Spring 2010 Concert tours: Vijay Siva accompanied by RK Shriramkumar and J.Vaidhyanathan

SanKritiLaya is pleased to announce the upcoming spring 2010 concert tour of U.S. and Canada by Shri N. Vijay Siva,Shri RKS and Shri JV. The concert schedule will be posted in this blog in the near future.

Vijay Siva is one of the foremost vocalists today in Classical Carnatic Music. A child prodigy, at the age of four, he exhibited a rare intuitive capacity to identify ragas.

Vijay Siva had his initial tutelage in Carnatic music from his mother, Akhila Siva, a vocal musician from Chennai. Vijay Siva later became the disciple of the legendary vocalist, Sangita Kalanidhi late Shri D. K. Jayaraman. He later received guidance from the legendary Sangita kalanidhi late Smt. D. K. Pattammal. Vijay Siva is also an accomplished percussionist (mridangam), and received his training from Kumbakonam Shri Rajappa Iyer.

Vijay Siva has performed in numerous and famed locations all over India and abroad including USA, Canada and Singapore.

A recipient of numerous awards and titles, Vijay Siva has received recognition for both vocal and percussion (mridangam), including awards for devotional music in 1974 and the coveted "Rajaji Tamboora" in 1981 from Tamil Isai Sangam, Chennai. He was also awarded first place in Classical and Light Classical Music Competitions (1984) conducted by AIR. He is the recipient of prestigious titles: "Isai Peroli" (1995) from Karthik Fine Arts, the “Youth Award for Exellence” by Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer Trust in 1995, and the first recipient of “Kalki Krishnamurthy Award (1996)” by Kalki Krishnamurthy Memorial Trust, Chennai.

R. K. Shriramkumar is a top-flight Classical Violin artist of India. He belongs to the Rudrapatnam family of musicians; a family with a glorious musical tradition. He is the grandson of the much respected Vidvan Shri. R. K. Venkatarama Shastri.

Having had his initial lessons in violin from Vidushi Smt. Savitri Satyamurthy, Shriramkumar was trained by his grandfather. He later received guidance from Vidvan Shri V V Subrahmanyam and also had training in vocal music from Sangita Kalanidhi Shri D K Jayaraman.

His skills were further honed through the association and learning he gained by accompnaying the doyens of Carnatic Music like Sangita Kalanidhis Shri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Smt M S Subbulakshmi, Smt D K Pattammal, Shri D K Jayaraman, Shri Palghat K V Narayanaswamy, Smt T Brinda and others.

Shriramkumar has provided violin accompaniment in several commercial recordings and has had the blessed opportunity of participating in a very unique recording entitled 'Divine Unison' featuring the great veterans Shri Semmanguid Srinivasa Iyer and Smt M S Subbulakshmi. A recipient of many awards, Shriramkumar has traveled far and wide on concert tours. Je also directed the music for a special television presentation on the Sringeri Sharada Peetam and has set to music a few compositions of the Acharyas of the Sharada Peetam. Shriramkumar has been conferred the prestigious “Isai Peroli” title (2009).

Shri J. Vaidhyanathan hails from a Family of Great Musicians. He is the son of Legendry Musician Sangita Kalanidhi Shri.D.K.Jayaraman and Nephew of Padmavibhushan Sangita Kalanidhi Smt.D.K.Pattammal. He is the disciple of Sangita Kalanidhi Maestro Dr.T.K.Murthy.

He has accompanied Great stalwarts like Sangita Kalanidhis Bharat Ratna Smt.M.S.Subbulakshmi, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Smt.D.K. Pattammal and Smt. M.L. Vasanthakumari; Lalgudi Sri G Jayaraman, Sri S Balachandar and many other great Stalwarts. JV, as he is affectionately known, has travelled widely in India and Abroad. He is the youngest Mridangist to get the prestigious Kalaimaamani award from the Government of Tamilnadu in 2006.

(Photo of Vijay Siva - coutesy of The Hindu online edition)

Violin Concert at Stanford Univ. Nov.8th,2009

SPICMACAY Stanford & Sankritilaya proudly presents violin concert by Sri RK Shriramkumar accompanied by Sri Arunprakash - Mridangam and Sri Guruprasad - Ghatam on Sunday November 8th,2009 @ 1:00pm.

