Sangam Festival - "Rhythm & String"

BY: SHREE PADMA NRITYAM ACADEMY

May 10, PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, USA (SUN) — A Unique Concert featuring World Class Artists from India.

June 14, 2008 @ John Witherspoon Middle School Auditorium Time - 4.30 pm

‘Strings in Harmony’ is a path-breaking initiative conceptualized as a confluence of the best talent on offer in the Hindustani and Carnatic genres. It is a beautiful and soulful amalgamation of 2 string instruments, both having its own uniqueness and yet blending with each other to bring mesmerizing music to our ears. And this ever-lasting musical confluence will be performed by two eminent musicians from India, Shri.Gaurav Mazumdar and Lalgudi Shri.G.J.R.Krishnan

Bala Devi Chandrashekar, is a much sought after artist, teacher in the Tri state Area, she carries on the tradition of her legendry Guru. Dr.Padma Subrahmanyam’s discerning, scholarly style. Bala’s performance will focus on an incredible variety of components ranging from pure dance (Nritta) Expression (Abhinaya) and Karanas (temple sculptures). For the first time in Tri - State area -There will be a special component incorporating percussion and movement in the form of “Sudda Nrittam”.

One of the most sought-after and versatile musicians of the present generation, Gaurav Mazumdar needs no introduction. Carrying his legendary Guru Pandit Ravi Shankar’s legacy forward, Gaurav’s performances have been widely acclaimed and appreciated by audiences world over. The first and only Indian classical musician to perform at The Vatican, Gaurav Mazumdar is also year 2004 Grammy Nominee. www.gauravmazumdar.com

Lalgudi G.J.R.Krishnan is the torch-bearer of the honorary Lalgudi tradition. His illustrious father, Lalgudi Shri. G. Jayaraman has honed, shaped and molded Krishnan’s innate musical talent to such perfection that he is regarded as a top ranker amongst contemporary violinists. Lalgudi Krishnan is a cultural ambassador par excellence who relentlessly strives to create more global awareness and appreciation for the singular idiom of classical Carnatic music. www.lalgudi.org.

Born in the family of percussionists, Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan took to Mridangam very early in life. His first teachers were his grandfather Shri Tiruvarur Kunju Iyer, his uncle Shri Tiruvarur Nagarajan and disciple of Mridangam maestro Shri Karaikudi Mani. His natural sense of rhythm and comparability with instrument makes him performer par excellence. Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan has accompanied all the leading stalwarts in the field and is a delight to listen.

Bhairav Chandrashekar a disciple of his Grand Uncle, Maestro Shri Umayalpuram K Sivaraman is a 6th Grader at John Witherspoon school in Princeton, NJ. Displaying precocious potential, Bhairav was featured this year at the Annual Cleveland Aradhana - Sustaining Sampradaya concerts.

Book your tickets today:

Sponsors and Donors

VIP $100 Reserved tickets: $50 General $20

For more information please contact:

Swapna Gurla: (609)466 3117
Sunitha Reddy: (856) 596 3215
Madhu Misra: (609) 750 9280
Laksmi Raghavan : (609) 356 0365
Sudha Chandramouli: (732 823) 5404

Shree Padma Nrityam Academy of performing Arts Inc. (SPNAPA) based in Princeton, NJ, serves as a facilitator for cultural preservation, presentation, and exchange of ideas for South Asian Performing Arts with a primary focus on Indian classical dance - Bharata Nrityam. The Academy is guided by the vision and dynamic leadership of Artistic Director Bala Devi Chandrashekar.