Program details –

1:00 PM to 2:00 PM – Bala Bhavam Dance Performance by Rasya Ramesh

2:15 PM to 4:00 PM – Sruti Youth Group Program

4:30 PM to 6:30 PM – Carnatic Vocal Concert by Akshara Samskriti

Bala Bhavam Dance Performance by Rasya Ramesh

Rasya Ramesh is currently an MBA student at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA, in the accelerated BS/MBA program. Rasya started learning Bharatanatyam at the age of 5 from her mother, Ramaa Ramesh, Founder & Director of Nardhana Academy of Dance, and completed her Arangetram (graduation) in 2019. She has been performing for and representing Nardhana and Daksha Dance Troupe (Bollywood / Bhangra Dance Instituition) in prestigious cultural events in the East Coast for many years. Rasya enjoys teaching dance for both Nardhana and Daksha, and helps with administrative work as well. Apart from dance, Rasya has been training as a competitive figure skater since she was three years old. With an ardent love for music, she has also pursued piano and vocal Carnatic music. With a natural flair for musical compositions, she has experimented with a few of her own unique creations. Born in the family of the Tamil Poet/ Freedom Fighter, Mahakavi Subramania Bharatiyar, she hopes to continue with his legacy.

Vignesh Ravichandran – Vocal

Vignesh Ravichandran is a Carnatic Vocalist and a published writer in the NY/NJ area. Vignesh holds a masters in fine arts (MFA) degree in carnatic vocal from Annamalai University and is a student of Kalaimamani V. S. Balamurali of Pondicherry and Shanmuga Sangeetha Sironmani Vishnudev Namboothiri, Chennai. He has won various awards and accolades for his performances. In addition to solo concerts, Vignesh frequently sings for Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dance performances and Arangetrams. Many of his poetry has been set to tune by him and other musicians and adapted in Carnatic vocal concerts and Bharatanatyam dance productions.

Rathi Ramesh Sandilya – Vocal & Nattuvangam

Rathi Ramesh Sandilya, a graduate of Villanova University School of Business, with an MBA from Drexel University and working in Entertainment Analytics & Insights for a large Telecom Company in Philadelphia, is the daughter and a senior disciple of Ramaa Ramesh, director of Nardhana Academy of Dance. She is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer, teacher and choreographer and continues to represent Nardhana Academy of Dance at numerous prestigious performances and charity shows, locally and internationally. Rathi was the team captain of the premier Bollywood Fusion Dance Team at Villanova, and has led the team to perform at many championships, including World of Dance. She along with her husband Dhruv has recently started ‘Daksha’, a Bollywood, Bhangra, and Fusion dance school. Rathi’s passion for music, initiated by Lata Suresh, was furthered by Veena artist Kalaimamani. Mudikondan S.N. Ramesh and vocalist, Bama Visveswaran. Always drawn to the Nattuvangam, Rathi has also learned to wield the cymbals, in the traditional method from percussionist Mayuram J. Shankar.

Murali Balachandran – Mridangam

Murali Balachandran hails from a family of dancers and musicians. He studied mridangam under his father, Dr. C.G. Balachandran, and was introduced to Bharatanatyam by his mother, Usha. Murali is a versatile percussionist who is equally at ease playing traditional Indian percussion instruments like the mridangam, the kanjera, the tabla, the ghatam and the morsing. Murali has performed in countries including New Zealand, Canada, and Indonesia. He has performed on Broadway and at major venues like the Lincoln Center, the American Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Murali is based in New York City and has had the privilege of accompanying leading Indian musicians and dancers including Padmashri Adayar Lakshman, Padmashri Ramli Ibrahim, Padmashri. Chitra Visweswaran, Padma Bhushan Shobana, Padma Bhushan Trichur Ramachandran, Padma Bhushan Kamala Laksmi Narayanan, and Padma Vibushan KJ Yesudas.

