Shakthidhar was fascinated by the Baansuri in his early childhood. He started his initial training under Pt. K S Naik for 8 years. Later he was invited to teach Flute at the Late PK Salve Academy of Music and Fine Arts, Nagpur. During this time he learnt under eminent violinist of Nagpur, Pt. Prabhakar Dhakde and had guidance in the instrumental style from Sitarist Sri Avaneendra Sheolikar.
Shakthidhar had the privilege of listening to Pt. Rajendra Prasanna at a concert in Nagpur. Touched by the sweetness and Gayaki ang presentation of Panditji he decided to shift to Delhi and learn from Panditji. He learnt under Pt. Rajendra Prasanna in the traditional Gurushishya Parampara for 9 years and still continues to learn from Panditji.
Shakthidhar has won many prizes and awards among them the prominent are Bangalore University Music competition 1st Prize 1997 and 1998; 1st Prize at the All India Flute competition organized by Sahara India Parivar, Lucknow in 2001; Central Government HRD Scholarship for two years from 2002-2004; 1st Prize at the UP Sangeet Natak Academy competition 2003, Lucknow.
Apart from wining competitions he has also been performing at various platforms around the country since 1998. The prominent ones are International Sahaja Yoga Seminar, Ratnagiri; Concerts in presence of Her Holiness Mataji Shri Nirmala Devi, Delhi; French Cultural Festival at French Embassy, Delhi; International Sahaja Yoga Seminar, Ganapatipule, Maharashtra; Chilean Embassy, New Delhi; Hindustani Sangeet Kalakar Mandali, Bangalore; Layakari, Bangalore; Sri Rama Sangeet Sabha, Bangalore; Concert in the memory of The Legend Savai Gandharva at Kundgol, Hubli ; Sapthak, Bangalore; National Festival of Dance and Music, Gunavante; Bhimsen Music Fundation, Gadag.
He has been touring all over the world for music concerts, workshops and Master classes. His concerts abroad incliude Kannada Koota, Dubai; Festival of Arts and Ideas, New Haven USA; Jacobs pillow, USA; Indian Embassy, Berlin; Indian Community, Geneva; Music Conservatory, Lyon France; Concert at Gasteig, Munich; Primavera, Oy Mittelburg; Tulu Koota, Doha Qatar; PAZ Festival, New York and Washington DC and Dallas; Culture of the Spirit Festival, Cabella Ligure in Italy; Ramanavami Celebrations, Singapore; Kannada Sangha, Singapore;
He has also performed for various theatre productions at the National School of Drama, New Delhi. He has rendered his support as a flautist in Karnataka’s popular musical reality show ‘Star Singer’ in Suvarna Channel and ‘Amul Sangeeth Mahayudh’ in Udaya channel of SUN Network and Zee SRGMP of Zee Kannada.
Shakthidhar worked as visiting Music faculty at British School in New Delhi. He also provides Consultancy services to Music software company Swarsystems, Switzerland that is an industry standard for sample tones of Indian Musical Instruments.
For more information visit Shaktidhar’s music and videos online:
