Pandit Parameshwar Hegde (born 6 May 1956) is an Indian Hindustani classical vocalist. He belongs to the Kirana, Gwalior, and Patiala gharanas
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Parameshwar Hegde । Indian Hindustani classical vocalist
Early life and music training
Born to Shri Govinda Hegde and Ganapamma Hegde in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, Pandit Parameshwar Hegde was drawn into music at a young age. Under the influence of his father late Shri Govinda Hegde, he started learning Hindustani music when he was ten years old. Soon, under the guidance of Sri.S.M.Bhat and Pandit Chandrashekar Puranika Math, he further pursued learning Hindustani Classical music.
In 1976, Parameshwar Hegde went to Dharwad to seek advanced training under Pandit Basavaraj Rajguru.
Personal life
Pandit Parameshwar Hegde is married to Smt. Lalitha Hegde, a singer herself, is the daughter of Yakshagana artist and musician, the late Dr.Mahabala Hegde Keremane. They have two daughters, Veena and Vani.
Career
In his early music career days, Pandit Parameshwar Hegde was a rank holder in the Visharad exam conducted by the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and a first rank holder in the Vidwath exam conducted by the Government of Karnataka. Being an ‘A’ grade artist on All India Radio, he has been featured in several national broadcasts. He has performed with the world-renowned musician Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt in a couple of Jugalbandi concerts. He has performed in music festivals like ‘Basava Jayanthi Utsav’, ‘Impu’, Hampi Utsav,’ and Sawai Gandharv Bhimsen Mahotsav’ and has also performed in India, the U.S.A, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Gulf countries.
Pandit Parameshwar Hegde founded ‘Rajguru Smruti’, a trust in the fond memory of his Late guru Pandit Basavaraj Rajguru. Every year a number of programs are conducted by the trust, with the intention to promote the art form to Bangaloreans.
Music compositions and Audio releases
Pandit Parameshwar Hegde has composed music for several movies and music albums. He has directed music for ‘Puttana Prapancha’, a Kannada short film, ‘Saacha’(2011), a Kannada movie, ‘Manasaagide’ (2016), a Kannada music album and has also rendered his voice for Kannada songs like ‘Henthana Endigu’ in ‘Khiladi’(2000) and ‘Kandu Kandu’ in ‘Dayavittu Gamanisi’(2017) to name a few.
Music Teaching
Each month, Pandit Parameshwar Hegde organizes a baithak where a few students are provided an opportunity to perform followed by his rendition. which involves discussion and feedback that adds to the student’s repertoire.
There is also the annual ‘Guru Poornima’ celebration that completed 25 years in 2017. It spans over two full days, and all the students of Hegde perform to pay a musical tribute to their guru. Many of his students are popular concert artists as well as sought-after gurus.
His notable students include Vasundhara Das and Bharath B. J.
Awards and recognitions
- Guru Kripa Award from Shankar Mahadevan Academy – 2019
- Karnataka Kalashri – 2017
- Rajyotsava Award by Karnataka Govt – 2004