Sri. N Visveshwar – Flute

Flute N Visveshwar is an acclaimed A-grade flutist and one of the youngest recipients of this prestigious grading from All India Radio. Now based in New Jersey, Visveshwar has left his musical imprint across continents. Starting his journey at the tender age of nine, Visveshwar has played over 1,200 concerts in the past 17 years. His performances transcend boundaries, seamlessly spanning pure Carnatic concerts, Classical and Bollywood music for weddings, supporting music for dance productions, and Indian Jazz fusion music with his band at international music festivals. Visveshwar owes his initial training and inspiration to his grandfather, Singanallur Ramaraja Iyer. His talent was recognized early on when, at the age of 14, he was bestowed the “Best Instrumentalist Prize” by the esteemed Madras Music Academy. His artistic journey is decorated with numerous prestigious titles, including ‘Venu Gana Rathna’, ‘Venu Ila Mamani’, ‘Vamshi Kaladhara’, and ‘Bala Kala Rathna’ and as a recognition of his prowess he was awarded a cultural scholarship by the government of India. An alumnus of Cornell University, he currently works as a cloud product manager, seamlessly balancing his artistic pursuits with his professional commitments.

Swetha Narasimhan – Violin

Swetha Narasimhan is a senior student of Late Gowri Ramakrishnan, from whom she was privileged to learn for 16 years. Swetha started learning violin at the age of 6 from Dr. Narayan Raman, and was taught by several violinists, including Purnachander Rao and Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, with whom she is currently continuing to learn. For the past 15 years, Swetha has enjoyed playing for Carnatic vocal, instrumental, Bharathanatyam, and Kuchipudi programs around the world, and has taken pride in encouraging upcoming young artists as well as working with several senior artists in the field. Swetha works to support adult education and the growth and development of educators in Philadelphia.

Carnatic Vocal Concert by Akshara Samskriti

Akshara Samskriti – Vocal

Akshara Samskriti is a rising star in Carnatic music, hailing from a renowned family of musicians and scholars. As the fourth-generation musician in her family, Akshara has inherited a rich legacy of pursuing excellence and truth in music. From a tender age, Akshara demonstrated a prodigious talent for music, identifying ragas and creating new ones at just 14 months old. By the age of 4, she was composing intricate Carnatic music pieces. Her first full-fledged Carnatic music performance took place when she was just 6 years old.

Akshara has performed at numerous prestigious festivals and venues in North America and India, including the Cleveland Tyagaraja Festival and Narada Gana Sabha. Her music is characterized by intellectual depth, effortless creativity, and attention to detail. Akshara has received numerous accolades, including being recognized as a Super Star Kid at the Carnatic Music Idol contest.

In addition to Carnatic music, Akshara is interested in other genres, including Contemporary, Western, and Korean Pop. She is also proficient in Sanskrit chants and has a talent for languages. Akshara’s versatility and talent make her a truly exceptional young artist.

CS Chinmayi – Violin

C.S. Chinmayi, a highly skilled artist, who has evolved into an accomplished and proficient violinist, is learning Lalgudi Bani from her father and Guru, Sri. C. N. Srinivasamurthy, who is a disciple of Violin Maestro Padmabhushan Sri. Lalgudi Jayaraman. She has accompanied senior Vidwans and talented youngsters in concerts across India, both locally and nationally. She is a dynamic artist and an active performer in prestigious sabhas and esteemed organizations. Her performances have garnered widespread acclaim, with audiences offering positive feedback and accolades for her artistry.

She has been honored with several awards, to name a few “Bharat Ratna MS Subbulakshmi Fellowship award” by Shanmuganandha sabha, Mumbai 2023, “Papanasam Sivan” award from Karthik Fine arts for her commanding and outstanding performance “Carnatic Music Trend setter” award from Madhuradhwani – Arkay Convention Centre and “Best Violinist” from Sunaadalahari.

She was recently graded a direct B- high from All India Radio. She is currently pursuing her final year Engineering in Computer Science.

Myan Sudharsanan – Mridangam

Myan has been under the tutelage of Kalaimamani Sri. Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan since 2010. Since 2015, Myan has had opportunities to perform in Chennai December Season festivals under the auspices of many organizations including Brahma Gana Sabha, Narada Gana Sabha, Mylapore Fine Arts, Gayatri Fine Arts Global, HCL Concerts, TTVVTrust, and VVS Foundation.

Myan has also actively participated at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival since 2011 where he has won prizes in mridangam and konnakkol competitions. Part of the Cleveland festival, he received special training from the late Guru Karaikudi Mani and performed in Mani Paddhathi in 2019.

Along his musical journey, Myan has been fortunate to accompany many stalwarts, including Nagai Muralidharan, VVS Murari, Sikkil Gurucharan, Amritha Murali, Sandeep Narayan, and K.S. Vishnudev.