Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye is a legendary violin player in Indian classical music. He is renowned for his exceptional skills and his contribution to the Indian music industry. He was born in a family of musicians, where his father, Guruvarya B.S Upadhye, was the founder of Upadhye Violin Vadan Vidyalay, a prestigious institute that has trained numerous students in violin playing.

Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye learned the art of violin playing from his father and went on to become one of the most accomplished violinists of his generation. He received training in the tradition of Pandit Bhaskarbuva Bakhle, Pandit Bappurao Ketkar, Pandit Shridhar Parsekar, and Dr. Yehudi Menuhin.

Apart from his exceptional violin playing skills, Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye is also a prolific music composer and has composed music for several documentaries and films. He has also collaborated with numerous artists from different genres of music.

Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye is the founder of India's 70 years old violin academy, which has produced several renowned violinists over the years. He is also the founder of the largest chain of music festivals in India, Swarazankar Music Festival, which has provided a platform for young and talented musicians to showcase their skills.

Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye has performed at several prestigious music festivals, including the Sawai Gandharv Bhimsen Mahotsav, Taansen Mahotsav, Virasat Mahotsav, Saptak Mahotsav, and many others. He has also received several awards and accolades for his contribution to Indian classical music.

Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye has developed right-hand techniques in violin playing, which have become popular among violinists around the world. His dedication, hard work, and talent have made him a living legend in the world of Indian classical music.

Mr. Shirishkumar Balkrishna Upadhye, a highly educated and beloved figure in the world of music. Born and raised in a musical family, Mr. Upadhye's passion for the violin began at a young age as he observed his renowned father, the late Pt. Balkrishna Sankar Upadhye, a follower of the esteemed vocalists Pt. Bharkarbuwa Bakhale and Pt. Shreedhar Parsekar.

In the 1970s, Mr. Shirishkumar's talent for the violin flourished, particularly in orchestra performances where his bowing technique garnered widespread acclaim for its scene-enhancing qualities. Alongside his pursuit of education, he joined the service of Bank of India at the age of nineteen and dedicated an impressive 43 years to the organization, attaining senior management positions. Throughout his professional career, he made a lasting impact as a compassionate officer, consistently helping the masses and uplifting society.

Despite the demands of his banking career, Mr. Shirishkumar never allowed himself to be separated from his beloved violin. Wherever he went, he would teach the violin and sow the seeds of music in young minds under the umbrella of the "Upadhye Violin Vadan Vidalalya," an institute founded by his father in 1951. To enroll in his class, aspiring students face rigorous examinations and make a heartfelt commitment to wholeheartedly worship the Goddess Sharada without interruption.

Mr. Shirishkumar does not charge any fees from his students; instead, he asks for a promise to perpetuate the teaching of the violin. Once a student becomes a part of his class, they become a permanent member of the Upadhye family. His belief is that music holds immense value, relieving everyday stress, offering satisfaction, and providing continuous happiness for a life of total contentment.

While he consciously refrains from commercial violin performances, Mr. Shirishkumar's year always begins with his "seva" at Saptashringi in Nasik, Maharashtra. Furthermore, he carries his violin with him during family tours and visits to pilgrimage sites, where he worships through "Swarabhisheka." Some of the notable places he frequents include "Dnyneshwer Mauli" in Alandi, Pune, Shree Datta Guru sthanas in various locations, the eight Ashtavinayaka Ganapati temples, Pawas, Ratnagiri, and Balaji-Shree Vankatesh.

Teaching the violin to students remains his true passion, and he has inspired school students in Dibrugarh, Northeast India, igniting their spirits with the power of music.

Mr. Shirishkumar's tireless efforts to teach students have yielded remarkable results, with his students receiving prestigious national and international awards. Many of his students have taken up the mantle of violin teaching in various locations in India and abroad, continuing the legacy of the Upadhye family. In addition to his teaching endeavors, he has shared his musical talents with those in need, performing the violin at old age homes, Cipla cancer hospital, Vyasan Mukti Kendra, Nisargopchar Ashram, and other charitable institutions. His devotional bhajans can be found on CD at the Nisargopchar Ashram in Utulikanchan, Pune. Notably, Mr. Shirishkumar has also composed music for documentaries on tribal development published by REWATCH, Arunachal Pradesh.

