Sombala Kumar
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Sombala Kumar is a leading Dhrupad vocalist of India. Her style of singing Dhrupad, though conventional in technique, is highly individual in spirit. She is one of the flag bearers of this vocal genre of Hindustani classical music, said to be the oldest still in use in that musical tradition.
Having trained under the world-renowned dhrupad maestro Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar, a singer of the 19th generation of the dynasty of Dagar Gharana, she has imbibed in her the intricacies of Dhrupad style of singing, especially maintained by the dagar gharana. Occasionally, she has also received special guidance from globally famous Veena maestro Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar of the same dynasty.
For the last 22 years, she has performed at most major music festivals of India and got immense acclamation from connoisseurs, critics, music lovers, press and media persons.
Early Years
Born in a family of music lovers of Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, Smt. Sombala had her initial training of Classical Music under the able guidance of Shri. M.D. Raje and Shri. M.K.Kwathekar of Khandwa.
Career
Sombala Kumar holds a master's degree in Classical Music from Dr. Hari Singh Gaur University, Sagar (M.P.). Thereafter, she got a scholarship for four years from Ustad Allaudin Khan Sangeet Academy, Bhopal to learn Dhrupad. With this, she underwent an in-depth and vigorous training under the world-renowned drupad maestro Ud. Zia Fariduddin Dagar where she imbibed in her all the intricacies of Dhrupad style of singing, especially maintained by the dagar gharana. Occasionally, she also received special guidance from globally famous Veena maestro late Ud. Zia Mohiuddin Dagar of the same dynasty. She continued her training with the help of three years National Scholarship of Govt. of India.
Sombala Kumar has been a visiting fellow and visiting professor at Indira Kala Sangeet University, Khairagarh.
Personal life
Sombala Kumar belonged to the Satle family of Khandwa. She is married to pakhawaj maestro Shri. Prithviraj Kumar. They live in Khairagarh, Chhattisgarh and have a daughter Ananya, who is also her disciple and is seen performing alongside her.