|
 |
|
LESTER SILVER Lester Silver is considered by many to be one of New Zealand's foremost Sitar Players. He started learning Sitar over 20 years ago with acclaimed Sitar teacher, Alan Posselt of Australia. Over the years Lester has kept in regular contact with and spent extended periods of time studying with two Indian teachers, initially with Professor Sanjoy Banerjee, Visva Bharati University of Calcutta and then with his current long standing teacher, Professor Prasanta K. Bhanja of Santiniketan, India. Professor Bhanja has toured NZ with Lester's support, a number of times to great acclaim. Lester has performed at many venues around NZ and is regularly invited to perform at multi-cultural festivals and concert programmes.
Article from the Indian News Link newspaper: Silver strikes gold in India When Lester Silver travels to India later this year, he would attempt to learn a little more about the country’s music and more important, its tradition. He would spend six weeks at Shanti Niketan (established in 1863 by Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, father of the immortal bard Rabindranath Tagore) with his pedagogue, professor Prasanta Bhanja, getting closer to Sitar, music and everything that India could offer. “It would be at least six hours a day training with one of the greatest instruments,” he says. But the Hamilton based Melville High School Visual Arts head teacher is not a beginner and his passion for Indian music could put many of us to shame. “India has had time to forget what the West is yet to learn,” he says. For an Australian, living on this side of the Tasman, following the nuances of Indian music may be a far cry but not for someone whose interests are deep-rooted and nursed over the years. Mr Silver’s tryst with Indian music began in 1978 when his eyes were starred by a sitar, sitting pretty behind a secondhand shop window in Auckland. Then a Sydneysider, young and somewhat disenchanted with what he perceived to be the constrictions of his conservative Christian background, the Sitar held out a promise – of a new vision and spiritual path that could lead to liberation and creative enlightenment. “But little did I know (I was 21 then) that I had already embarked on a profound journey of self discipline, creative endeavour and overseas travel,” he said. Learning the art from Auckland based teacher Rattan Thakurdas and his renditions, Mr Silver’s interest in the art grew and as he returned to Sydney, he continued his passion with Alan Posselt, an Australian artiste, well known for his prowess in Hindustani classical music and a student of sarod maestro Sri Radhika Mohan Maitre. “This period of intense preparation finally led me to India,” Mr Silver said. After a stint in Kolkata, he studied under professor Sanjoy Banerjee at Khairgargh-Raj in Madhya Pradesh. “While I look forward to my visit to India, I also hope to pursue my interest in Sitar and Indian music and spread its greatness,” Mr Silver said. [Reproduced with kind permission from the Indian News Link] |
'Ranja ya iti Ragah' ...a raga dyes the mind in colour...
|
