Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, June 29: Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Jammu through its endeavours of presenting unique programmes of music, dance and drama under its Horizon Series today mesmerised the lovers of music in a ‘Santoor Recital’ showcasing eminent musician, composer and instrumentalist, Ravi Sharma.
Held at the Auditorium of Red Cross Bhawan, Kachhi Chawni, Jammu, this Instrumental concert kept the audience spellbound through the simply magical performance by versatile maestro Ravi Sharma. Earlier welcoming the distinguished guests, the Regional Director of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Balwant Thakur said that ICCR thorough its new initiatives is making all out efforts to showcase the best of the talent of the region in a highly focussed manner.
The great instrumentalists of the town were earlier reduced to mere accompanists in most of the music concerts and they never had the occasion to exhibit their mastery over the art and the form. But this was the third occasion when ICCR Jammu has brought before music lovers the great instrumentalists in a focused manner. Earlier Sitar Recital by O N Raina and Flute Recital by Rakesh Anand had the occasion to come in the spotlight of the professional showcasing of ICCR. Balwant Thakur further informed that ICCR is an International platform and efforts are being made have more such programmes with regular intervals through collaborations.
Born in 1952 in a family of great musicians, Ravi Sharma has been very fortunate to have the opportunity to expose himself to variety of musical Instruments and forms. He is perhaps the first Jammuite who excelled equally in Santoor, Tabla and Sitar and completed B. Music in all three and later did M.Music twice from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad and Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh. Retired from the Music Department of Government College for Women, Parade Jammu, Ravi Sharma trained a new generation of musicians, vocalists and instrumentalists and contributed a lot to the development of contemporary music rooted in the soil of Indian folk and classical traditions. Performed Internationally twice in Bangladesh and Kirgizstan (Erstwhile Russia) under the banner of ICCR, Ravi Sharma performed in thousands of concerts including the highly prestigious programmes organised in the honor of visiting Presidents and Prime Ministers of India. His music album ‘Maa Tumhare Kitne Dhaam’ which he did for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board featured top singers of the country including Suresh Wadhekar, Vinod Rathod and Sadhna Sargam.
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