Naad Yogi Awardee Pandit Harvinder Kumar Sharma is a distinguished sitar virtuoso and educator, celebrated for his mastery of the Imdadkhani gharana style of Hindustani classical music. Born in 1957 in Kapurthala, Punjab, he began his musical journey under the guidance of his father, Pt. Meghraj Sharma, and later trained with R.D. Verma and the legendary Ustad Vilayat Khan.
An A-grade artist with All India Radio and Doordarshan, Sharma has performed extensively across India and internationally, including in Russia, Canada, and New Zealand. Known for his melodic depth and rhythmic intricacy, he also explores fusion and jugalbandi with popular music forms.
With over 36 years of teaching experience, including as Joint Director in the Department of Higher Education, Haryana, Sharma has mentored generations of musicians. He holds Master’s degrees in both vocal and instrumental music, is a dedicated research scholar, and has been honored with numerous accolades, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Pandit Lakhmi Chand State Award.
Naad Yogi Awardee Guru Sanchita Bhattacharya is a leading and acclaimed Odissi danseuse, celebrated globally for her powerful solo performances and deep commitment to Indian classical dance. For over three decades, she has taken Odissi to premier festivals and mainstream global stages, expanding its reach and resonance across cultures.
Founder of the Sanchita Dance Foundation, she empowers financially challenged yet talented girls, offering them world-class training in Odissi along with full support for their dance-related needs. The foundation also nurtures emerging soloists by providing holistic training—combining technique, literature, spirituality, and cultural philosophy.
Trained from a young age by her mother, and later by Padmashri Guru Maya Dhar Raut and Padmabhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Sanchita also studied under Dr. D.N. Pattanaik and drew deep philosophical insight from her father, a kriya yogi and philosopher. This rich lineage reflects in her performances, teaching, and humanitarian work.
She continues to inspire globally through workshops, masterclasses, and virtual teachings, passionately upholding India’s cultural legacy.
Naad Yogi and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Pt. Tarun Bhattacharya is the only Santoor maestro of the Maihar Gharana, and is globally acclaimed as the “Master of 100 Strings.” A recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Maha Samman from the Government of West Bengal, he has redefined the expressive capabilities of the santoor by introducing meend (glides) — a technique previously thought impossible on the instrument.
Indian classical music will long remember his pathbreaking innovations, including the invention of “Menkas” (fine tuners for the santoor) and the creation of Raag Ganga, a tribute to the Swachh Ganga Abhiyan inspired by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji.
Pt. Bhattacharya has performed at some of the world’s most iconic venues, including Royal Albert Hall, Théâtre de la Ville, Apollo Theater, and Jubilee Auditorium. His admirers include Prince Charles, George Harrison, Amitabh Bachchan, Paolo Solaris, and many more.
Beyond music, he is actively involved in humanitarian efforts and serves as a Brand Ambassador for Rotary International, raising awareness about Polio and Thalassemia.
Naad Yogi Awardee Guru Sudnya Mulye is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, and passionate advocate of Indian classical arts and culture. As the Founder and Artistic Director of Sudnya Dance Academy (SDA), she has been teaching Bharatanatyam and imparting knowledge of Indian heritage, traditions, and language to students for over 25 years.
Sudnya also leads several cultural initiatives as Founder and Artistic Director of International Dance Day Richmond and OM Dance Creations, and serves as Co-Producer for U Create Arts Productions and the Richmond Arts Coalition’s YouTube Channel, promoting Indian classical arts across diverse platforms.
Her collaborative work with artists and businesses focuses on engaging youth and nurturing the next generation of cultural ambassadors. In recognition of her contributions, she received an award at the Sangeet Martand Pt. Ram Marathe Smriti Samaroh in India (2018), and was a nominee for the Richmond Arts Awards (2019) in the Arts Education category.
Naad Yogi Awardee Ustad Gurdev Singh Phull is a revered Gurbani Kirtan exponent, performer, and teacher, and the Founder of Amar Music Academy in Surrey, British Columbia. With a musical journey spanning over 65 years, he has dedicated his life to the preservation, practice, and teaching of Gurbani Sangeet.
Born and trained in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, Ustad Gurdev Singh Ji learned Gurbani Kirtan under the guidance of Professor Darshan Singh Komal. Prior to immigrating to Canada, he performed extensively with his elder brother, Ustad Channan Singh Majboor, a highly respected figure known for his deep knowledge of Gurbani music.
In Canada, through Amar Music Academy, Ustad Gurdev Singh Phull has mentored and inspired thousands of students, nurturing in them a love and respect for Sikh devotional music. His legacy continues to shape generations of musicians and spiritual practitioners across the globe.
