Sruti Bala Bhavam Guidelines
Following the resounding success of the Bala Bhavam initiative so far, Sruti is pleased to expand the eligibility to include youth all over the USA. The goal is to create mini-concert opportunities for the children of Sruti life members. The mini concerts will last one hour and will take place during our regular programming season in Spring and Fall of each year.
Sruti Bala Bhavam concerts are intended primarily for students in schools and colleges, with a minimum age requirement of 12 years and a maximum age of 25 years for vocal/instrumental concerts and dance. Youth desiring to present mini-concerts should be recommended by their respective teachers and have all of the qualifications stated below. Youth below 18 years of age must have their parents sign appropriate waiver / permission forms.
A non-refundable fee of $100 should be included with all applications.
Vocal and Instrumental Solo / Duet Guidelines:
• Applicants’ parents MUST be Life members of Sruti.
• Applicants must be at least 12 years but not more than 25 years of age as of January 1st of the calendar year of performance.
• Ability to perform Alapana, Neraval and Kalpanaswaram in at least 2 ragas.
• Ability to perform at least 2 Adi tala varnams in 2 speeds.
• Ability to perform at least 1 thillana.
• Recommendation from current teacher / Guru is required.
• Provide a 3 to 5-minute video link of a kriti rendered by a student. (May be used for publicity purposes, with permission from parents)
• Provide a short essay (max. 1000 characters) on what Indian Classical Music means to the applicant(s).
Accompanists Guidelines: Violin, Percussion (Mridangam, Ghatam, Khanjira, Morsing)
• Applicants’ parents MUST be Life members of Sruti.
• Applicants must be at least 12 years but not more than 25 years of age as of January 1st of the calendar year of performance.
• Violinists – Ability to accompany a full length concert and perform Alapana, Neraval and Kalpanaswaram for most rAgas.
• Percussionists – Ability to accompany a full length vocal or instrumental concert for songs in all major thAlams. Ability to perform short Tani Avartanams (3-5 minutes long)
• Recommendation from current teacher / Guru is required.
• Provide a 3 to 5-minute video link of a performance accompanying a singer or instrumentalist. (May be used for publicity purposes, with permission from parents)
• Provide a short essay (max. 1000 characters) on what Indian Classical Music means to the applicant(s)
Indian classical Dance Guidelines – (Bharatanatyam / Kuchipudi / Kathak / Odissi)
Applicants must have completed Arangetram / Rangapravesam and not more than 25 years of age as of January 1st of the calendar year of performance.
• Applicants’ parents MUST be Life members of Sruti.
• Applicants must be at least 12 years but not more than 25 years of age as of January 1st of the calendar year of performance.
• Ability to perform Varnam, Shabdam, Padam, Tarangams and Thillana.
• Recommendation from current teacher / Guru is required.
• Provide a 3-5 minute video link of one of the student’s dance performances. (May be used for publicity purposes, with permission from parents)
• Provide a short essay (max. 1000 characters) on what Indian Classical Dance means to the applicant(s).
Applications will be reviewed on their merit and the decision of Sruti Board will be final and binding. In the event that there are more eligible applicants than we can accommodate, the slots will be pushed to the subsequent year.
Sruti Board will assign Violin and Mridangam accompaniments from our accompanists application pool. No compensation will be provided to the performers.
The Sruti Board reserves the right to change the eligibility criteria.
Performers and accompanists interested in this opportunity should complete and submit an online application form. Please include all details as specified in the eligibility section and make arrangements to have the teacher send in the recommendation. No phone calls will be entertained and questions should be sent to president@sruti.org