Samarth Nagarkar

Samarth Nagarkar was barely ten when he could identify with Raga Sangeet. His initial training began under Smt. Aditi Kaikini Upadhya in Bangalore. At sixteen, he migrated to Bombay in pursuit of his passions, which, by then, had taken deep roots in him.

He became a disciple of one of India's most revered gurus, Pandit Dinkar Kaikini. In accordance with the Guru - Shishya tradition he received taleem in the Agra / Gwalior Gayakis. Pandit K. G. Ginde's music rendered a formidable influence on him during these years. He also received guidance from several stalwarts such as Pandit Balasaheb Poonchwale, Pandit S. C. R. Bhat, and Smt Shashikala Kaikini.

Samarth moved to Kolkata in 2003 and assumed discipleship under none other than one of India's most distinguished performers and gurus, Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar of the Gwallior Gayaki. Since then he has been a scholar at the much coveted ITC Sangeet Research Academy, a one-of-its-kind school of music, a gurukul of sorts and a place which every young student of music and musician aspires to being a part of. Currently, he is a "Grade A Scholar".

Samarth began performing when he was eighteen. His debut public performance was at the Sujaan Sangeet Sabha in Feb 2000 - the opening of a year long series of concerts and lecture-demonstrations commemorating the birth centenary of Padmabhushan Acharya S. N. Ratanjankar. Thereafter, performances at innumerable conferences across the country, like the Sursagar Scholars' Festival, Bangalore, The National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, Dadar matunga Cultural Centre, Mumbai, Saraswati Sangeet Sammelan, Mumbai, ITC Sangeet Sammelan, Kanpur, Devnandan Ubhayaker Yuva Sangeet Utsav, Bangalore and more, followed. He also performed with Pandit Suresh talwalkar in his solo tabla concert for Sangeet Natak Akademy in Jorhat, Assam.

Samarth was the recipient of the First Prize in the prestigious All India Radio music competition in the year 2000, which made him a graded artiste of the AIR. Between 1999 and 2002, he participated in several major competitions like Malhar at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai and others in Baroda and Baruch and won prizes in every one of them. During these years he also accompanied his Guru Pandit Dinkar Kaikini on innumerable tours across the country and assisted him in his concerts and lecture demonstrations.

Samarth holds the distinction of having been the youngest teacher of music at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Sangeet Nartan Shiksha Peeth, Mumbai (Affiliated to Bhatkhande University, Lukhnow). Those years of teaching proved invaluable in terms of experience, exposure and skill. He also taught crash courses on music appreciation and Indian Music to students and music enthusiasts visiting India from various countries and cultures.

In 2002, his music was featured in a German film titled 'Der Dschungel Verandert Sich Nie' (The Jungle Never Changes) by Martin D Costa. The film has premiered at most prestigious film festivals in Europe and received gratifying responses from critics and connoisseurs.

Described by critics as one of India's most promising young artists, Samarth Nagarkar is believed to be on his way to becoming one of the foremost torchbearers of the traditions he represents.