Naad Yogi Awardee Ustad Amrik Singh Phull is a dedicated Gurbani Kirtan vocalist, educator, and torchbearer of a rich musical legacy. He received his initial training from his father, Ustad Gurdev Singh Phull, and his uncle, Ustad Channan Singh Majboor—both highly respected figures in the world of Sikh devotional music.
Following in their footsteps, Ustad Amrik Singh has committed himself to preserving and promoting Gurbani Kirtan, continuing the family tradition with devotion and excellence. He holds an M.A., B.Ed., M.Phil, and is a Sangeet Visharad in vocal music.
In addition to his musical pursuits, he currently serves as Principal at Sikh Academy Elementary School in Surrey, BC, where he combines his passion for education and music to inspire and guide the younger generation.
Naad Yogi Awardee Kasandra “La China” is one of Canada’s foremost flamenco artists, renowned for her bold vision and unwavering commitment to artistic innovation. In 2002, she co-founded the Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy with her mentor, Oscar Nieto, and has led the professional ensemble Mozaico Flamenco since 2003, producing dynamic and culturally rich performances.
A pioneer in bringing cuadro/tablao flamenco back to Vancouver, Kasandra currently curates the Mozaico Flamenco Sunday Salon Series and outdoor Pop-Up Series, creating accessible flamenco experiences for all audiences.
As a Chinese-Canadian flamenco dancer, Kasandra has broken cultural boundaries by blending Asian aesthetics into flamenco. Her acclaimed theatrical work “Café de Chinitas” (2006–2013) and its informal tablao counterpart “Flamenco Dim Sum” (2022) highlight this unique fusion.
She is also the Artistic Director of Kasandra Flamenco, known for high-calibre productions such as “Solo Flamenco,” “Ritmo y Soniquete,” “La Tarara,” and “Encuentros.” In May 2023, she premiered her latest work “Rojo y Sombra,” a groundbreaking piece integrating red aerial silk to explore the intersection of flamenco, movement, and spectacle.
Naad Yogi Awardee Oscar Nieto is a trailblazing flamenco artist with over 50 years of experience as a dancer, teacher, and scholar of flamenco, classical, and regional Spanish dance forms, as well as flamenco cante (singing). Born in Texas and raised in Los Angeles, he began dancing at the age of eight, shaped by a rich musical environment that included Tex-Mex, jazz, Latin, and Spanish music.
He launched his professional career in 1969 in Antonio Gades’ El Amor Brujo at the Chicago Lyric Opera House, later performing with prestigious companies such as Jose Greco, Lola Montes, Boston Flamenco Ballet, and Jose Antonio Ballet Siluetas in Madrid. His charisma and technique earned him the title of “a flamenco Fred Astaire” by the LA Times.
In 1972, he founded Mosaico de Danzas in Los Angeles and developed C.A.L. (Cognitive Approach to Learning), a unique teaching method combining flamenco song and dance. After a transformative visit to Spain, Oscar deepened his commitment to flamenco as both an art and a way of life.
He later established Mozaico Flamenco in Vancouver, which evolved into the Al Mozaico Flamenco Dance Academy, co-founded with Kasandra “La China”. He continues to perform and teach, mentoring new generations of artists.
Oscar is the first flamenco dancer to receive the Jacqueline Lemieux Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts, honoring his profound contribution to dance in Canada.
Naad Yogi Awardee Guru Asha Lohia was raised in Calcutta and moved to Vancouver in 1975, where she built a successful career as a Notary Public. Her life took a transformative turn in 1988 after meeting Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj ji, whose music lessons sparked her lifelong passion for Indian classical music.
In 1994, Asha co-founded the Pandit Jasraj School of Music (PJSOM) in Vancouver—the first registered school of the Mewati Gharana outside India—to honor the maestro’s dedication to teaching. Under his guidance and blessings, Asha became his disciple in 1996 and was later awarded the title “Acharya” in New York.
Over the years, she has taught hundreds of students, produced 44 educational texts, and organized more than 75 classical music concerts, featuring top artists from India. Asha was also awarded the Golden Jubilee Medal by Her Majesty the Queen for her volunteer work.
Since retiring from her practice in 2019, Asha has focused on digitizing rare compositions and adapting PJSOM’s teaching to modern platforms, including Zoom, to ensure accessibility and continuity during the pandemic.
Today, as a volunteer-led institution, PJSOM continues to thrive under her leadership, promoting Indian classical music through education, performance, and cultural exchange.
