North Indian Classical Music | Abhishek Borkar & Pandit Rajkumar Misra

Fri, 16 Jan 2026

Henosis

Practical InformationFriday, January 16, 2026Concert starts: 8:00 PMDoors open: 7:00 PM Transport & ParkingWe strongly encourage you to use public transportation or carpooling in order to contribute to a more sustainable and friendly event.For those coming by car, please park only at the Boléron communal parking lot (Rue de la Fontaine, 1323 Romainmôtier). The parking is just a 5-minute walk from the Henosis concert hall. Please do not park in front of the property. Description Abhishek Borkar, a young and versatile musician, was drawn to the sound of the sarod from a very early age. Born into a musically rich environment in Pune, he initially trained in vocal and tabla at the age of 4, before anchoring himself on the sarod under the tutelage of his father and Guru, Pt. Shekhar Borkar, of the Maihar Senia Gharana.   Rigorous and intensive training followed. At the age of ten, he presented his first concert, where young Abhishek was lauded for his erudite performance by many connoisseurs of music. Many accolades and awards followed. He was awarded a National Talent Scholarship instituted by the C.C.R.T (Government of India) at the age of 11, and was subsequently invited to participate in many of their camps for outstanding young scholars. In 2008, at the age of 16, he released his first solo CD titled Pratibha. In 2015, he was a prize-winner at the National Youth Festival in Indore, and again at Mysore in 2016. That same year, he also received the Senior Scholarship instituted by the Ministry of Culture. In 2018, he was conferred with the Ajay Bakshi Smruti Puraskar, followed in 2019 by the Gaansaraswati Kishori Amonkar Yuva Puraskar. Most recently, in 2020, he was awarded the Sangeet Pratibha National Award in Delhi.   Following in the footsteps of his father, Abhishek’s renditions today are characterized by a unique blend of the sarod, sitar, sarangi and vocal styles of Hindustani Music, which has helped him carve out a niche for himself at a very young age. His natural instinct for aesthetic expression, coupled with his incredible control over sur (intonation) and laya(rhythm), has enthralled audiences across the world. Duet performances with his elder brother Praashekh have also received critical acclaim, and together they have performed extensively across India.   Abhishek has featured in numerous prestigious music festivals such as the Pune Festival, Dharwad Music Festival(2005 and 2011), Dadar Matunga Cultural Centre Festival (2007), Bajaa Gaaja Pune (2012), Ustad Abdul Karim Khansaheb Sangeet Mahotsav in Miraj (2013), Kala Ghoda Festival in Mumbai, Tarang Hyderabad Music Conference (2014), Kalashree Sangeet Mahotsav (2015), Naadotsav in Baroda (2015), Peshkar Foundation (2015), Moraya Gosavi Sangeet Sammelan (2015), Simhastha Mahakumbh Kala Utsav in Ujjain (2016), Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav in Kundgol (2016), Swarbhaskar Mahotsav (2016), Gokarna Annual Music Festival (2017), Anunaad Sangeet Mahotsav (2017), Crossroads Festival by First Edition Arts in Mumbai (2017), Bhilwara Sur Sangam in New Delhi (2018), Sur Sagar (2018), Sanskruti Arts Festival (2019), Gaansaraswati Mahotsav (2019), Tansen Samaroh in Gwalior (2022). He has also toured extensively in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Australia and the UK, and recently performed at the Darbar Festival in London.   At the onset of the 2020 lockdown, Abhishek founded Artists United, an initiative aimed at uniting artists and audiences while spreading positivity in times of emotional, physical, and financial crisis. Artists United featured more than 400 artists performing from their homes to large online audiences on Facebook. It was the first exclusive digital stage for live Indian Classical Music and Dance on the platform, bringing to light hundreds of hidden gems and upcoming talents in the field of Indian Performing Arts.   The melody in Abhishek’s music reflects the influence of his idols — Ustad Allauddin Khan, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pt. Nikhil Banerjee, and of course his father Pt. Shekhar Borkar. His intricate rhythmic expression (layakari) has also benefited from the guidance of Pt. Shashi Bellare. Equally adept at playing the guitar, and with deep knowledge of Western music and instrumentation, Abhishek has mentored and taught numerous students in the field of music.   A Commerce graduate, Abhishek has completed his Masters in Indian Music. In the coming decades, he aims to carry forward the legacy of Indian music and bring to the world the magnum opus of his father, Pt. Shekhar Borkar — the creation of Tarankaar Baaz and Sur-tarang. In his own words:“The limitations of the sarod can be surpassed because music comes from the heart, and the heart never ceases to sing.”