+ concerts all over India and abroad with the unique and successful concept of Dhrupad Sarode.

 

Performed twice for concerts organized by the Music Alliance Worldwide Foundation (MAWW Foundation) in Bangladesh with Ustad Aashish Khan, Ustad Shahadat Hossainn, and Ustad Yousuf Khan. The second performance was with Shri Arjun Verma from California, which was a memorable experience for all those involved.

 

Represented India and performed Taal Vaadya Chatusram in collaboration with international musicians from Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Japan, and Azerbaijan at the most prestigious International Drums and Cultural Festival in Lamphun, Thailand, in the year 2016. The collaboration showcased the rich cultural heritage of India through the fusion of Indian Classical and folk styles. The performance was well-received by audiences from around the world, further solidifying the reputation of Indian percussion on an international stage. The collaboration was a true testament to the universal language of music and its ability to bring people together. The performance received high praise and accolades from the audience and critics alike, showcasing the universal appeal of Taal-Vadya Kutcheri. This successful collaboration further solidified the artist's reputation as a global ambassador of Indian classical music.

 

 

Represented India and performed Taal Vaadya "Chatusram" at the Rain Forest World Music Festival 2023. The annual three-day music festival celebrates the diversity of world music in Kuching, Srawak , Malaysia. The Rain Forest World Music Festival is known for showcasing traditional and contemporary music from around the world, attracting thousands of music lovers each year. The collaboration with international musicians at the festival provided a unique platform to showcase India's rich musical heritage on a global stage. The festival also featured workshops, cultural displays, and interactive sessions to promote cross-cultural understanding and appreciation. The experience of performing at the Rain Forest World Music Festival was a memorable opportunity to connect with musicians from different backgrounds and share the beauty of Indian percussion music with a global audience. It allowed us to break down barriers and build bridges through the universal language of music

Academics & Qualifications in Music        

    

 

I.C.S.E. (Std. X) 1st Div. (2000) Tashi Namgyal Academy, Gangtok, Sikkim

I.S.C. (Std. XII)   1st Div. (2002) Tashi Namgyal Academy, Gangtok, Sikkim 

Junior Diploma (Tabla-2000-2001)1st Division Distinction, Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad

Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.Hons.)Tabla & Pakhawaj- 2005, 1st Division Distinction from Visva-Bharati University, Shantiniketan,

Master of Music (M.Mus) Tabla-2007, 1st Division from Visva-Bharati University, Shantiniketan

National Scholarship (Pakhawaj) for the year 2005-2007 (Cultural Affairs & Human Resources Department, Govt. of India

Top Graded Cine Musician (Pakhawaj) & Lifetime member Cine Musicians Association (C.M.A.) Film Industry, Mumbai

Graded artiste in the subject- Folk Music (Folk Song of Himalayas) from All India Radio

Awards and Recognitions

Nishaant has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout his career, including gold medals for solo performances, young talent awards, international festival recognitions, and national awards. His accomplishments include being honored for his Pakhawaj performances in various events across India, Mexico, Thailand, Bangladesh, Canada, Malaysia, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and the United States. Additionally, he has been awarded for his research on Pakhawaj under the guidance of Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri through the Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships which has recently been added as a General Knowledge question to crack SSC & CHSL examinations.

 

Honored by the ANIL KUMAR JHUNNAA FOUNDATION with a gold medal prize for encouragement and best solo performance (Pakhawaj) at the INTERNATIONAL DHRUPAD MELA, Varanasi, in 2009 and 2011.

 

Acknowledged as a Young Talented Artiste (Tabla art form) on March 13th, 2007, by the Northeast Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC)

 

Recognition received from The Atlas Football Club part of International Cervantino Music Festival in Mexico subject Pakhawaj

 

Recognition from the International Drum and Cultural Festival, Lamphun, Thailand for subject Pakhawaj.

 

BHARATIYA NEPALI SHIKHAR SAMMAN 2017, from Chief Minister of SIKKIM in collaboration with Sikkim University

 

Akhil Bhartiya Pratibha Puraskar, National Award, from Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Member of Rajya Sabha, Director of ICCR 2020-2021

 

Awarded by KPFA Radio 94.1 FM from Berkely 2022 for the interview on Pakhawaj.

 

Awarded by the California Institute of Arts, Valencia, California for performing duet with Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri at their World Music Festival 2022

 

Awarded by Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, California for Solo Pakhawaj Performance 2023

 

Awarded by CIIS, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California for Lecture Demonstration on Pakhawaj Playing of Swami Vivekananda 2023

 

Awarded by University of California, Santa Cruz, California for Lecture Demonstration on Pakhawaj 2023

 

Awarded by Vedanta Society, Berkeley, San Jose House for Lecture Demonstration on Pakhawaj Playing of Swami Vivekananda 2023

 

Awarded by The Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowships, United States -India Educational Foundation, Institute of International Education, United States for completing the research on Pakhawaj under the guidance of Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri from the Ali Akbar college Of Music, San Rafael, California 2023

Certified by Governmental Organizations and Dignified Personalities

Sikkim Sahitya Parishad, Gangtok, Sikkim- 1998 (Krishna Smriti Puraskar Samaroh)

Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, (EZCC), Kolkata 1995

Sikkim Kalakaar Sangha 2005

​Pt.Chanchal Kr. Bhattacharya (Ex.Professor, Pakhawaj, (Visva-Bharati University,Santiniketan)