Tejas Upadhye is an accomplished violinist from the revered Pandit Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale Gharana, who comes from a family with 70 years of rich violin legacy going back to his grandfather. He started playing the violin at the age of 5 and gave his first concert at the age of 9. Tejas has won many awards and accolades for his violin solo, music composing, and fusion concepts, including the Lions Club, Rotary Club, Ganvardhan’s ‘Young Talent in Violin’ award, and Avi Ogale scholarship from Florida USA.

Tejas co-founded “Swarazankar” and “Centre for Promotion of Music” organizations, which serve as platforms to mentor young artists in Hindustani Classical music. His sterling performances in festivals such as Swarazankar, Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki Mahotsav, Saptak, etc. have enthused many young artists. He is also well-known for his fusions with bansuri, sarod, guitar, and sitar.

Tejas has performed violin concerts in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and France and received appreciations and future invitations. He has toured the USA in 2017 where he performed for TV Asia (New Jersey), Zankar Foundation (Cincinnati), and many more. In India, Tejas recently performed with A. Shivamani (percussionist), Padmashri Vijay Ghate (Tabla), and Pt. Yogesh Samshi (Tabla).

Tejas is a commerce graduate with distinction, but he opted to have a career in music due to the passion and love for Indian Classical Music within him recognized very early by his father and hence follow the rich tradition of Upadhye’s Violin Vadan Parampara of more than 70 years started by his grandfather. He teamed up with Sitar Maestro Shakir Khan (Son of Padmashri Ustad Shahid Parvez) for a unique duet of Sitar and Violin which is growing up as one of the most followed duets amongst the youth. Tejas’ duets with brother Rajas Upadhye are a perfect example of mutual coordination and musical brilliance.

Till date, Tejas has performed in many well-known concerts in Pune like well known Sawai Gandharv Bhimsen Mahotsav, Swarazankar, and other centres like Pimpri Chinchwad, Nashik, Baramati, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Bangalore, Dharwad, Delhi, Banaras, Kalkatta, to name a few, and to his credit. Tejas is an inspiration to many young artists and music lovers can look forward to an exhilarating and melodious performance by this accomplished violinist.

Rajas Upadhye is a talented violinist and a disciple of Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye, a renowned violin maestro. Rajas comes from a family with a rich tradition of playing the violin, dating back to his grandfather, Guruvarya Pt. Balkrishna Upadhye. The Upadhye family belongs to the Pt. Bhaskarbua Bakhale Gharana, and their playing technique is an improvisation of Pt. Gajananbua Joshi's style, with glimpses of Pt. Shridhar Parsekar ji's style.

Rajas began learning the violin at the age of seven and has won numerous awards since his early school days, including the Interschool Instrumentalist of the Year for three years in a row, a record that still stands. During his college days, he won several awards for his solo violin performances, music compositions, and fusion concepts. Despite achieving a first-class distinction in computer science from Fergusson College, Pune, Rajas chose to pursue a career in music because of his passion and love for Indian classical music and to follow his family's tradition.

Rajas has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Padmabhushan Begum Parween Sultana and Padmabhushan Pt. Rajan Sajan Mishra ji. His duets with his brother Tejas Upadhye showcase his musical brilliance and mutual coordination. Rajas has performed in various concerts in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Nashik, Bhopal, and even in England, Germany, and Switzerland during his tour to Europe at the age of sixteen.

Rajas has received several awards and accolades for his musical excellence, including the National Scholarship of CCRT (New Delhi), All India Radio's National Award 2015-16, Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by Academy of Music Chennai, and Violinist of the Year 2015 by Gaanvardhan. Rajas Upadhye is a rising star in the world of Indian classical music and an embodiment of his family's rich violin tradition.

Prabhanjan Pathak is a promising and talented young violin player in the realm of Hindustani Classical Music. He embarked on his musical journey under the guidance of eminent gurus, the late Pt. Vamanrao Dhawanjewar from Amravati and Pt. Prabhakar Dhakde from Nagpur. Currently, he is honing his skills under the tutelage of Pt. Atulkumar Upadhye in Pune.

Drawing inspiration from his guru Pt. Atulkumar Upadhye, Prabhanjan has developed a unique style that combines the Gayaki Aang and Tantakari tantras, resulting in a distinctive musical expression. Prabhanjan has captivated audiences with his mesmerizing solo performances on the violin, as well as engaging jugalbandi collaborations with instruments like the sitar and flute, both in India and abroad.

He exhibits equal prowess in both light and semi-classical music genres, regularly enchanting audiences with a diverse range of Indian musical flavors, including classical, fusion, semi-classical, and light music. Prabhanjan's accompaniment in light music and ghazal concerts has garnered widespread appreciation wherever he performs.

