Vidyadhar Vyas

In the world of Hindustani classical music, Pandit Vidyadhar Vyas is a name to reckon with. The prestigious tradition of the Gwalior gharana and the illustrious lineage of Sangeet Maharshi Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar contributed to his background while he was groomed in khayal, tarana and bhajan gayaki by his renowned father Gayanacharya Pandit Narayanrao Vyas, himself an outstanding disciple of Pandit Paluskar. Moulding his creative thinking, artistic approach and aesthetic research in the gharana gayaki with his arduous riyaz, he matured as a maestro in his own right.

Gifted with a voice that is mellow and musical, Pandit Vyas presents a unique and pleasing blend of beauties of form and content of khayal. He takes every care to sustain and develop the Raga rasa and tries to harmonize it with the bhava of the compositions. Pandit Vyas is also renowned for his khayal and tarana compositions which are treats of pure joy and ecstasy to his listeners.

Pandit Vyas holds a Master's degree in Sociology from the University of Mumbai and a Doctorate in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music from the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, Mumbai.

Awarded “Top Grade” status by All India Radio, Pandit Vyas is an equally popular artiste in the television media and has several cassettes and CDs to his credit. A top-notch concert performer with creditable performances in almost all the major festivals in India, he has also performed in the USA, Europe, Mauritius and other parts of the world.

He has written several articles for leading music journals and has conceived and presented a variety of programmes on the genesis and evolution of Hindustani Raga Sangeet. Pandit Vyas also excels in conducting lecture demonstrations, which are both enlightening and entertaining.

In addition to being a renowned performing artist, Pandit Vidyadhar Vyas is known as a competent teacher and guru of exceptional calibre. He has been teaching and mentoring students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels since 1964 and doctorate level since 1972. In 1973 he became Principal of the Government Music College (Rajasthan Sangeet Sansthan) at Jaipur. In 1984 he became Head of the Department of Music, University of Mumbai. In February 2004, he became the first duly selected Vice Chancellor of the newly formed Bhatkhande Music Institute Deemed University at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. In August 2007 he took over as Executive Director of ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata. Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi (Govt. of India) presented him National Award for Hindustani Music (2007) at the hands of the President of India.