In collaboration with Sarb Akal Music Society of Calgary

"Momentum"

Hindustani Vocal Recital

Monday 18 May 2026 @ 4:00 pm

ATCO Performing Arts Centre 1371 Hastings Crescent SE Calgary

Tickets: $ 20 VIP limited VIP seating & $ 15 Regular seating

See ticket Information below on how to purchase tickets in advance

Artists

Pandit Prasad Kharpade - Hindustani Classical Vocalist

Prasad Khaparde is a Hindustani classical vocalist of international repute with a career spanning more than 30 years. Gifted with immense creativity and a powerful voice, his expositions of raga are rife with aesthetic and emotional content. With an indelible mark of Rampur Sahaswan gharana, Prasad Khaparde’s music is a treat to both connoisseurs and the cognizant alike.

MUSICAL TRAINING

Hailing from Ghatanji, a small town in Vidarbha Maharashtra, Prasad Khaparde was born into a family of music loving educationalists. His training in music began with eminent Gurus like Shri Bhalerao, Pandit D.V Panke, Vidushi Sumantai Choudhari and Late. Padmabhushan Ustad Abdul Rashid Khan. Later he mastered the intricacies of Rampur Sahaswan gharana under the tutelage of Padmabhushan Ustad Rashid Khan. While Prasad Khaparde is committed to preserving the pristineness of Rampur Sahaswan Gharana, his analytical approach to classical music has enabled him to create a niche for himself. Prasad Khaparde was a scholar at ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata and has a Masters in Classical Music from Amravati University.

PERFORMANCES

Over the years, Prasad Khaparde has performed in many prestigious Music Festivals such as Sawai Gandharwa Sangeet Mahotsav in Pune, Shree Baba Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan in Jalandhar, Pt.Jitendra Abhisheki Mahotsav and Kesarbai Kerkar Samaroh in Goa, Tansen Samaroh in Gwalior, Xavier’s JanFest Festival in Mumbai, Pt.Vasantrao Deshpande Samaroh in Nagpur, Mandu Festival in Madhya Pradesh, Saptak Festival in Ahmedabad, Bharat Sangeet Utsav in Chennai and “Sahela Re” - a special event organized by Amol Palekar to celebrate the 80th birthday of Gana Saraswati Pandita Kishoritai Amonkar. Prasad Khaparde has traveled extensively enthralling the audiences in USA, Canada, Turkey, Dubai and Muscat.

Prasad Khaparde enjoys being a part of cross over projects as much as he relishes performing traditional classical music concerts. He rendered the popular song “Tere Khayal” along with European composer Nitin Sawhney in the MTV Coke Studio Season 2. He has collaborated with Turkish composers, Rajasthani Manganiyars and Spanish Musicians.

AWARDS

First Prize winner in the prestigious All India Radio Competion.

Maharshi Gandharva Ved Award, Delhi.

Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande Memorial Puraskar, Pune.

Guruvarya B. S . Upadhye Smriti Puraskar, Pune.

Mruganayani Sangeet Ratna Alankaran, Gwalior.

Pandit Ramdas Palsule - Tabla

Ramdas Palsule is a popular name amongst Indian Classical Music enthusiasts and has carved a niche for himself since a very young age. Born in well-educated family in Pune, his father Shri. Gajanan Palsule was a recipient of the prestigious Kalidas Sanman President’s award for his work in Sanskrit literature and for his Sanskrit book on Veer Savarkar. An alumnus of prestigious alma–maters like Jnana Prabodhin Prashala and College of Engineering, Pune, Ramdas has a strong academic foundation. He was introduced to Tabla by Pt. G.L. Samant. Later, he became the disciple of world-famous Tabla Maestro Taalyogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar. It was after achieving his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering that he chose his passion as his profession. Ramdas chose his passion over a beaten path and an assured successful career in engineering at the age of twenty-three and ever since has been a devout torchbearer of the illustrious tradition of Indian Classical Music. Under the capable guidance of Taalyogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar, Ramdas, with his natural ingenuity, relentless toil and insatiable thirst for knowledge made quick strides as an acclaimed soloist and a versatile accompanist.

