SRUTI-The India Music and Dance Society

www.sruti.org

Sri Thyagaraja Aradhana 2010

Saturday, March 13 2010 at 8 A.M.

Hindu Temple of Delaware

760 Yorklyn Road, Hockessin, DE 19707

Program

08:00 AM Puja

08:15 AM Group Renditions : Utsava Sampradaya Kritis & Pancharatna Kritis

10:15 AM Individual Participations—1st session

01:30 PM Concert of the day— Vocal Concert by Salem Shriram accompanied by

Sandhya Srinath- violin, Rajna Swaminathan- mridangam

04:00 PM Individual Participations—2nd session

(Session start times are approximate)

Admission*: $10 per individual & $20 per family

* Includes one lunch coupon for individuals and up to four lunch coupons per family.

Additional lunch coupons will be available for purchase ($5 per coupon)


Featured Artist Salem Shriram- Vocal: Salem Shriram, according many music pundits in Chennai, is one of the brightest prospects among upcoming vocalists. Shriram is one of the prime disciples of Sri. Calcutta K. S. Krishnamurti. Shriram also learnt under Sri. TVG and Salem Ms. K. Meera.

Shriram is a grade “A” artist of the All India Radio, Chennai. Shriram has been regularly performing in the Chennai December Music Season for several years, now performing at the Sub-senior time slots at all important venues including the Music Academy. Outside of India, Shriram has performed in several places in the USA, including the Cleveland Thyagaraja festival. Shriram has received several awards for his performances during the December season, including the best Junior vocalist awards at Sri. Krishna Gana Sabha and the Music Academy. Shriram's concerts have received accolades from popular critics like Sri. Subbudu and Sri. SVK, and his reviews have appeared in many newspaper dailies.Shriram has had the unique opportunity to perform in front of past Sangita Kalanidhis, including Dr. M. S. Subbulakshmi and Dr. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, who have appreciated his music.

Shriram was a recipient of the CCRT Central Govt. scholarship for advanced training in classical music. Shriram also received scholarship from Tamil Iyal Isai Nadaga Mandram, Chennai for advanced training in Classical music. Shriram has received several titles, including the "Sangeeta Sri", awarded by the Rasika Ranjani Sabha, Trichy. Shriram sings with a high degree of classicism, with no frills or fancy additions.

Review in the "Hindu" from the 2009/2010 Chennai Music Season.

Video clip from the 2008/2009 Chennai Music Season.

Sandhya Srinath- Violin: Sandhya started training from an early age from Late Shri V. Janakiraman of AIR, Delhi. She went on to get advanced lessons from Lalgudi G Jayaraman and Prof. T.N. Krishnan. She is a Gold Medalist in M.A./M.Phil in Carnatic Music at the Delhi University. She has given many solo performances and has accompanied many senior and top class musicians and dancers. She is an "A" grade artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan. Sandhya has also performed at various festivals in India, USA and Canada, gaining commendable acclaims and has been awarded several prestigious awards (Best Young Violinist, Chennai, India in 2000 and Individual Artist Award from PG Arts Council, MD, USA in 2003, the Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award for the Year 2008 to mention a few). She has several CDs, Tapes to her credit and has given lecture-demonstrations at various Universities. Sandhya has led many instrumental ensembles, jugalbandis with Hindustani and western musicians. She is a highly sought after artist in United States, Canada, and India. She teaches Violin at the Jayamangala School in Maryland.

Rajna Swaminathan- Mridangam: Rajna Swaminathan started learning mridangam from her father Dr. P. K. Swaminathan at the age of 5 and came under the direct tutelage of Sri Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman at the age of 8. During spring 2009, Rajna toured USA in an all female ensemble featuring Smt Lalgudi Viji (violin), Smt Sikkil Mala (flute), Smt Jaishree Jairaj (veenai) and Smt Bhagyalakshmi (Moresing). Rajna debuted in Chennai during summer 2005. She received great approbation from dignitaries and musicians. Rajna performs regularly during the Chennai December Music Festival. Rajna received the "Best Junior Mridangam Artiste" award from Music Academy, 2007. She is the youngest and the first female to get this award. Rajna performs mrudangam for Dance programs. During 2006, Rajna won a Maryland Traditions Apprenticeship Award, using which she learned the nuances of playing mridangam for dance. Rajna is a freshman at the University of Maryland College Park.