JP Joshi

Kundan Shah Shankar (कुन्दन शाह शंकर) is a talented Nepali tabla player and percussionist known for his deep-rooted connection to classical rhythms and his dynamic presence across Nepal’s major music platforms. He has earned recognition through his performances on shows like Nepal Idol, The Voice of Nepal, and Mero Voice Universe, where his tabla artistry adds a rich traditional layer to contemporary arrangements. He is also the host of “Rhythms of Tradition with Kundan Shah Shankar,” a musical series that celebrates classical and folk percussion, often featuring collaborations with vocalists and instrumentalists. His playing style blends precision with expressive flair, making him a sought-after accompanist in both studio recordings and live concerts.

Milesh Tandukar is a highly respected tabla virtuoso, composer, and music educator from Kathmandu, Nepal. A graduate of Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad, he trained under legendary gurus like Pandit Satya Narayan Chaudhary, Pandit Homnath Upadhyaya, and Pandit Prem Chandra Ojhaiya. He is the founder of the Pandit Satya Narayan Chaudhary Memorial Academy and has performed extensively across Nepal, India, France, and Japan. Milesh is known for his versatility across rhythm instruments including mridanga, dhime, dhol, djimbe, and nagada, and has contributed to albums like Musical Journey to Sindhuli Gadhi and Voiceless Voice. He is a recognized artist on Radio Nepal and Nepal Television, and teaches at institutions like Modern Indian School and Kalanidhi Indira Sangeet Mahavidyalaya.

Ganesh Pariyar (1945 – 18 January 2021) was Nepal’s first music arranger, a pioneering composer, singer, and multi‑instrumentalist whose work laid the foundation of modern Nepali studio music. Beginning as a contractual instrumentalist at Radio Nepal in 2019 BS, he became a permanent musician in 2024 BS, introducing structured music arrangement to Nepali broadcasting for the first time.Before entering full‑time music, Pariyar served in the Nepal Army, rising to the rank of Havildar before resigning to pursue music professionally. A skilled violinist, saxophonist, guitarist, and folk instrumentalist, he played a central role in shaping the orchestral sound of early Nepali recordings.Across more than two decades at Radio Nepal, he contributed as an arranger, composer, vocalist, instrumentalist, and collector of lyrics and melodies. His disciplined musicianship and technical mastery helped elevate the quality of Nepali studio productions during a formative era.In 2050 BS, he joined Music Nepal as a Music Director and Arranger, influencing commercial music production and supporting countless singers and composers. His legacy remains foundational in the evolution of Nepali music arrangement.

Parashuram Bhandari is a Nepali master of the sarangi. He hails from the former Kingdom of Nepal, a country of dramatic beauty with a rich and appealing culture. His music ranges from the wildly exuberant to the hauntingly delicate, presented with the rhythmic power that is his signature. The sarangi, whose name means "hundred colors," is an instrument with a cello-like timbre, bowed on three melody strings, with thirty-six sympathetic strings underneath, giving it a haunting cello-like resonance and bright reverberating echo. It is best known for its emotional intensity and its uncanny similarity to the timbre and inflections of the human voice. Parashuram is the only sarangi musician in Nepal to play in the North Indian Classical style. He plays Nepali traditional music on the country's traditional sarangi. The Nepali sarangi is a small hand-carved version of the classical sarangi, an instrument equivalent to the traditional American fiddle. Born in the Kathmandu Valley and educated in India, Parashuram studied with guru Pandit Bacchalal Misra of Varanasi and Senior Musician Gopal Nath Yogi. He received his Master's Degree in Music from Prayag Sangit Samiti. An independent artist, Parashuram Bhandari has published the only textbook on sarangi and is the recipient of National music awards in Nepal. He has performed in numerous countries and released two solo CD's among others with the acclaimed musical group Om Shringara Nepal. When home in the Kathmandu Valley, Parashuram performs in Nepal television, radio, and theatre productions.