Profile of Nancy Kulkarni Ji
We are fortunate that today we are having a dynamic
guru like Nancy Lesh Kulkarni Ji who is a classically-trained cellist who has
devoted herself to the study and performance of dhrupad music of India on the
cello for the last 30 years. Before pursuing dhrupad, she was Co-Principal
Cellist of the Rome Festival Orchestra, and Section Cellist with the Chicago
Civic Orchestra, and Orchestra del Maggio Musicale of Florence, Italy.
Since 1982, Nancy Ji has been playing only dhrupad
on her cello. She is deeply grateful for the training she received from senior
dhrupad vocalist Pandit Ritwik Sanyal in Varanasi, and from renowned veena and
vocal brothers Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar and Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar in
Mumbai. She has also received valuable guidance from her gurubhais Ustad
Bahauddin Dagar, Pandit Pushpraj Koshti, Pandit Uday Bhawalkar, Pandit Nirmalya
Dey, Pandit K Sridhar, and the Gundecha Brothers.
Nancy Ji has given hundreds of dhrupad recitals and
lecture/demonstrations in US universities and concert halls, and in major
cities in India. She was twice awarded the Senior Performing Arts Fellowship by
the American Institute of Indian Studies, and was the featured artist in the
films, "Before My Eyes" by Mani Kaul, and "Vihir" by Umesh
Kulkarni. Nancy’s playing has been presented several times on National Public
Radio, All-India Radio and TV, and she has released three solo CDs.
Nancy Ji resides in Pune, India, where she
continues her dhrupad study, performance and teaching. She teaches dhrupad
cello to students of all ages and levels, in Pune and on skype.
