Bhajan Sopori
Santoor maestro, Pandit Bhajan Sopori comes from a family of musicians
of "Sofiana Gharana" of Kashmir and Santoor is what he inherited from his
predecessors. He got his initial training from his grandfather, Pt. S.
C. Sopori and later from his father Pt. S.N. Sopori. He gave his first
public performance at the age of ten in the conference organised by Prayag
Sangeet Samiti and Univ. of Allahabad. Ever since he
Pandit Bhajan Sopori holds a very prestigious place among the musicians
of Indian. He has performed for leading cultural association, Radio Sangeet
Sammelans and other National Programmes of Padio and Doordarshan and has
received many awards of merit for his musical exellence. He has also performed
in England, Germany, U.S.A., Egypt, Yugoslavia, Bulgana, Syria, Belgium,
Norway, etc. and has taught music at the Washington university, St. Louis
and the University of Oslo (Norway).
With his devotion and dedication to Santoor, Pandit Sopori has advanced
his technique of playing where he skillfully brings about a synthesis of
the various phrases of vocal and instrumental music. The structural novelty
ot his instrument accentuates his stylistic uniqueness, which is conventional
and yet creative and progressive. His presentation is lyrical and asthetic.
Shri Bhajan Sopori is also a music director of repute having produced
several musical productions and has composed music for songs in various
Indian languages. He has also composed music for operas, Telefilms, serials
and documentaries.
Shri Sopori has also playing records and a number of cassettes of Santoor
recitals and compositions to his credit.
has been performing with great distinction in various festivals and
conferences in the country and abroad. Shri Bhajan Sopori had formal academic
training in both sitar and santoor upto masters level besides having obtained
masters degree in English Literature. He also studied Western Classical
music at the Washington University, U.S.A.