Not only a talented musician, Prabhanjan is also an established IT professional. His dedication and commitment to his craft have earned him several notable achievements, including being a graded artist on All India Radio, Pune. He has been honored with the Pt. B.S Upadhye Smriti Award by the Violin Academy in Pune in 2005, as well as an award by Gaanvardhan, Pune in the same year.

His musical excellence has also been recognized through gold medals for his participation in National Level Inter University Music competitions. He secured first place for two consecutive years in the West Zone Inter University Youth Festival and received the first prize in the State Level Music competition organized by the South Central Zone Cultural Center, Nagpur.

Prabhanjan's major performances include enchanting the audience at the Yerba Buena Art Center in San Francisco, USA. He has also delivered captivating solo performances at "Basant Bahar" in California, as well as Maharashtra Mandal, Bay Area, CA, USA. His collaboration with the troop 'May Marathi' took him to various cities across the United States, where they enthralled audiences with their musical prowess.

His solo performances at prestigious events such as Swar Mehfil organized by SwarZankar and Violin Academy in Kolhapur, and Sonic Octaves in Mumbai, along with his performances at Sanskar Bharti, ShuddhaNaad, and Samved Pratisthan in Pune, have left a lasting impression on the listeners. He has also accompanied his guru, Pt. Atulkumar Upadhye, in SwaraZankar festivals held across different cities in India.

Prabhanjan has had the privilege of collaborating with legendary artists such as Pt. Birju Maharaj, Archana Jogalekar, Anup Jalota, and Ghazal singer Rajkumar Rizvi. Moreover, he has performed alongside Afghan singer Ehsan Aman in several concerts in the United States.

Prabhanjan's musical prowess is not limited to live performances. He has also released CDs showcasing his exceptional talent. "Charming Ragas", his solo violin CD released in 2013, offers a captivating collection of ragas. Additionally, "Tunes++" presents a mesmerizing jugalbandi between the violin and harmonium.

She is fortunate to be a part of a family with a highly musical background. She started learning violin at an early age and took her initial lessons from the well-known violin teacher Pt. Madhukarrao Godse, founder of “Godse Violin Vidyalaya,” one of the oldest violin schools in the cultural capital of Maharashtra, Pune. Under his guidance, Savita completed “Sangeet Alankar” from Gandharva Mahavidyalay Mandal.

Currently, Savita is learning this prestigious art under the guidance of international artist and renowned violinist Pt. Atulkumar Upadhye, founder of “Violin Academy,” Pune. From him, she has learned the fine intricacies, techniques, and nuances of violin playing. This school of music boasts a rich tradition that includes legends like Pt. Bhaskarbua Bakhale, Pt. Shridhar Parsekar, and Dr. Yehudi Menuhin.

Savita is a recognized artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan. She has delivered numerous solo performances at prestigious music festivals and has contributed several recordings to the Film and Television Institute of India. Her accolades include awards from the “All India P & T Cultural Meet” held in Bombay and the “Mahalaxmi-Vishwanathan Memorial Trust” in Aurangabad. In her teenage years, she received the “Gunawant Yuva Kalakar Puraskar” from Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and was selected at the state level for the National Competition of AIR.

Savita is a versatile soloist. Her playing reveals both depth and range, and her expositions showcase a clear melodic line and unique style. Her approach—combining Gayaki and Tantakari techniques—has helped establish the violin as a complete instrument for solo performances in rich Indian Classical Music.

She has performed Jugalbandis alongside instruments like the flute, shehnai, dilruba, and violin. Savita has command over both classical and light classical music. She has released CDs featuring classical compositions as well as beloved old Marathi and Hindi songs.

Born into a musically enriched family, her mother was a known vocalist and harmonium player. Her two sisters are well-known vocalists and her brother is a senior tabla player. Today, Savita heads the “Swarashree Violin Vidyalaya” and is also recognized as an accomplished teacher.

Her son Ketan is a merit rank holder in 10th and a Pune University topper. He completed his graduation from PICT (ENTC), earned his Master’s from UCSD (University of California, San Diego), and currently works as a Software Engineer in Boston. Her husband, a former Cummins executive, wholeheartedly supports her musical career.

Considering her talent and dedication to the art of violin playing, one can observe Savita presenting Indian Classical Music through violin with proper anticipation, elaboration, and emotional release. We can look forward to many melodious renditions from this promising and rising star in the musical world.

Versatile would be the word to sum up Anjali Singde-Rao.

