CLEM ALFORD
Born on October 2nd, 1945 in Glasgow, Scotland Clem began his sitar studies in London with Manesh Chandra Kansara for one year. He was then accepted as a student of the late Pandit Sachindra Nath Saha at Midnapore Music College, West Bengal, India and travelled overland to India in 1968. He was awarded Jnr. Sangit Ratnakar (one of the examiners being the great Md. Dabir Khan, descendant of Tansen, Senia Gharana) and later Clem attained the degree of Sangeet Sudhakar from Calcutta. He was bestowed the title of Sur Mani after a recital at Bombay's (Mumbai) Kal Ke Kalakar Sammerlan. Clem continued his studies with his Guru Sachindra Nath Saha until the latter's death. Clem also took Talim with his Guru's daughter Smt. Jayasri Banerjee.
Clem Alford has performed not only in India but also in U.K., Europe, the Far East and the USA.
Currently Clem teaches at the Birmingham Conservatory and now lives in London