Chinmaya Dunster Professional sarod player Date of Birth: 01.01.1954 Country: Great Britain

1. Musical Journey Begins
2. Travels and Encounters
3. Finding a Guru and Mastering the Sarod
4. Collaborations and Fusion
5. Recognition and Performance
6. Present Day

Musical Journey Begins

Chinmaya Dunster embarked on his musical journey at the Canterbury College of Art. At the age of 20, he pursued classical guitar and composition independently.

Travels and Encounters

In the 1970s, Dunster left Europe and traveled through Afghanistan to North India, immersing himself in classical Indian music and instruments. In 1979, he became engrossed in the sarod, an instrument known for its intricate ornamentation, after witnessing the nightly performances of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan in New Delhi.

Finding a Guru and Mastering the Sarod

Following the Hindustani musical tradition, Dunster sought a teacher. He found Srikhar Borkar, a self-taught sarod master, in Pune, India. Over the next 13 years, Dunster dedicated himself to studying the sarod culture in both London and India.

Collaborations and Fusion

In 1990, Dunster formed the fusion band Terra Incognita with Prem Joshua. They released three albums under the New Earth Records label. After several solo projects, he established Celtic Ragas, which caught the attention of Paul McCartney.

Recognition and Performance

Dunster performed at McCartney's wedding to Heather Mills in 2002. The following year, he and Celtic Ragas performed at the Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research to raise awareness for environmental conservation. They released a live album, "Fragrant East," under New Earth Records.

Present Day

Currently, Chinmaya Dunster resides in Goa, India, where he continues to pursue his musical endeavors.