Sri. Omkarnath Hawaldar
Inheritor of finest nuances of the Kirana Gharana style of Hindustani vocal music of India. Omkarnath Havaldar is blessed with a Father like Dr. Nagaraj Rao Havaldar, a well-known Bangalore based Hindustani vocalist as his mentor, and His mother Smt. Sudhamayi Havaldar is a graduate of fine arts from Mysore University. And his maternal grandfather, K. Raghavendra Rao is a renowned music critic.
Omkarnath had occasion to learn from Pt. Madhav Gudi, the disciple of Pt. Bhimsen Joshi Doyen of Kirana Gharana, Pt. Panchakshari Swami Mattigatti who is the deciple of Late Pt. Mallikarjun Mansur of Atrauli Jaipur Gharana, who has taught him Rare Ragas & compositions of Jaipur Gharana. Omkarnath is also receiving training in Dhrupad from Pt. Indhudhar Nirody and receiving advance Taaleem by Father and Guruji Dr. Nagaraj Rao Havaldar.
Omkarnath is Graduate in Psychology (from National College Jayanagar) and this has helped him to search out the emotional aspects of his Gharanas & blend them with the technical skills of his natural vocalism. He is now pursuing Masters Degree in History from Indira Gandhi National Open University.
Omkarnath is a recipient of Kishora Pratibha Puraskar Instituted by Kannada & Culture Government of Karanataka (2000) and National Award winner for Hindustani Khayal Singing conducted by All India Radio (2003). Omkarnath has perfomed on many prestigious platforms like " Sankat Mochan Sangeeth Samaroh " Varanasi and Mysore Darbar Hall Concert for Dussera celebration & Hampi Utsav...
Omkarnath has also traveled to the United States with Dr. Havaldar & has performed in World Kannada Conference (AKKA) 2006 and in many other prestigious Universities like Notre dame University, Madison University, Alverno College of Music, Milwaukee University, Chicago centre of Music, India Music Society - Milwaukee, New York Music centre - Queens & has travelled extensively all over the US for concerts.
He is also on the Elite panel of Artist of Department of Kannada & Culture Govt. of Karnataka since 2000 and an approved Graded artist for All India Radio and Doordarshan, the National TV channel of India.
Omkarnath is also a good Ghazal Singer that demands skills in both music & the lyrics. This he has learnt from the Bangalore based Baluchi Hari Kishan Pahuwa who is a Golden Mine of Ghazals.