Naad Yogi Awardee Guru Madhu Khare is a dedicated Kathak dancer, choreographer, and founder of the Nritya Manjaree School of Kathak, established in Canada in 1978. Trained from a young age, she earned her Nritya Visharad (Bachelor’s in Kathak) in 1965 from Bhatkhande University, Lucknow, and continued her advanced training under renowned gurus, including Pandit Shambhu Maharaj Ji.
Before immigrating to Canada, she was part of the Bihar Government Artist Team and taught at Vindhya Kala Mandir in Patna. In Canada, she has taught across cities including Vancouver, Ottawa, and Winnipeg, and served as a visiting instructor at the India School of Art.
Her choreographic work spans Indian and Western classical music, including productions with the Vancouver Opera and collaborations with Flamenco artists. Her students regularly perform at community benefit events, reflecting her lifelong dedication to spreading the art of Kathak.
Naad Yogi Awardee Guru Shashi Lata Virk is a renowned vocalist of All India Radio and Doordarshan, celebrated for her mastery in Ghazals, Shabads, and classical music. Born in Rajasthan, she began training at the age of seven under Ustad Bhure Khan of the Kirana Gharana, and became one of the youngest Top-Grade artists at AIR and TV in Delhi.
After moving to Mumbai, she recorded her debut Ghazal album with HMV India, composed by Ravindra Jain, and lent her voice to Bollywood films like Dukh aur Sukh and Sandhya. In 1969, she recorded two historic Shabads for the 500th anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, released internationally by Goodyear/HMV.
Continuing her career in Delhi, she collaborated with composers like Anil Biswas and Pt. Shiv Parshad. After relocating to Canada, she performed at major cultural events including Sham-E-Ghazal, RootsFest, and a special concert with Ustad Sultan Khan. She also worked with Pakistani legend Salim Raza and was recognized by the British Columbia Cultural Association for her contributions to Indian music in Canada.
Her discography includes albums such as Tanhaee, Dreams, and Shraddhanjali, and she has performed extensively across North America.
Naad Yogi Awardee Guru Dr. Hari Pal of Maple Ridge is a seasoned tabla artist trained in various North Indian styles. He studied at Marris College, Lucknow, and Ara Music Academy under Shri Shatrunjay Prasad Singh, earning his Visharad in tabla. As a young artist, he won multiple tabla competitions and performed live on Lucknow Radio, showcasing his skill in unrehearsed broadcasts with professional musicians.
Alongside a distinguished academic career in biotechnology, with research work across India, the UK, the Netherlands, the USA, Kuwait, and Canada, Hari Pal performed with celebrated artists like Pt. V.G. Jog, Ustad Imrat Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez, Han Bennink, and Ustad Irshad Khan.
He has taught tabla at Wilfrid Laurier University and conducted workshops and solo performances at major concerts and international festivals across Canada and the USA. Now at 89, he continues to share his love for tabla with passion and energy.
Naad Yogi Awardee Dr. Bruce Harding is a distinguished musicologist, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist based in New Westminster, British Columbia. With a PhD in musicology from the University of Toronto, he brings over 30 years of global musical experience, performing on voice, flutes, guitar, bass, and percussion.
An active member of the Indian Standard Band and a faculty artist at Naad Arts Centre, Dr. Harding is known for his ability to seamlessly blend the spiritual and the secular, creating deeply resonant vocal and instrumental works.
His diverse discography includes the solo album Let Everything That Breathes, showcasing meditative flute improvisations, and A Black and White Christmas, an intercultural collaboration with sitar maestro Neeraj Prem of Hamilton, Ontario.
Naad Yogi Awardee Dr. Popular Meeruthi is a celebrated Hindi-Urdu poet, humorist, and satirist, known for his sharp wit and meaningful verse that addresses social issues with grace and laughter. With a career spanning over 45 years, he has performed at Mushairas and Kavi Sammelans across India and the world, captivating audiences with his unique blend of humor and insight.
Originally a lecturer in Urdu literature at Meerut College, he left academia to pursue poetry full-time. A master of Tazmeen, he skillfully combines traditional poetic forms with contemporary themes. His work is widely broadcast on All India Radio and numerous TV channels in India, the USA, Canada, Dubai, and beyond, including appearances on SAB TV’s “Wah Wah Kya Baat Hai” and The Kapil Sharma Show.
Popular Meeruthi has authored several acclaimed books, including Haas Kar Guzar Dai, Double Role, Popular Kalam, and Ghalib Aur Mein. His poetry is both a mirror to society and a source of emotional connection, often making audiences laugh while provoking deep reflection.
Beyond poetry, he is known for his humble nature and social service, supporting those in need with compassion and empathy. As one of India’s senior-most shayars, he continues to mentor young poets and promote Indian languages and culture across the globe.
