About me

There was a time when singers used to be good singers, but without any exposure to the wider world around them. Female vocalists were rare to find. Fortunately, for Indian Classical Music, that condition has changed. Today we come across a smarter generation of artistes; modern in appearance, broader in outlook, dedicated to art, culturally awake, socially aware and so on! One such female vocalist is Kasturi Paigude.

Kasturi is a disciple of the renowned vocalist Mrs. Aarti Ankalikar-Tikekar. Under her watchful eyes and systematic training, Kasturi has matured into a confident singer with a well-seasoned melodious voice, aesthetic renditions of different Raag structures, a good command of different musical embellishments like gamaks, taans, meends, etc. Along with Khayals, Kasturi is at ease with light musical genres like Dadras, Gazals,Bhajans, etc. as well. She has featured in a number of stage programmes and recordings in and around Pune. Though limited in number at this stage, her performances have been appreciated on many music platforms.

Kasturi has completed her M.A. (Music) with A Grade from the Centre for Performing Arts, University of Pune. She has also secured the 'Visharad' degree with distinction, awarded by the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. In addition, she also holds the graduate degree, B.A. in English Literature, from the University of Pune.

She was the recipient of merit scholarships for her higher studies, from reputed organizations like Lila Poonawalla Foundation, Bhogane Trust, and Maharashtra Executor Society's Bank of Maharashtra Scholarship.

Kasturi has been an active member of SPIC MACAY (Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth) for eleven years. Since 2005, she has been the Co ordinator of its Pune chapter. Over the years she has been instrumental in arranging more than 500 programmes on various art forms.

As a nature lover, she has been associated with the WWF and attends Bird-watching camps around Pune. She has completed the Annapurna Base Camp Trek in Nepal.

 

 

Some Prestigious Awards Won by Kasturi

 

 

• Best Singer of the Year 2001-2002, by Firodiya Trust.

• Best Female Singer Second Prize, by Manoranjan Mandal, Ichalkaranji, in a state-level competition in 1998.
• 1st Prize for Classical and Semi-classical Singing at the 'Oorja' Festival, organized by Ferguson College, Pune, in 2000.
• 2nd Prize in Indian Semi-classical Singing, in 'Oorja' Festival by Ferguson College, 2001.
• Best Music Arranger Award in a Drama Competition for 'Aamhi Noomaveeya Karandak', 2006-2007.
• She has been selected as 'Ambassador of Peace' by Lila Poonawalla Foundation and Asha Foundation, to visit UK and participate in a special training programme, in August 2008.