Swati Kanitkar (Judge) Swati Kanitkar a native of Bombay, India, who has performed throughout the United States. Music is in Swati's genes; her father, the late Mr. Subhash Patwardhan, was a student of the famous classical singer the late Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. Swati’s vocal talent was nurtured under the tutelage of her Guru, the late Pachhapurkar Joshi, in Belgaum, India. She has performed in the well-known ZEE TV musical talent show, "SA RE GA MA", where she was a semifinalist. Swati’s talent has been recognized by prominent personalities in music, such as Tabla Maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, the versatile Hariharan, and Grammy Award winner Pandit Vishwamohan Bhatt. Although Swati’s early vocal training was in the classical genre, today she performs Bollywood music as well as semi classical and ghazals. In 2016 and 2017 Swati has performed multiple times at the Indian embassy and many well known organizations.She also has performed for a TV show in India called ‘Kappa TV’. In 2008 she was one of 16 finalists that were chosen for auditioning from all over the U.S. and Canada for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ fame music director A.R.Rahman. Her most recent performance with Padmashree Suresh Wadkar was in 2023.
Alok Srivastava (Judge) Alok is a well-known lead singer and guitarist based in Maryland. He has trained under veteran music director Robin Bannerji in Kolkata and is regularly invited to perform various live singing, entertainment, and fundraising shows in the DMV area. Alok is the founder of the well-known musical group "Sound Affair" who is passionate in performing live Hindi film songs and Ghazals.
Stuti Banerjee (Judge) Stuti Banerjee was introduced to music right from her childhood. She was fortunate to have her mother initiate her into vocal music. Later, she received training from Pt Firoze Dastur of Kirana gharana at the Dept. of Music in Bombay University and thereafter from Smt. Kamal Tambe, of the Jaipur -Atrauli gharana. Additionally, she has been fortunate to get able guidance from Pt. Ajoy Chakrabarty too. Besides performing in India, Stuti Banerjee has performed in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania ,and New York. She sings semi classical songs and light music in all genres, including Rabindrasangeet, Nazrulgeeti, ghazals, bhajans, and Bollywood numbers. Her performances include songs in Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, and Telugu.
She has been teaching music for more than 20 years in the Maryland area and online.
Himanshu Chaudhari (Judge) Himanshu Chaudhari is from the City of Nawabs called Lucknow in India where he attended Bhatkhande Classical Music College.He was a winner in DCSAFF Duet Singing competition held in DC/Maryland area in 2015. He does professional LIVE singing in the DMV Area. He was one of the Judges in Holi Singing Competition for two consecutive years in Clarksville, MD and for a musical competition held under auspices of “Swaranjali School of Music, VA” held in April, 2018 and May 2019. He is an integral part of the musical group “Sound Affair”.
Special Performances and MCs
Kshama Mathur Garg (Judge/MC) Kshama is a talented singer known for her melodious voice and captivating performances. With a passion for music that began in childhood, she has honed her skills across various genres, enchanting audiences with her emotive style. Notably, she has performed opening songs for renowned Bollywood singers like Shreya Ghoshal, showcasing her exceptional talent. In addition to her musical pursuits, Kshama is a dedicated doctor, balancing her medical career with her love for singing. Her unique combination of artistry and compassion inspires those around her, as she uses her platform to promote wellness and creativity. Whether on stage or in the clinic, Kshama embodies a harmonious blend of talent and commitment.
Rakhi Bhatia Tulsiani (MCand Special Performance) Born in Mumbai, into a family where music was a way of life, Rakhi was surrounded by melodies from an early age. Her parents, both passionate about music, made every family gathering an occasion to sing. These early experiences nurtured her love for music and she trained in Hindustani classical music for 5 years from a private teacher and from the Sangeet MahaBharti academy in Mumbai. She rekindled her musical journey during the pandemic by resuming her lessons. Rakhi has been performing at various stage events, collaborating with local bands and has participated in multiple karaoke and music contests. She won the 2023 Karuna Charities singing competition award as best female vocalist and also secured first place in the 2024 DMV Indian Idol competition. Rakhi enjoys singing ghazals, Indian classical, film songs and western music drawing inspiration from her favorite artists like Shreya Ghoshal, Jagjit Singh, Jonita Gandhi and Faouzia.
Ashwin Bordoloi Ashwin Hazarika, a senior at Atholton High School, has been dedicated to volunteering from a young age, earning accolades such as the President’s Volunteer Service Award, two-time Governor’s Citation from the State of Maryland, and proclamations from Howard and Montgomery County. In 2022, Ashwin raised over $25,000 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in honor of his late classmate and friend. In addition to his philanthropic efforts, Ashwin is a talented singer, songwriter, and soccer player who has been performing since the age of four. In 2019, he received the Best Image Award at the Vocal Star International Vocal Competition in Hollywood.