Dr. Marc Askew Senior Lecturer Asian and International Studies at Victoria University, Melbourne City, Australia.
This photo was taken in his early pre Mangla Sharma Prasada sitar days of about 2 years ago. Marc now has a Mangla Sharma Prasada AAA teak sitar with fiberglass case
Marc says "Sitar so far sounding fine (even better actually). Gave my first performance a couple of weeks ago at a Sangeet music gathering organised by my new sitar teacher.
Mangla's sitar apparently sounded even better through the sound system.
I played an alap and vilambat gat in Malkous, which everyone loved. Thankfully I didn't make too many mistakes on my tans and keeping the rhythm cycle with my thi-hais."
We eagerly anticipate an article from Dr. Askew about the Calcutta sitar makers (yes, he's been there, done that, and got the T shirt!)as soon as he digs himself out from under the mountain of work he is presently experiencing at the University.
04/23/2001.

Please direct all inquiries to paula@buckinghammusic.com or