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NARENDRA DATAR | Narendra Datar began his formal
musical training in 1976, at the age of sixteen, under the highly
respected teacher and Agra gharana vocalist Pandit Vasantrao
Kulkarni. While still in school, he won several first prizes
in Inter-Collegiate and Inter-University vocal music competitions,
held at state and national levels. In recognition of his musical
promise, he was given a special gold medal by his own high school,
the Raja Shivaji Vidyalaya. A few years later, on the occasion
of that institution's 75th anniversary, Mr. Datar was again celebrated
as a distinguished alumnus.
He came to Canada in 1984, completing an M.Sc. in computer science
at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton and B. Tech.
(Electrical Engineering) from Indian Institute of Technology,
Kanpur. Since 1986, he has resided in Toronto, where he has been
active both as a teacher and a performer of Hindustani (North
Indian) classical music. His concert appearances have taken him
across Canada, from Vancouver to St. John's, and he has also
given programmes in numerous U.S. cities, including New Jersey,
Boston, Ann Arbour, Battle Creek, Detroit, San Diego, Los Angeles,
Washington, Rochester, and Buffalo. He participated in the Music
Events at the 1993 (Baltimore), 1995 (Houston) and 1997 (Boston)
Brihan-Maharashtra Mandal Conventions, which were appreciated
very much by the audience. Closer to home, he performed in the
'Rhythms of India', a HarbourFront presentation in Toronto, in
1993, and 1994. As a part of the 25th Year celebration of the
Marathi Bhashik Mandal, Toronto, he had helped organize and participated
in various Musical Events.
As a recipient of the prestigious Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute
Senior Performing Arts Fellowship in 1989, he was able to return
to Bombay for one year, from September 1989 until October 1990,
in order to receive advanced vocal training from Pandit Kulkarni.
During that same period, he also gave a number of classical music
programmes in Bombay and other locations. He has finished making
two recordings of his Music, Classical as well as Devotional
Songs, which has been made available to the Public. The recordings
of his Classical Music was done with the help of a grant from
the Ontario Art Council.
In addition to his achievements as a performer of classical,
and light classical (Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada) music,
Mr. Datar is a composer of merit. His most recent project entailed
the musical setting of a series of devotional songs, based on
texts by Mr. Kishan Varma of Halifax. Mr. Datar is also an active
member of the Indian community in Toronto, and has frequently
participated voluntarily in local cultural events. In November
1993, the Marathi Bhashik Mandal (Maharashtrian Cultural Organization)
presented him with a plaque in honour of the contributions he
has made to music and to cultural life in general.
Please contact ndatar@gmail.com
for future information.
Music clip by Narendra Datar -
Raag Abhogi (MP3 format
/ 31.5 MB download / 34:21 minute performance)
(Media Player is required to listen to audio clip)
Ravi Datar - Apple Falling Not Far From the Tree
Ravi was born in Toronto on
13 November 1994. Ravi has been interested in vocal music from
a very young age and started singing light classical songs such
as Bhajans and Natya-Sangeets since he was four years old. He
presented songs at many Marathi Mandal get togethers. Ravi also
participated in his father's concerts in Canada, the United States,
Australia, New Zealand and India. All of his presentations have
been highly appreciated by the audience. In September 2006, Ravi
was invited to present a short private concert of ONLY his songs
(not with his father) and that was appreciated by all the invitees.
In the fall 2005, Ravi Datar
won the first prize in the age category 5 to 12 years in the
Vocal Music Competition arranged by Kalasangam, Canada. He was
later sponsored by Kalasangam, Canada to represent the Canadian
Chapter in the "All India Level" Music Competition
held in New Delhi in February 2006. Out of the four representatives
from Canada in all age categories, Ravi was the only person who
won a prize, even at New Delhi, where he came in second. Later
in June/July 2006, he participated in the Vocal Music Competition
held by Swar-Vihar, Brampton and once again won the first prize
in the age category 11 to 18 years. He also participated in a
Vocal Music Competition held by the Toronto Sanskriti Sangstha,
a Toronto Bengali Association and once again secured the first
place in his age category. He was also invited to present a few
songs in the 28th North American Bengali Conference in 2008 in
Toronto.
Ravi participated in the 'Sur
Paschimeche' Grand Finale Presentation at the BMM Seattle Convention
in 2007. His presentation of 'Ghei Chhanda'was appreciated tremendously
by the audience. His presentation of 'Saangaa Mukund Kuni Haa
Paahilaa' and 'Ghei Chhand' were once again appreciated very
much by the audience at the second presentation of 'Sur Paschimeche'
at the fundraising concert for the Maharashtra Foundation held
in New Jersey in 2008.
Ravi continues to learn Vocal
Indian Classical Music under the guidance of his father, Narendra
Datar.
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