Marianne Svašek, born in the Netherlands, studied Indian classical singing at the Rotterdam Conservatory with Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar and Uday Bhawalkar. She graduated cum laude in both disciplines at the Rotterdam Conservatory where she is presently teaching. Marianne gives workshops and concerts in Europe, the US, India and Pakistan.

Shantala has graced the stages of many reputed organizations in India and is a frequent visitor to Europe, USA, Canada, England, Ireland and Malaysia for concerts, workshops and lec-demos. Some of her notable in India include concerts for Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Narada GanaSabha, Mudhra, Hamsadhwani, Rama SevaMandali, Bharatiya Sama Gana Sabha, Chembur fine arts, Sri Rama Laltha Kala Mandir, Parathasarathy Swami Sabha and so on.