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India's Cultural Ambassador Weaves Musical Magic on the North Shore long-time student of R a v i Shankar, Pandit V i s h w a M o h a n Bhatt belongs to an elite g r o u p of musicians whose musical lineage can be traced back to M u g h a l E m p o r e r A k b a r ' s c o u r t m u s i c i a n Tansen and his H i n d u g u r u , S w a m i H a r i d a s . C r e a t o r of the M o h a n Veena, the G r a m m y A w a r d winner Bhatt has mesmerized the w o r l d w i t h his dazzling musicality, virtuosity and bewildering c o m m a n d over the famous instrument that bears his name. Joined by his son Salil Bhatt a n d R a m k u m a r M i s h r a , V i s h w a M o h a n Bhatt w i l l perform at the C a p i l a n o College P e r f o r m i n g A r t s Theatre on February 18 at 8pm. O u t s t a n d i n g features of Bhatt's style are his n a t u r a l ability to play the 'Tantrakari A n g ' and incorporate the ' G a y a k i A n g ' on M o h a n Veena. W i t h his sheer virtuosity and limitless supply of melodies, Bhatt w o n a G r a m m y A w a r d in 1994 with Ry C o o d e r for their W o r l d M u s i c A l b u m , A Meeting by the River. This album established h i m as a star performer, and acknowledged h i m as an innovator and a soulful composer. V i s h w a M o h a n has become a c u l t u r a l ambassador of India by g l o r i f y i n g a n d p o p u l a r i z i n g I n d i a n c u l t u r e and music throughout the w o r l d . V i s h w a M o h a n Bhatt A iy Jennifer Neucfread attracted i n t e r n a t i o n a l attention w i t h his adaptation and i n d i a n i s a t i o n ' of the western H a w a i i a n guitar in the M o h a n Veena, a perfect assimilation of sitar, sarod & veena techniques. H e gave it a revolutionary design and shape as well as adding fourteen more strings. With blinding speed and faultless legato, Bhatt is undoubtedly one of the most expressive and versatile slide players in the w o r l d . H e is a mentor to blues and folk virtuoso H a r r y M a n x , w h o himself has taken the M o h a n Veena to the concert stages and music festivals of the world. B h a t t ' s latest c r e a t i o n has been a n e w 35 stringed instrument called the Vishwa Veena. A p a r t from his reputation as a star performer, Vishwa is a master collaborator as well. H i s historic jugalbandi w i t h C h i n e s e E r h u player, Jei B i n g C h e n established h i m as the first Indian ever to enter into such a union of disparate styles. Similarly, Vishwa has also combined styles w i t h A m e r i c a n d o b r o master, Jerry Douglas, US c o u n t r y / b l u e s legend, Taj M a h a l , a n d A r a b i a n oudh player, Simon Shaheen. These unions have all resulted in critically acclaimed internationally released recordings. V i s h w a ' s further m u s i c a l journeys have included c o m p o s i n g M u s i c for R e l a x a t i o n for M u s i c Today, 0 Express yourself www.tru.ca/distance through distance education T h o m p s o n Rivers University, O p e n Learning provides accessible distance a n d o n l i n e e d u c a t i o n o p t i o n s - w h e r e y o u can fast-track your degree, d i p l o m a , or certificate. > C h o o s e y o u r o w n start a n d c o m p l e t i o n t i m e s . > G r a d u a t e f r o m a p r o g r a m or take o n e course. > Ladder previous e d u c a t i o n into TRU credits. > Earn credit for life a n d w o r k experience u s i n g prior l e a r n i n g a s s e s s m e n t . > Achieve a credible university e d u c a t i o n sooner t h a n y o u t h i n k . For m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , visit us o n l i n e or p h o n e 1.888.828.1121. T H O M P S O N RIVERS O P E N LEARNING UNIVERSITY