Venue:
Cubberley Auditorium
Stanford University, CA 94305

(directions ---> )

For Information & Tickets ($15 each) contact
Viji Mani - vijimani@comcast.net
Asha Ramesh - ashram_94@yahoo.com
Rema Ramani - remaramani@yahoo.com

For more information on the artists/event: http://www.sankritilaya.org/ or
www.stanford.edu/group/spicmacay/events.htm

Link to the event flyer: here...

Announcing Fall 2009 Violin Solo Concert Tour- R.K.Sriramkumar/K. Arun Prakash/Guru Prasad

SanKritiLaya is pleased to announce their Fall 2009 classical instrumental concert tour by R.K. Sriramkumar. The schedules for this tour as well as Hyderabad Brothers' tour will be announced shortly.

R K Shriramkumar belongs to the Rudrapatnam family of musicians, a family with a glorious musical tradition. He is the grandson of the much respected Vidvan Shri R K Venkatarama Shastri.

Having had his initial lessons in violin playing from Vidushi Smt Savitri Satyamurthy, Shriramkumar was trained by his grandfather Shri R K Venkatarama Shastry. He later received guidance from Vidvan Shri V V Subrahmanyam and also had training in vocal music from Sangita Kalanidhi Shri D K Jayaraman. His skills were further honed through the association and learning he gained by accompanying the doyens of Carnatic music like Sangita Kalanidhis Shri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Smt M S Subbulakshmi, Smt D K Pattammal, Shri D K Jayaraman, Shri Palghat K V Narayanaswamy, Smt T Brinda and others.
Shriramkumar has provided violin accompaniment in several commercial recordings and has had the blessed opportunity of participating in a very unique recording entitled ‘Divine Unison’ featuring the great veterans Shri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and Smt M S Subbulakshmi. A recipient of many awards, Shriramkumar has traveled far and wide on concert tours. He also directed the music for a special television presentation on the Sringeri Sharada Peetam and has set to music a few compositions of the Acharyas of the Sharada Peetam.

K. Arun Prakash is a dynamic young Mridangist who hails from a musical family. He is the son of Shri L. Krishnan, a composer. He started learning Mridangam from the age of nine under the late Sri Ramanathapuram M. N. Kandaswamy (a disciple of Palani Subramania Pillai). Arun Prakash has performed in all leading music Sabhas and over the years has accompanied famed artists like D. K. Pattammal, K. V. Narayanaswamy, D. K. Jayaraman, T. N. Seshagopalan and U. Srinivas. Arun Prakash has won many awards for his Mridangam playing and has performed in USA, Canada, Middle East and U. K.

Guru Prasad is a dynamic young Ghatam percussionist who has built a reputation as a front-line accompanist in the Carnatic Music community in India. He is much sought after and is a strong support percussionist in many performances with the top carnatic musicians.

BharathaNatyam Concert tour - Saraswathi Gana Nilayam (Smt. Ranganayaki Jayaraman and students)

SanKritiLaya is pleased to sponsor a BharathaNatyam concert by the well known Saraswathi Gana Nilayam School from Chennai, for Spring 2009 season. Kalaimamani Smt. Ranganayaki Jayaraman, Director of SGN, is accompanied in this tour by her senior students - Binesh K. Mahadevan, Deepthi Swaroopini, Mahathi Achyutan, Namratha Naidu, Padmalaksshme Suresh, Padmashree Kodaganti,Preethi Muthuraman, Shivapriya and Sivasankari.

The tour schedule:
6/07/2009 San Jose, CA South India Fine Arts (SIFA)
6/13/2009 Fremont, CA Nrithyollasa Dance Company
6/14/2009 ICC of Utah, Salt Lake City
6/21/2009 Sacramento, CA
6/28/2009 Milpitas, CA South Bay Hindu Center (SBHC)
7/05/2009 Saratoga, CA Ragamalika School of Music
7/12/2009 Houston, TX

About the Artists:

Sri Saraswathy Gana Nilayam (SGN) was founded in 1939 by Late Smt. K. Lalitha, a disciple of Late Kattumannar Koil Muthukumaraswamy Pillai, to impart training in Bharatanatyam, Veena, and Vocal music to the children in the Triplicane neighborhood of Chennai. Today, the institution focuses on Bharatanatyam and continues to spread the art all over the world. The institution has trained numerous students in Bharatanatyam and so far 420 students have performed their arangetram (debut performance). Many SGN students now run their own Bharatanatyam schools throughout India, Middle East and United States.

