NYN Staff Reporter:
The sounds of Indian classical music filled a gathering in Queens, New York, as Parampara Music Academy brought students, teachers, acclaimed musicians, and music enthusiasts together for its annual conference, placing both tradition and the next generation of performers at the center of the evening.
Held at The Hindu Temple Society of North America, the program took place under the guidance and supervision of renowned Indian music maestro Pandit Biplab Mukherjee, who heads Parampara Music Academy. Television personality Dima Nefertiti delivered the opening address, followed by a chorus performance from academy students.
One of the evening’s central performances came from Pandit Biplab Mukherjee, giving students and audience members an opportunity to experience the classical tradition at an advanced level. Internationally acclaimed tabla maestro Pandit Hindol Majumdar and his son, Ayushman Majumdar, also presented a Tabla Lahara, with Rohan Prabhudesai accompanying them on harmonium. Shri Ravishankar Bhattacharya, co-founder of the academy, provided tabla accompaniment for the students and Pandit Mukherjee.
Students demonstrated their training through performances spanning several Indian classical forms, including Khayal, Thumri, Dadra, and Bhajan. The academy organized the conference to showcase student progress while giving young musicians direct exposure to experienced guest artists in a live performance setting.
The evening concluded with an awards ceremony honoring students and guest artists for their participation and contributions. The combination of student performances and appearances by established musicians reflected the academy’s emphasis on learning through both formal instruction and stage experience.
Parampara Music Academy has trained students across North America since 2020, preparing them for larger performance settings while promoting Indian classical music. Before expanding its work in North America, the academy had provided classical music education in different parts of India since 2006.
Led by the continuing efforts of Shri Ravishankar Bhattacharya and Pandit Biplab Mukherjee, the annual Queens conference reflected a central goal of the academy: passing classical musical knowledge from experienced artists to a new generation of performers.
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