: महेश काळे) (Born: 1976, Pune

Pune

Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...

, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

) is a San Francisco Bay Area (United States) based Indian Classical vocalist

Hindustani classical music

Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...

 renowned for his specialization in Indian Classical

Indian classical music

The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...

 (Hindustani

Hindustani classical music

Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...

), Semi-Classical and Devotional Music including Natya Sangeet

Natya Sangeet

Natya Sangeet is a form of Indian classical and semi-classical music. The name literally means Dramatic Music and the musical dramas are then called as Sangeet Natak. It is also one of the two popular forms of vocal arts in Maharashtra and surrounding states...

.

Early life and background

Mahesh was born and raised in a musical family in Pune

Pune

Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...

, Maharashtra

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...

, India. He began his early music education under the guidance of his mother Smt. Meenal Kale. She had Masters in Indian Classical Music

Hindustani classical music

Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...

 and was a disciple of Veena Sahasrabuddhe

Veena sahasrabuddhe

Veena Sahasrabuddhe is a leading Indian vocalist and composer of Hindustani classical music. Her singing style has its roots in Gwalior gharana, but it also borrows from Jaipur and Kirana gharanas....

.

Mahesh gave his first solo performance at the age of 3 at Gondavale, with the rendition of a devotional song he mesmerized an audience of over 5000 . At the age of 6 he started learning music formally from Shri Purushottam Gangurde. Despite of his young age, Mahesh was chosen as the disciple of legendary Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki

Jitendra Abhisheki

Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki was an Indian vocalist, composer and scholar of classical, semi-classical, and devotional music...

 in 1991. Under his guidance in a gurukul-like setting, Mahesh was extensively trained in classical and semi-classical forms like thumri, dadra, tappa, bhajans, and marathi natya sangeet for over 8 years. During that time, he accompanied his guru Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki as a vocal support in prestigious concerts all across India. Currently he is receiving vocal guidance from Shri Shounak Abhisheki

Shounak Abhisheki

Shounak Abhisheki Shounak Abhisheki Shounak Abhisheki (Devanagari: शौनक अभिषेकी is an Indian vocalist, composer of classical, semi-classical, and devotional music.-Profile:Shounak Abhisheki, the son and disciple of Maestro Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki, is a vocalist who combines Agra and Jaipur styles of...

 (son of Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki

Jitendra Abhisheki

Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki was an Indian vocalist, composer and scholar of classical, semi-classical, and devotional music...

).

Mahesh holds a Bachelors in Electronics Engineering from University of Pune

University of Pune

The University of Pune , is a university located in northwestern Pune, India. It was founded in 1949. Spread over a campus, the university is home to 46 academic departments...

 (India) and a Masters degree in Engineering Management from Santa Clara University

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...

 (United States).

Career

Mahesh has performed in over 1000 concerts of Indian Classical and Semi-Classical Vocal in India, US, UAE and UK. He has performed in Fusion concerts with famous percussionists like Sivamani

Sivamani

Anandan Sivamani , popularly known as Sivamani, is a percussionist based in India. He plays many instruments including drums, Octoban, Darbuka, Udukai, and Kanjira, as well as many more. He performed drumming during the IPL Championships in 2008 & 2010. He is affiliated to the Chennai Super Kings...

 and Trilok Gurtu, and instrumentalists like Pedro Eustache

Pedro Eustache

Pedro Eustache , is a creative solo flautist - "World Music" woodwinds-reeds-wind synthesizers and composer with extensive academic studies and more than 35 years of professional experience...

 and Frank Martin.

Since early 2010, Mahesh has been playing the central character in Katyar Kaljat Ghusli, the evergreen Sangeet Natak (musical). He has been honored with Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad Award for his role in this play.

Mahesh is determined to spread awareness and education about Indian classical music in the western world. He has given lecture-demonstrations in various US universities including Stanford and Harvard University

Harvard University

Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...

 and was also profiled as Artist of the Month by Harvard Sangeet in March 2008.

Currently Mahesh is teaching music actively to over 100 students in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Discography

• Prarambh, the beginning
• NatyaSaurabh
• Adhvan

External links

• Official Artist website