Ulhas Kashalkar

Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar (born 14 January 1955 in Nagpur) is one of the most respected Hindustani classical vocalists of his generation. He has received training in the Gwalior, Jaipur, and Agra gharanas and is considered one of the finest representatives of all three schools. Kashalkar studied principally under Pandit Ram Marathe, a vocalist in the Gwalior tradition who was a disciple of Master Krishnarao, and under Gajananrao Joshi. He possesses the remarkable ability to switch between the three stylistic traditions, at times even in the course of a single performance, while adhering to the aesthetic contours of each individual style and the formal demands of the raga being presented. He is noted for his authentic presentations of obscure traditional ragas. In 1993, he became a Guru at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, where he has mentored students who are now recognised worldwide. He was honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2008 and the Padma Shri in 2010.