Music: StringFEST – Festival of Bowed, Plucked and Hammered Instruments

Renowned Santoor Maestro Pandit Satish Vyas, blessed with a formidable musical background and training, thanks to both his father and his guru, has built an outstanding reputation as a soloist on the Santoor (hammered dulcimer). His first fortune was to be born the son of Padma Bhushan (Late) Pandit C. R. Vyas, one of the most respected vocalists on the Indian music scene, a fine and highly knowledgeable performer who was the young Satish’s first teacher. His second fortune was to be accepted as a disciple by the great legend Padma Vibhushan Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma - a man so identified with his instrument that classical Indian Santoor playing is unthinkable without Shiv Kumar Sharma’s contribution to the art.

Before taking the decision to make music his profession, Satish Vyas had completed his education with bachelor’s and masters's degrees in science and Management Studies, and even begun to establish a career in the business world. This background is no doubt of use to him in his work as a major and one of the most successful organizers of Classical Music Festivals in India, and indeed as Artistic Director of Navras Records Ltd. of UK in India.

Satish Vyas has been decorated with many awards and few of which are that The Government of India honoured Pandit Satish Vyas with Padma Shri in 2003. Recently in December 2020, Satish Vyas was awarded the most prestigious; ‘Highest National Award’ for Hindustani Classical Music - the Tansen Samman by the Government of Madhya Pradesh. He is also bestowed with ‘Kumar Gandharva Rashtriya Sanman’; by Kumar Gandharva Foundation, Mumbai in 2010.

Sanju Sahai (also known as Vishnu Sahai), is currently one of the finest and most sought-after tabla player of his generation. Belonging to the Benares Gharana (lineage) and being the 6th generation of Tabla players in the lineage, he began playing at an early age. Being a child prodigy, and the son of the legendary Pandit Sharda Sahai Ji, he gave his first Tabla solo performance at a major festival in Benares at the tender age of 9. He gained his Bachelor of Music at the age of 13 and Master of Music at 18 years of age. A phenomenal and outstanding Tabla player, he is well known for mesmerizing and captivating his audience with his power, virtuosity, and complete spontaneity.

In association with SAMA Arts Network Ltd