Smt. Ranganayaki Jayaraman, the first student of the institution, took over the leadership of the school after the demise of Smt. Lalitha. Smt. Ranganayaki is one of the leading exponents in the field of Bharatanatyam today. She is specially known for her group choreography and is hailed as a master in the art of Nattuvangam. She is a versatile artist who is also well-versed in Carnatic vocal, veena, flute, harmonium and mridangam. She choreographs and produces unique thematic dance dramas and is considered a highly creative and imaginative dance teacher. She has received outstanding reviews for her work and some of her popular group productions include:
--- Shakti Prabhavam
--- Shiva Prabhavam
--- Krishnanjali
--- Shanmuga Prabhavam
--- Bhavayami Raghuramam
--- Gurunama Smaranam
--- Navarasa Nayaki
--- Deiveega Vahanangal
--- Kandhapuranam
--- Bhaktiyin Shakti
--- Lalitha Prabhavam

She has released six full length Bharatanatyam dance audio cassettes and CDs – Lalitha Vandanam, Nrithya Geetham, Bharatha Geetham, Guru Samarpanam, Nardhana Priya, Krishnam Smarami, and Pranamamyaham.

Smt. Ranganayaki received the prestigious Kalaimamani award from the Government of Tamilnadu in 1995, for her contribution to the art. She has been awarded the following titles/awards.
-- Natya Kala Bhooshani from Sankarabaranam Trust in 1992
-- Natana Kalai Vithagi from Pollachi Sabha in 1994
-- Vocational Excellence Award by Rotary Club, Chennai in 1995
-- Peacock Par Excellence Award by Rotary Club, Chennai in 1997
-- Natya Acharya from Kapali Fine Arts in 2001
-- Natya Kala Sarathy by Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Chennai in 2004
-- Bharatha Sri Award by Dance Master Sri. Raghuram in 2006
-- Acharya Kala Bharathi by Bharath Kalachar, Chennai in 2007
-- Long Service Award by Kapali Fine Arts, Chennai in 2006
-- Meritorious Award by International Dance Alliance, in 2008

Smt. Ranganayaki is a graded Veena artist in the All India Radio and has composed some popular Veena ensembles, such as ‘Pancha Tala Priya Malika’ and ‘Pancha Raga Oudava Malika’ for Doordarshan TV, India.

Photo Courtesy: Chidambaram Arts Blogspot
Smt.Ranganayaki photo courtesy by B. Jothi Ramalingam (Hindu review)

Fall 2009 Concert Tour - Hyderabad Brothers/Nagai Sriram/J Vaidhyanathan

Sankritilaya is pleased to announce Fall 2009 concert tour by the Hyderabad brothers, Shri Seshachary and Shri Raghavachary, accompanied by Shri Nagai Sriram on the violin and by Shri J. Vaidhyanathan on the Mridangam.

About the Artists:
The renowned Hyderabad Brothers, Shri Raghavachary and Shri Seshachary, hail from an orthodox family. They underwent a systematic initial training from their father, Sahitya Vidwan Daroor Rathnamacharyulu and their mother Sulochana Devi. They later perfected the art under Vidwan Susarla Sivaram at the Government College of Music and Dance in Hyderabad. They complement each other in knowledge and have voices that blend. Their phenomenal success is due to their grip over Shruthi, Laya, and Sahithya Bhava, in addition to the rich and varied repertoire they have. The brothers also perform solo, particularly for All India Radio, but believe that their complementary skills and voices produce music that is invigorating and exciting. They have toured all over the world and have to their credit, numerous commercial recordings that are a popular favorite at record stores. The brothers were nominated as the Asthana Vidwans of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham and are they recipients of several awards.

Shri Nagai Sriram is a youngster who is a much sought-after violinist today. He initially trained under Smt. R. Kamalavally and, later under his uncle Shri. Nagai R. Muralidharan. He has accompanied many stalwarts in Carnatic music has several feathers to his cap in the form of awards. He is a recipient of the Best Violinist award from the Music Academy, Chennai for six consecutive years.

