Pt Ajoy Chakraborty performs at memorial concert for Pt Ravi Shankar

Photo: ATL Aakash

Eminent classical vocalist, exponent and guru Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty has performed at the 6th annual Indian Music & Dance Festival, organised by Indian Fine Arts Academy San Diego.

Speaking on the phone, from Cleveland (Ohio, U.S.), Pandit Chakraborty said, “The festival in San Diego was a memorial concert for legendary sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar.

“Panditjee was actively involved with this academy and before he passed away, he invited me to perform at this festival. I was just honouring his request through my performance.”

The festival began on March 19 and concluded on March 24. It was held at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center's David & Dorothea Garfield Auditorium in La Jolla. Pandit Chakraborty performed on March 23.

At the festival, Pandit Shankar was honoured on stage and in video montages.

“His mastery of both Eastern and Western traditions, his tireless activities in teaching and collaboration, as well as his musical thought and the generosity of his spirit, have had an unprecedented and global impact on music today,” one of Pandit Shankar's students said.