Born to Shri Kumar Shrimangalmurti Patwardhan and Smt. Madhura Kumar Patwardhan, Nikhil started his musical journey at the tender age of four. His grandmother, Smt.Sarojinidevi Patwardhan and his grandfather, Shri Shrimangalmurti Patwardhan were deeply into Hindustani Classical Music. Nikhil was introduced to Hindustani Classical Music and received his initial Sitar and vocal taalim by his grandmother. He continued to receive the initial training by his father. At the age of eight, Nikhil gave his first public performance at Balgandharva. He then became a Balodyaan AIR artiste at the age of nine. At the age of twelve, Nikhil won the prestigious Center for Cultural Resources and Training scholarship from the Government of India.
The very first time Nikhil heard the Sitar was an AIR recording of Raga Yaman by Pandit Nikhil Banerjee whose music was introduced in his family by his grandfather. Since then, Panditji's music and philosophy has been a vigorous and powerful source of inspiration not only in music but in all walks of life. Seeing Nikhil's insatiable and deeply rooted passion for Pandit Nikhil Banerjee's style and the Maihar Gharana, his parents decided to train him under Pandit Partha Chatterjee of Kolkata. At the age of fifteen, he was very blessed to be accepted as a disciple by Panditji and learned with him in the traditional Gurukul style, which involves living with the Guru and following the Guru like a shadow. Nikhil received very intensive training for a period of five years. The five years of rigorous Riyaaz and training honed his technique and molded his musical skills.
Nikhil is an Electronics Engineer by profession. He has an M.S.E.E. degree from the United States and works full time in the semiconductor industry. Having lived and worked in the United States for over seven years, Nikhil is blessed to understand and experience both the professional and the music world in both India and the United States.Nikhil strives to strike a balance between his spiritually driven approach towards his music along with his engineering mind.
Nikhil has also started a Trio Band called "When Wood Sings". This is a unique combination of mostly wooden instruments like the Sitar, Flute and Tabla. The trio has performed and continues to spread the melodious music across the world.
Subscribe to my Youtube and Facebook pages now for more!
www.youtube.com/nikhilsitar
www.facebook.com/nikhilsitar
The very first time Nikhil heard the Sitar was an AIR recording of Raga Yaman by Pandit Nikhil Banerjee whose music was introduced in his family by his grandfather. Since then, Panditji's music and philosophy has been a vigorous and powerful source of inspiration not only in music but in all walks of life. Seeing Nikhil's insatiable and deeply rooted passion for Pandit Nikhil Banerjee's style and the Maihar Gharana, his parents decided to train him under Pandit Partha Chatterjee of Kolkata. At the age of fifteen, he was very blessed to be accepted as a disciple by Panditji and learned with him in the traditional Gurukul style, which involves living with the Guru and following the Guru like a shadow. Nikhil received very intensive training for a period of five years. The five years of rigorous Riyaaz and training honed his technique and molded his musical skills.
Nikhil is an Electronics Engineer by profession. He has an M.S.E.E. degree from the United States and works full time in the semiconductor industry. Having lived and worked in the United States for over seven years, Nikhil is blessed to understand and experience both the professional and the music world in both India and the United States.Nikhil strives to strike a balance between his spiritually driven approach towards his music along with his engineering mind.
Nikhil has also started a Trio Band called "When Wood Sings". This is a unique combination of mostly wooden instruments like the Sitar, Flute and Tabla. The trio has performed and continues to spread the melodious music across the world.
Subscribe to my Youtube and Facebook pages now for more!
www.youtube.com/nikhilsitar
www.facebook.com/nikhilsitar