Chhandayan Center For Music

Promotes Indian classical music, offering education, performances, and global collaborations, fostering cultural exchange

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About

  • Headquarters

    Kolkata, West Bengal

  • Since

    1984

Chhandayan Center for Indian Music, often referred to simply as "Chhandayan," is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting Indian classical mus Read moreic. Its core mission revolves around nurturing the understanding, learning, and appreciation of this rich musical tradition. Chhandayan achieves this through a comprehensive range of activities, encompassing education, performance, and collaboration with global classical arts. Since its establishment in 1998, Chhandayan has played a pivotal role in spreading Indian Classical & World Music, not only in New York and New Jersey but also across neighbouring states and around the world. The organisation's diverse arts programme includes an extensive lineup of annual events. These activities feature more than 25 concerts in New York, including the renowned All-Night Concert of Indian classical music, now in its 17th season. Chhandayan's influence extends beyond New York, with concerts taking place in various locations, both within the United States and internationally, such as Toronto and India. Chhandayan's commitment to education is evident through its ongoing music education programmes, catering to vocal music and classical instruments like Tabla, Sitar, Harmonium, Sarangi, and Violin. Additionally, it offers classical dance classes for students. The organisation also conducts educational workshops and seminars led by some of the world's most accomplished performers. Chhandayan's dedication to preserving the guru-shishya (master-to-disciple) tradition of Indian classical music is a hallmark of its educational approach. This approach welcomes students from diverse backgrounds and provides them with performance opportunities, fostering a reputation as a prestigious institution bridging Indian classical music with Western audiences and vice versa.

Programs

  • Certificate Courses Programme

    Chhandayan offers certificate courses in various aspects of Indian music and dance. These structured courses blend traditional Guru-disciple learning with modern technology, connecting students globally. Its highly qualified faculty imparts years of wisdom, fostering excellence in students. The flagship Tabla course spans eight years, covering beginner to advanced levels, promoting openness to all tabla gharanas. The Indian Music Appreciation Course, led by Professor Samir Chatterjee, provides in-depth understanding through lectures, audio-visual aids, and guest experts. It culminates with a certificate and optional test quiz, enhancing appreciation and knowledge of Indian music.

  • Workshops Programme

    Chhandayan Center for Indian Music conducts annual workshops designed to enrich the study of Indian music. These intensive sessions provide supervised practice opportunities and address topics often beyond the scope of regular classes. Open to students of all levels and backgrounds, these workshops also welcome those studying with other teachers, fostering a diverse learning community.

  • Seminars

    Chhandayan Center for Indian Music organises annual seminars and lectures to enrich the study of Indian music. These events feature renowned speakers and delve into topics often overlooked in standard music instruction. Open to students at all levels and the wider public, these seminars aim to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indian music.

  • Students Recital Programme

    Chhandayan Center for Indian Music hosts an annual event called Students' Day, marking the culmination of the academic year. During this event, students from various locations come together to celebrate their learning journey. They have the opportunity to meet fellow students, perform, listen to each other, and share thoughts and experiences. This event fosters a sense of community not only among students and faculty but also among their families and friends. In 2019, the Students' Day celebration took place on June 1st at the organization's central location in NYC.

  • Music Retreat Programme

    Chhandayan Center for Indian Music organised a unique Music Retreat aimed at enabling a deeper connection with the profound effects of music. This retreat, also known as SANGEET TAPOBAN in Indian tradition, took place from August 16th to August 23rd at the India Community Center in upstate New York. It combined elements such as Yoga, Massage, Ayurvedic diet, meditation, and philosophy to enhance the experience of Indian music. By preparing the body and mind through these practices, participants were better equipped to engage with music interactively, both as performers and listeners. The retreat offered a holistic approach to well-being during the summer season, emphasizing the enriching power of music in life.

Leadership Team

  • Samir Chatterjee

    President

  • Aditya Phatak

    Director - Education

  • Abhik Mukherjee

    Director - Programmes

  • Amitabha Bose

    Director - Finance

  • Tejas Tope

    Director - Grants & Fundraising

M&E

  • Internal, External Assessors

    No

Policies

  • Ethics and Transparency Policies

    No

  • Formal CEO Oversight & Compensation Policy

    No

Political & Religious Declarations

  • On Affiliation if any

    No

  • On Deployment Bias if any

    No

Registration Details

  • Registration ID

    18925

  • VO ID / Darpan ID

    WB/2015/0093080

  • FCRA

    Not Available

  • CSR Registration Number

    Not Available

Location

  • Headquarters

    15A Gobinda Mandal Lane, #7, Kolkata, 700002

    Directions

Other Details

  • Type & Sub Type

    Non-profit
    Society