As a solo artist, Ramdas developed his own style of presenting traditional compositions with a new perspective and fresh thought-process. As his Guru says, “Innovation without the foundation of Tradition becomes superficial and Tradition – without Innovation – becomes outdated.” Ramdas mastered the craft of “Jod-Taal” and “Jaati-Bhed” to acquire unparalleled expertise in these. He earned the praise of connoisseurs and patriarchs alike with his refreshingly vivid style or presentation and is aptly known as a “Riyaazi” (hard-working) artist in the fraternity. Apart from being a proficient Solo Artist, Ramdas also proved his dexterity as a versatile accompanist with Vocalists, Instrumentalists and Dancers from both the Hindustani and Carnatic style of Classical Music. Doyens like Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki, Pt. Jasraj, Vidushi Prabha Atre, Vidwan M. Balamuralikrishna,Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasiya, Pr. Ram Narayan, Pt. Birju Maharaj and many more trusted him as an able accompanist for their performances the world over.

He has enthralled audiences with his enchanting solo performances as well as accompaniments at prestigious concerts like The Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav (Pune), Saptak Festival (Ahmedabad), All India Radio, and SPICMACAY, Isha Foundation’s Yaksha 2020, Dussehra Festival (Mysuru), All Bengal Festival (Kolkata), Tansen Mahotsav (Gwalior), Kalidas Festival (Ujjain), Pt. Abhisheki Mahotsav (Goa) and many more.He also has performed in countries like U.S.A., Canada, U.K., Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, and many countries in Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Gulf Countries.

Besides being an artist of repute himself, Ramdas is an avid academic. His rich educational background helps him understand the nuances of learning and teaching alike. A strong advocate of the Guru Shishya Parampara – he believes that Art needs to be ingrained with Sanskar. Ramdas ji imparts training to the younger generation of students of Tabla free of cost. Since 1992, many students from all over India and abroad have been learning from him and several of them have also made their mark in the field of Classical Music as performers. He serves as a Guru at The Lalit Kala Kendra (Center for Performing Arts) of University of Pune since 1997, and at Bharti Vidyapeeth School of Performing Arts. Ramdas is a founding member and Guru at Avartan Gurukul, a unique Gurukul started in Pune in 2016. He insists on nourishing and nurturing students not only as accomplished artists, but beyond that as humble, cultured and judicious citizens who would add value to the Nation and the society at large. This only underlines his dedication and devotion towards the cause of Indian Classical Music and his genuine urge to make a difference to the society.

Since 2001, Ramdas also has been arranging concerts in North America thereby providing a platform for Indian Musicians and Dancers as well as propagating Indian Classical Music. Thanks to him, music aficionados in America have been treated to the performances of amazing artists like Pt. Sanjeev Abhyankar, Ustad Shahid Parvez, Pt. Parthosarathy Chowdhary, Vidwan M. Manjunath, Smt. Savani Shende, Pt. Uday Bhawalkar and many others.

Besides music, as a socially responsible citizen, he has been organizing a Blood Donation Camp every year since 2001. In collaboration with Rotary Club of Pune Westend and Maharashtra Mandal (Bay Area, California, USA), he helped raise funds for musicians who were economically affected due to CoVid-19 Pandemic under project “Saath”. He was also one of the organizers of a concert namely “Artist for Artist” to help all the instruments makers in flood-affected Sangli-Kolhapur areas in 2019. Thus, Ramdas Palsule is way beyond an imminent artist. He is a humble student, a passionate teacher, an intellectual academic, zealous entrepreneur and most importantly a suave ambassador for Indian Classical Music. He is indeed a role – model for generations to come.

Abhinav Ravande on Harmonium

Abhinay Ravande is a harmonium player with a rich musical heritage. He began his training under the guidance of his father, Shri Laxmikant Ravande ji, which laid the foundation for his musical journey. Later, he honed his skills with Pandit Pramod Marathe at the prestigious Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in Pune, where he experienced the traditional ‘Gurukul Paddhati’ method of learning. This blend of familial influence and formal training has shaped his unique style and deep understanding of music

Achievements and Scholarships

D.G. Marathe Yuva Vadak Puraskar ‘Blue Star’ Award from N.C.P.A. Special Award from All India Radio in ‘Harmonium Solo Category’ Scholarship from I.C.M.A. Foundation, America. V. D. Paluskar Scholarship. Abhinay has accompanied many maestros like Padmavibhushan Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj Ji

Music Festivals

Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav, Pune Saptak Festival, Ahmedabad Pt. Motiram Pt. Maniram Sangeet Samaroh , Hyderabad Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan, Jalandhar .