Lessonface Teacher Spotlight Aditya Kalyanpur

With his trademark blend of technical brilliance, creative improvisations and high-octane showpersonship, this award-winning tabla virtuoso’s performances instantly connect with, and captivate audiences worldwide. Hailed by many as “the rightful heir to the Punjab Gharana”, [HT Mint, Dec, 2012] Aditya’s colossal repertoire, and his signature style of bold execution of syllables and pinpoint-precise rhythm, are founded in rigorous study and knowledge. For the child prodigy who could replicate intricate rhythmic patterns on his first tabla at 3 years, there was no going back, once his training began, from none other than the late Ustad Allah Rakha Khan and later, his son, UstadZakir Hussain. 

His Indian fans will remember him in the ‘Wah Taj!’ TVcommercial, (1990), as the talented youngster, cherrypicked by Ustad AllahRakha Khan for his cheeky ability to keep pace, when playing alongside UstadZakir Hussain! At the same time, Aditya’s performances reflect his versatility and keenness to break through conventional ‘borders’. He has, uniquely, gone on to acquire in-depth knowledge across different gharanas and schools of playing. 

Further, Aditya is in his element when adapting masterfully to any musical context, be it complementing a sitar or jazz guitar, and collaborating with artistes across genres, from jazz to pop, rap to rock! He has performed with an eclectic range of both Indian classical, and international jazz and fusion greats, including Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Grammy-awardee Pandit Vishwamohan Bhatt, Larry Coryell, George Brooks, Kenwood Denard and John McLoughlin. His playing can be heard on Katy Perry’s “Legendary Lovers” from her multi- platinum album “Prism,” he’s recorded with The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards, and Grammy-nominated John Beasley (“American Idol” music director) and performed with Oscar and Grammy-winning composer A.R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”) on tour with Grammy-winner John Popper at the prestigious Carnegie Hall NYC. 

Even while being a much sought after artiste, be it at major musical festivals worldwide, by Bollywood, or for artistic collaborations, Aditya has focused on giving back, by making Indian classical music more accessible to students worldwide. He founded the New England School of Music (NESON), in Boston which trains over a 100 students annually. He has performed and conducted several workshops and lecture demonstrations at institutions such as Harvard University, MIT, Cornell, Columbia, Univeristy of Florida, University of Maryland, and University of Massachusetts. 

Close to his heart is the Shyamal Music Foundation he established in Mumbai, India, that gives a platform to the next generation of talented Indian classical musicians. Through its charitable concert ‘Disha’, the foundation raises funds for deserving cancer patients. His philosophy is rooted in his simplicity. “If you play from the heart, it will touch the listener’s soul,” says Aditya, who enjoys connecting best through his music; the ultimate universal language that knows no boundaries.

To learn more about Aditya or to book a 1:1 lesson with him, visit his Lessonface profile!