DR Nagaraj Rao Hawaldar

Pandit Dr. Nagaraj Rao Havaldar is a premier maestro of Hindustani Classical Vocal music and an eminent musicologist based in Bengaluru, Karnataka. He received comprehensive, rigorous training in the Kirana Gharana tradition under Pandit Madhava Gudi (a prime disciple of Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi) and in the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana from Pandit Panchakshari Swami Mattigatti. Holding a Doctorate in Music from Karnataka University and the prestigious "Sangeetha Ratna" degree, Dr. Havaldar has pioneered the unique art of singing Kannada Khayals by seamlessly adapting the Vachanas of Sharanas and the Devaranamas of Haridasas into traditional Hindustani classical frameworks. A top-tier empanelled artist with Akashvani (All India Radio) who previously served as a Programme Executive at AIR Hubli, he is also the founder-president of the Sunaada Art Foundation and the recipient of the Karnataka Kalashree award