Guruji - Chandravadan

Chandravadan Engineer - Guruji as he is known by his students and many people who have had contact with him, emigrated from Kenya to England in the early seventees. His exposure to music came from a very early age, his late mother Shreemati Bhanumatiben was a folk singer and regularly sang on Voice of Kenya radio. She accompanied great gujarati artists like Hemu Ghadvi, Lakhabhai Ghadvi and many more. Even from a young age the passion to learn music was evident, Guruji would make a pair of Tabla, Dhol, Dholak & Latin percussions from metal containers of baby milk powder tins, large ghee and cooking oil tins to do his practice riyaz on. Guruji was a disciple and community student of Shree Pt Ranchhodbhai Patel a great Tabla player belonged to Shiv Temple Sishikunj.

On arrival in England in 1975 Guruji continued his musical training under the tutelage of the late Ustad Kadir Durvesh, an exponent of the Shehnai maestro the late Ustad Bismillah Khan Saab and Ustad Naeem-u-Din Khan Sahib disciple of the great maestro Ustad Umeed Ali Khan Sahib of Gwalior Gharana and many more. Special thanks to our nanaji Pt Motilal Masterji a great musician and teacher who played Tabla with Ustad Bismilla Khan Sahib Shehenai player.

Guruji was taught not only classical music but also how to lead a humble and disciplined lifestyle with music at the core. He travelled the world with Ustadji and learned how to perform and met many distinguished artists. Guruji left his wealthy family home for a small flat in Southall so that he could be closer to his Ustads whom he served and is still serving.

Guruji’s father the late Shree Jamnadas Engineer, was an avid listener of music and regularly invited musicians from India and Pakistan to perform. Guruji would accompany these artists many of whom have become famous celebrities. It was at one of these concerts that Guruji was introduced to Ustad Naeem Uddin Salaria, a disciple of the late Ustad Umeed Ali Khan of Gwalior Gharana. Guruji began having vocal coaching from Khan Saab and concentrated on his career as a vocalist. He has become a very well known vocalist and a unique performer.

During his lifetime Guruji has collaborated with many musicians and also had a chance to work with music directors such as O.P Nayyar and Ravi Shankar Sharma (Ravi Saab).

In 1986 Guruji formed, Sangeet Vidya Progression a music school to spread his love of music. He personally teaches the students who come from all walks of life, young, old, asian, non-asian, abled, disabled, experienced or totally new to music. Guruji is very dedicated in nurturing and coaching his students. His past experience and the disciplined manner in which he was taught are evident in his unique style of teaching. Students who have been fortunate enough to be taught by Guruji have gone on to serve the community with their musical talent.

When asked what makes him proud Guruji always replies with “watching my students learn and perform on stage”. Guruji continues on his endeavour to find students who really want to learn music and for those students he dedicates his time and energy to make them in to artists and just musicians.