She holds a Sangeet Alankar degree in Classical Music and a B. High Grade of All India Radio with valuable guidance and blessings from her mother Mrs. Neela Singde and father Mr. Jagannath Singde.

She had the benefit of grooming from masters of eminence like Pandit Madhukar Godse and Pandit Atulkumar Upadhye, and has also taken guidance from Padmashree Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan.

She has given solo violin classical performances across Maharashtra, Delhi, and internationally in Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, and Doha. She has also performed solo classical at Singapore Radio.

Anjali composed background music for the Marathi film "Mala Jagaychay" and various dance dramas. She was awarded the title "Violin Queen" by Naik Pratishthan.

She produced the all-women artist programme Rasik ManaMohini and completed about 80 successful programs in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Anjali founded Ninad Niketan Foundation Trust through which she has organized many conceptual programs and conducts classes for violin, keyboard, and guitar. She also produced the conceptual program “Violin Graphy”, showcasing the journey of the violin in India.

Vishal Urkude, a disciple of renowned Violinist Pt. Atulkumar Upadhye and Shri Tejas Upadhye, is a name that resonates with melodic brilliance.

With an impressive repertoire of performances to his credit, Vishal has captivated audiences at esteemed events like the Swarzankar Musical Orchestra, organized by the Violin Academy in Pune, Satara, and Ahmadnagar. He has also mesmerized listeners with his enchanting melodies at Smitanjali, and collaborated with a Sufi band, showcasing his versatility as an artist.

For the past five years, Vishal has been associated with Swarazankar, where he plays a pivotal role in event management and coordinates the Music Appreciation School Project. As a dedicated violin teacher, he imparts his knowledge and passion to aspiring musicians, nurturing their talents with utmost care.

Beyond his virtuosity on the violin, Vishal showcases his versatility as a musician through his compositions, lyrical prowess, and poetic expressions. With an innate ability to create evocative melodies and heartfelt lyrics, he paints vivid musical landscapes that touch the soul.

Prateek Rajkumar Tiwari is a highly skilled guitarist with a deep passion for music. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Guitar Instrumental Classical from the prestigious "Sangeet Bhushan Pracheen Kala Kendra" in Jabalpur.

Prateek's dedication to his craft extends beyond traditional Indian music. He spent a year learning Western music under Mr. Loo from Kolkata and two years studying Awan Guitar with Dr. Vinay Roa in Jabalpur. Currently, he is expanding his musical journey by learning classical violin under the guidance of Pandit AtulKumar Upadhye.

His music career has taken him across India. In the North East, he has organized and performed over 650 shows, both solo and in ensembles, in cities like Delhi, Raipur, Jabalpur, Daman, Bopal, Ujan, Nagarpur, Kolkata, Gwalior, Jaipur, and Satna. In the South, he has impressed audiences with performances in Bangalore, including the renowned 24*7 Rockthorn event.

Prateek founded his own band "Alloy - The Original Fusion", which showcases genres such as Hindi Rock, Metal, Classical, Rhythm and Blues, and popular instrumental music. Their diverse repertoire also includes Fusion Music, Classic Rock, and Indi-Pop.

Recognized for his musical expertise, Prateek has been invited to serve as a judge for numerous musical events. He judged the Solo Singing Competition - Bharatiyam in 2010, 2011, and 2012 at Bharati Vidyapeeth University, and the Desi Rock Band competition in 2010 at Mount Carmel Convent High School.

With his rich musical background and wide-ranging performances, Prateek Rajkumar Tiwari continues to inspire and impress audiences with his exceptional talent and versatility.

Mrs. Shalini Rao is a dedicated Indian classical violinist whose journey began under the guidance of the well-known violinist and vocalist Late Pt. Gajananbua Joshi. She completed her Visharad from Vallabh Sangeet Vidyalay, Bombay under his tutelage.

She has been pursuing higher studies for over 20 years at Upadhye Violin Vadan Vidyalay (UVVV), under the mentorship of Pt. Atulkumar Upadhye, an internationally recognized violinist known for his 75-year-old parampara (tradition) of violin playing.

With his blessings, she established Shruti Violin Vidyalay in Aundh in 2003 as part of UVVV, where she continues to teach and share her knowledge with students.

Her curriculum includes a special focus on Marathi Natya Sangeet, a rich musical genre deeply rooted in Maharashtra’s classical traditions.

Mrs. Shalini Rao has performed at various esteemed platforms such as Virasat, Jalsa, Sargam Palace, and Gurupournima Utsav, captivating audiences with her expressive and soulful violin renditions.