Upcoming musicians get a push here

Being in the heartland of Hindustani classical music in the State, the twin cities no doubt host performances by renowned artistes often, while upcoming musicians are also finding a regular platform in Hubballi to get a major initial exposure.

Since more than eight years, the Artistes' Forum here is organising monthly music programmes, giving a push for budding vocalists and instrumentalists of classical music, offering them a platform to perform independently, and get a chance to perform at bigger events later.

On the second Saturday of every month, Nagarkar Library hall on Lamington Road becomes a 'melody point' in the evening, where dedicated music lovers gather to listen to talented budding musicians, while artistes get a chance to perform in front of mature audience, and they get honorarium too.

"Amidst the craze for modern music among youth, youngsters who show interest to have a career in pure classical music get less exposure in initial years. We have arranged a platform for them. Around 60 dedicated music lovers attend monthly programmes, and they give very good feedback. Many talented youngsters who performed here got the chance to perform in bigger events like Sawai Gandharva memorial music festival in Kundgol," says Artistes' Forum chairman Subhash Madiman.

In addition to monthly music programme by upcoming artistes, the forum also organises two bigger programmes every year, inviting noted musicians. Daily music classes are also being held here, and we have all musical instruments, Madiman noted, adding that the forum's service to the field of music in the region has been kept a low-key affair.

"Upcoming artistes not just from Hubballi-Dharwad, but also from other places in the State and even from Maharashtra have performed at the forum's monthly programme. Shakti Patil, Veena Badiger, Reshma Bhat, Shrivatsa Kaulagi, Uday Kulkarni, Prakash Hegde, and other young artistes have received a push from this platform," says musician Pandit Ashok Nadgir.

Artistes Forum has now reached an important stage, as its 100th monthly music programme is being held on July 14 and 15.

Music fest from today

MP Pralhad Joshi will inaugurate the two-day music festival at Nagarkar Library Hall on Lamington Road here on July Saturday (14) at 6:00 pm. Vocalists Sneha Rajurikar of Belagavi and Pandit Hemant Pendse of Pune will perform.

On Sunday (July 15) at 6:30 pm, flautist Kiran Hegde of Mumbai and vocalist Nirali Kartik would perform. Dr Uday Kulkarni, Shrivatsa Kaulagi, Vishal Modak (tabla), Prakash Hegde, Bharat Hegde, and Yogesh Ramdas (harmonium) will be the accompanists.