24 Jan Chitresh Das

3/28/88

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

I have known Christopher Ris since the mid 1970’s when as a young sarod player and vocalist he performed with the New Maihar Band, the Ali Akbar College orchestra. There were many collaborations and performances between this group and my Dance Company in those days. Later he began coming to accompany my kathak dance classes.
In 1980 he joined my troupe of twelve dancers on a tour of India and performed with some of the best dance accompanists in India. In 1984, when he was in India for a year with a scholarship he again performed with me many times. Since that time he has been working continuously with me; performing and helping me compose and record music for my solo programs and for dance dramas and group pieces. His performances with me also include a short sarod solo which usually opens the concert.

I would like to highly recommend him for the John Higgens Memorial Scholarship for he is one of a new generation of Indian musicians who is working very hard to reach a standard of excellence and to promote interest in Indian Culture.
Sincerely yours,

Chitresh Das