Shri J. Vaidhyanthan hails from a Family of Great Musicians. He is the son of Legendry Musician "Sangita Kalanidhi" Shri.D.K.Jayaraman and Nephew of "Padmavibhushan" "SangitaKalanidhi" Smt.D.K.Pattammal.He is the disciple of "Sangita Kalanidhi" Maestro Dr.T.K.Murthy. He has accompanied Great stalwarts Like "Bharatratna" Smt.M.S.Subhalakshmi, Semmangudi Srinivasaiyer, Smt.D.K.pattammal,Lalgudi Sri G Jayaraman, Sri S Balachander, Smt.M.L.Vasanthakumari and many other great Stalwarts. Shri JV, a he is affectionatley known, has travelled widely in India and Abroad. He is the youngest Mridangist to get the prestigious "Kalaimamani" award from the Government of Tamilnadu in 2006.

The concert tour will run from September 2009 to November first week or so and the final schedule will be posted here soon once we have the full itinerary.

Photo courtesy: Hyderbad brothers - The Hindu online edition

Nagai Sriram - a photo from Rajesh.Vee's Flickr site

Spring 2009 Concert Tour - Sowmya - RK Shriramkumar - Neyveli Narayanan

SanKritiLaya is pleased to announce the Spring 2009 concert tour of Ms. Sowmya accompanied by R.K.Shriramkumar on the violin and Neyveli Narayanan on the mridangam.

Ms. Sowmya is a disciple of Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. S. Ramanathan and Smt. T. Muktha, of the legendary Brinda-Muktha duo. A Carnatic musician by profession, Sowmya’s life has been soaked in melody from the very beginning. Growing up in a traditional South Indian family, she had her initial tutelage in music from her father Dr. Srinivasan, a Chemical Engineer with an enduring passion for Carnatic Music. She attributes her success and achievements till today to these individuals and to the bountiful blessings of her beloved Ambal, the Goddess Kamakshi of Kanchipuram. The desire to propagate the traditions of South Indian music worldwide led her to associate with her friend and vocalist Shashikiran, to establish Carnatica, an institution dedicated to music & dance instruction, archival, talent search and other related activities. Carnatica’s web portal is now a popular online destination for music-related information, products, courses and discussions.

In addition to being an accomplished musician, Sowmya also has excellent academic credentials. She is a double postgraduate (Master’s in Chemistry as well as Indian Music) and was a top-ranked scholar at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) and the University of Madras.

She is a recipient of the Srirangam Gopalaratnam Award, 1997 and 2005, T. R. Rajagopala Iyer Award (Best Raga Alapana), 1995, D.K. Pattammal Award, 1988, T.V. Subba Rao Award, 1989, D.K. Pattammal & T.V. Subba Rao Award, 1990, and Kshetragnar Padam Prize, 1985.

Sowmya is also the Producer and co-author of the world’s first interactive, encyclopedic CD-ROM on Carnatic music titled “Nadanubhava – The Horizons of Carnatic Music.”

Please visit Sowmya's website for more information on the artist.

R.K. Shriramkumar, grandson of veteran violinist “Sangita Kalaratna” Shri R.K. Venkatrama Sastri, in addition to giving solo concerts, has accompanied doyens like Semmangudi, MS Subbulakshmi, DK Pattammal, DK Jayaraman, T. Brinda, KV Narayanaswamy, TV Sankaranarayanan, TN Seshagopalan, Dr. N. Ramani, and Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna.




Neyveli Narayanan Sri. Neyveli Narayan, recipient of the “Best Mridangam Player” Award 1995, 1997 & 1998, was initiated by Sri. S.K. Ganesa Pillai and later honed his skills under late Thanjavur Sri Upendran of the Thanjavur style. Narayanan is currently a disciple of Padmashri Umayalpuram Sri. K. Sivaraman. Narayanan has accompanied veterans such as Madurai TN Seshagopalan, TV Sankaranarayanan, TR Subramaniam, KV Narayanaswamy, Mandolin Srinivas, Ravikiran and N. Ramani.