Dhrupad Vocalist
Chintan Upadhyay
Born into the cultural ambience of Bhavnagar, Gujarat, Chintan received his earliest musical tutelage from his parents — both scholarly teachers of music and musicology — and went on to devote his heart and soul to Dhrupad in the true tradition of the Guru-Shishya Parampara.
A Lifelong Sadhana
After standing first at the Bhavnagar Centre in the Sangeet Alankar examination, Chintan joined Lalit Kala Kendra, Pune University for his Master’s in Music on a National Scholarship, training under Dr. Vikas Kashalkar and Pt. Vijay Koparkar. In 2004 he surrendered himself to the tutelage of Pt. Uday Bhawalkar, later becoming a scholar at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata (2013) and a recipient of the Junior Research Fellowship from the Government of India (2014).
All India Radio (Akashvani) has graded him a ‘B-High’ Dhrupad vocalist, and in 2022 he was honoured with the ‘Yuva Gaurav Puraskar’ by the Savitribai Phule Pune University.
The Journey in Sound
Carrying forward an ancient tradition
Honouring the timeless meditative art of Dhrupad, and sharing it with the world
Heritage & Training
Chintan was born in the cultural ambience of Bhavnagar city, Gujarat, an erstwhile princely state with a musical heritage of nurturing stalwarts like Padmashri Pt. Balwantrai Bhatt, Pt. Yashwantrai Purohit, Pt. Rasiklal Andhariya. He received his initial musical tutelage from his parents, both being scholastic teachers of music & musicology and also from their Guru, Shri Laxmipati Shukla, a noted disciple of the legendary musician, Pt. Omkarnath Thakur and also from Shri Ashvin Andharia who is a nephew of Late Pt. Rasiklal Andharia.
Chintan surrendered his heart and soul to the tutelage of Guru Pt. Uday Bhawalkar in the true tradition of Guru Shishya Parampara in 2005. Pt. Uday Bhawalkar is the standard torch bearer of Dhrupad of today’s India, who groomed himself under Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar and Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, the maestros from the ancient school of music, ‘Dagar Vaani’, represented by the legendary Dagar family.
Chintan has been performing in many major festivals in India and has been touring abroad for his concerts and workshops regularly. He has performed and conducted workshops in Canada, UK, USA, Germany, and Austria. He has been teaching students by online teachings since more than a decade.
Chintan started a new centre for Dhrupad Music in Vadodara under the banner of “Alembic Dhrupad Foundation” in Gujarat in 2020.
Performances in India
NCPA-Mumbai for ‘Promising Artist’ series, “Uttaradhikar” for Raza Foundation Delhi, For National Convention SPICMACAY Surat, Dadar Matunga Cultural Centre-Mumbai, For ICCR ‘Horizon Series’,
Baaja Gaaja 2012-Pune,
‘Barsi’ in memory of Late Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar Sahab,
Ustaad Allarakha Sangeet Sammelan in Hoshiyarpur, Punjab,
Y.B. Chavhan hall for ‘Rangswar’,
Kala Coast Music Festival Udupi,
‘Adityaramji Shastriya Sangeet Mahotsav’ by Gujarat Rajya Sangeet Natak Academy, in Junagadh,
Devnandan Ubheykar festival Bangalore,
Yuva Dhrupad Festival, Pune for Veena Foundation & Gandharva Mahavidyalaya,
Suburban Music circle – Mumbai,
At the birth place and residence of Swami Vivekananda ji in Kolkata,
Shri Anand Mayi Maa Ashram- Kolkata, Malhar Festival Pune, Gharana Sammelan Nalasopara, Mumbai,
Kala Coast Music Festival 2015, Udupi,
Latur, Talegaon, Ahmednagar, Nainital, Dharwad, Dwarka, Vadodara etc.
Concerts & Workshops Abroad
Chintan had performed concerts in Canada, USA, UK in last few years and also has taught at various places and conducted workshops, out of which the few major venues were:
The Malhar Group – Toronto,
Sivananda Centre – Valmorin, Canada,
Sivananda Centre – Montreal,
The Lahacienda Creative Studios – Montreal, Swarsadhana – Toronto,
‘Dharana’ Berlin – Germany,
‘Alankar Music Society’ – Vienna,
Pur Yoga – Drummondville, – Canada
Sitar Music Society – Leicester – UK,
Cotham Church, Bristol, – UK,
Dhrupad Music Society – Oaklands College – London, The Apiary Studios – London, etc.
Workshops in India
Chintan also conducted workshops at various places in India which include:
‘Mahagami’ Dance Gurukul – Aurangabad,
Harmony School of Music – Mumbai,
FTI – Film and Television Institute – Pune,
Intensive workshop for SPICMACAY National Convention @ Surat Centre for Excellence – Bhavnagar, Gujarat,
M.S. University, Music Department, Vadodara,
Vallabh Vidya Nagar, Gujarat,
IIT Pavai – Mumbai for SPICMACAY on recommendion of Ustad Bahauddin Dagar, Ramkrishna Mission Rajkot,
Upcoming
01
February,
2027
Tansen Festival, Gwalior
- Gwalior, India
- Prestigious classical music festival
02
Featured
Performance
NCPA ‘Promising Artist’, Mumbai
- Mumbai, India
- NCPA ‘Promising Artist’ series
03
Featured
Performance
‘Uttaradhikar’, Raza Foundation, Delhi
- New Delhi, India
- ‘Uttaradhikar’, Raza Foundation
04
Featured
Performance
“River Raga” Serendipity Arts Festival, Goa
- Goa, India
- Curated by Pt. Aneesh Pradhan