Padmashree Pt Umakant Gundecha & Pt.Ramakant Gundecha, Gundecha Brothers, Bhopal 

Late Vidushi Sipra Bose, Hindustani Classical Vocalist,Kolkata

Pt. Gobinda Bose, Tabla Maestro,Kolkata  

Pt. Veerbhadra Mishra, Convener, Maharaja Banaras Vidya Mandir Trust, Akhil Bharatiya Dhrupad Samity

Shri. S.D. Dhakal, Joint Secretary, Cultural Affairs & Heritage Department, Govt. of Sikkim

​​Swami Sarvagananda Maharaj, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, Narendrapur, Kolkata

​​Swami Suparnananda Maharaj, Secretary, Institute of Culture, Ramakrishna Mission, Golpark, Kolkata

​Swami Ekachittananda Maharaj, Principal, VidyaMandira, Ramakrishna Mission, BelurMath, Kolkata

Participation in Competitions

Stood 1st both in Dist. & State Level (West Bengal), National Youth Festival, (Pakhawaj)

​​Participated in the National Youth Festival at Pune, Maharashtra, 2006

​​Stood 1st in All Bengal Music competition organised by ISKCON 2015, kolkata

​​Stood 1st in State Level Youth Festival Competition, Dept. of Information and Culture, West Bengal 2016

 

 

​Performances

Accompanied Padmashree Gundecha Brothers in Dhrupad at Institute of Culture, Golpark Kolkata & Spic Macay, Odisha Chapter

Accompanied Ustad Aashish Khan in the Legends of India, Delhi & twice in Bangladesh

Accompanied Pakhawaj with Pt. Birju Maharaj in Kathak at the ancestral house of Swami Vivekananda

Accompanied Padma Vibhushan Pandit Birju Maharaj at the Ancestral home of Swami Vivekananda

Performing every year in India’s prestigious program “ALL INDIA DHRUPAD MELA” since 2005 arranged by ‘Maharaj Banaras Vidya Mandir Trust.Dhrupad Tirtha’ Tulsi Ghat, Varanasi  

Recognized as National Artiste Solo Performer and accompanist (Pakhawaj), Performed in various Metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Trivandrum, Bhopal, Pune, Varanasi  

Taala Vaadya & Fusion Music with Shri A Hariharan at Durgapur (Srijani Hall) composition of Guru Pt.Gobinda Bose

 

Accompanied with Pakhawaj in Bhajans, with renowned Artistes of South- India telecasted in the Channel ‘AMRADA.’  

Accompanied in Pakhawaj with Sarod, Sitar, Esraj with Indian & artistes from abroad; Performed two times at PAKHAWAJ PARVA organized and telecasted live by DD Bharati 2013-2014

Accompanied Dhrupad in Pakhawaj with the eminent vocalist Dr. Prakriti Dutta at Rabindra Okakura Bhavan, Salt Lake, ShiShir Mancha, Rabindra Sadan, Birla Academy, Biswa Bangla Sammelan, Nagpur Ezcc Festival in Orissa

Accompanied Pakhawaj in Kathak with Sri Sandip Mallick at the annual concert of Nadam Pratishruti and Uday Shankar dance festival.

Performed Taal Vadya with Pt.Tanmoy Bose, Vidwan Ramana Murthy and Vidwan G Prasanna at Maha Kumbha Sangeet Sammelan, Udaipur

Performance in honor of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House, Delhi

Participated in Festivals

Dugga Dugga Festival with Young Sensation Kaushiki Chakraborty in Kolkata

Biswa Bangla International Annual Conference-Nagpur

​Performed two times at Prayag Sangeet Samiti Annual Conference- Allahabad

​Performing every year at the prestigious All India Dhrupad Mela-Varanasi since 2005

Performed three times 30th Salt Lake Music Festival-Kolkata

​Performed two times at Rajya Sangeet Academy Annual Conference

​Legends of India-India Habitat Centre New Delhi

​Maharana Kumbha Sangeet Mahotsav- Udaipur

​Performed two times at the Pakhawaj Parva- Bhopal & Pune

​Ustad Allauddin Khan Sangeet Samaroh-Maihar

​Performed four times at the Uday Shankar Nrityotsav Rajya Sangeet Academy-Kolkata

Spic-Macay chapter- Bhubaneswar, Orissa with Dhrupad by Padmashree Gundecha Brothers

​Spic Macay Chapter- Jharkhand, with Rudra Veena by Vidushi Jyoti Hegde

​Navodit Festival Ezcc-Shantiniketan

​Performed three concerts of Union Group Annual Conference-Bangladesh

​Performed two times at the 45th Death Anniversary of Ustad Allauddin Khan Samaroh- Kolkata

​Performing every year at the the Tribute to Professor Dhyanesh Khan since 2014

​Dhrupad Utsav, Jogesh Mime, Kolkata

​Pakhawaj Mahotsav- Pakhawaj Trio, Jaipur

​Itkhori Mahotsav, Jharkhand with Pt. Chetan Joshi in Flute

​Tabla and Pakhawaj Duet at Pracheen Kala Kendra Sangeet Mahotsav, Chandigarh

Performing at Aashish Khan School of World Music Annual Foundation Ceremony every year since 2014

​Performed Pakhawaj accompaniment for two times at the Wednesday recital organized by ITC, Sangeet Research  Academy, Kolkata

​Performed at the Allauddin Khan Samahroh, Kolkata 2023 with Shri Dishari Chakraborty

My Concerts
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