Uma Shankar
Sitar, Vocal
Uma Shankar is one of the leading sitar players of his generation, combining virtuosity, technical precision, and a deep aesthetic sensitivity. Born in Patna, Bihar, he grew up in a musical environment and began his training in childhood with Shri Ashish Chatterjee, later becoming a disciple of Pandit Debu Chaudhuri, the Padma Bhushan–awarded sitar maestro.
His musical identity is closely connected to the Senia gharana, the historic lineage associated with Mian Tansen and known for its distinctive 17-fret sitar tradition. His playing is marked by clarity, balance, and refinement—intricate yet never overcrowded, technically assured while preserving the beauty and integrity of each note.
Beyond collaboration, he represents a living classical tradition, carrying forward the values of the sitar through his stage presence, tonal depth, and disciplined phrasing into the present generation.
