Kuntala Ray Gives a Workshop in Asheville-UPDATED!

Kuntala Ray is a world class musician and student of master Indian slide guitarist Pandit Barun Kumar Pal whoShe will be conducting a workshop on November 6th, 2007 from 4:00 to 10:00 pm here in Asheville. There will be 5 hours of workshop with a one hour break for a vegetarian dinner. The workshop is appropriate for all musicians no matter what instrument you play. The cost is based on a sliding scale of $30 to $100.

The workshop will cover Indian Classical music theory and it's deep roots within spirituality and it's connections to nature. She will teach vocal skills designed to deepen your proficiency no matter what your instrument and students will learn devotional songs known as Guru Vandana. The six hour workshop will allow participants to fully digest the material covered in an intimate home setting.

Contact me to register, get directions to the house, and any other questions.
Matthew Cox
email: click here

My (Matthew's) personal testimony:
Since the first day I got to sit and practice with Kuntala Ray I found her music, teaching, and presence evoke a deep sense of peace. Her instructions made Indian music concepts that had previously eluded me seem clear and straight forward. She had an uncanny ability to see my level and abilities and build from there. While there are many great Indian Classical performers out there, few of them also have the ability to teach others with such grace, wisdom, and precision as her. It has truly been a divine blessing to have met her.

Please read the rest of this article for more details.

Directions from Asheville:
South on Hendersonville Rd.
Left on Mills Gap Rd. (stoplight just after the new Earthfare)
Right at next light on Sweeten Creek Rd.
Pass B.B. Barns landscaping and garden supply on right and prepare to turn
Right on Azalea Rd. at "Captive Minds"
2nd Driveway on the left at 8 Azalea Rd. (there are two mailboxes in front)
Don't block the neighbor of the duplex in.
If there is no parking left or if you don't want to get blocked in, park across sweeten Creek Rd. at the abandoned "P.U.R.E." gas station.

Please call to let me know you're coming so that I can make sure there is enough food for the dinner.
828.275.5008

The only performing lady Artiste of Hansa Veena ( Indian Slide Guitar)

Kuntala Ray is one of the very few lady Guitar players of India who has equal knowledge and efficiency in playing Hawaiian Slide Guitar and Hansa Veena. She hails from a family of musicians and inherited musical talent from her mother. She started her carrier in music in guitar at her early young age and continued learning under Sri Uttam Chakrabarty, a renowned Guitar player of Bengal. Her passion for Guitar and her rendering of light music on Hawaiian slide Guitar fetched her fame amongst music lovers.

But, having long cherished the desire to learn Indian Classical Music in its pure form on slide Guitar, she was constantly looking for a proper Guru to enlighten her mind and soul for the Raga Music, the Heritage culture of India. Later, with her dedication and sincerity, she became the disciple of Pdt.Barun Kumar Pal, the Maestro of Hawaiian slide Guitar and Hansa Veena.

Pdt Barun Kumar is not only the senior disciple of Bharat Ratna Pdt Ravi Shankar, but also the pioneer in introducing Hawaiian Slide Guitar as a regular Indian Classical Instrument. Later, many followers have adapted his creation, the Indian Classical Guitar, under different personalized names. In the Millenium year, Pdt Ravi Shankar gave official recognition and christened a highly evolved version of Indian slide Guitar as Hansa Veena. On his 80th birth day celebration ceremony, he gave the first Hansa Veena , made by the famous instrument maker M/S Rikhi Ram to Pdt Barun Kumar. Since then, Hansa Veena was taken to different corners of India and abroad by Pdt Barun Kumar and was exposed to the World of Music. Within a very short period, because of its beautiful blended tonal quality of Vichitra Veena and Sitar, this unique instrument has become very popular all over the world.

Kuntal Ray has therefore eventually become the torchbearer of the famous "Maihar and Ravi Shankar Gharana" as an Artiste of “Hansa Veena”.

A science graduate of Calcutta University, Kuntala had attended several "Guru Sishya Parampara" workshops of Indian Classical Music at Kolkata and Delhi under her Guru to receive vigorous Talim and to learn the Art of Performance.

Sri Aurobindo Education Society of Delhi organizes workshops for the young talents of music of all over India and abroad in "Gurukul Pratha" with the help of Human Resource and Cultural Depts. of Govt.of India. She is a regular faculty of such workshops.

Taking the responsibility of exposing her true Talim, Kuntala plays in the most traditional form of rendering a Raga. Her aesthetic way of unfolding a Raga is very much reflected on the listener’s mind because of her good control on the instrument and sound knowledge of Ragas.

As her fame has spread, she has been playing to audiences in various concerts that have been well acclaimed.