Carnatic Flute Recital By S Shashank: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR CARNATIC FLUTE RECITAL BY...

The South India Cultural Association (SICA) is presenting the 52nd Annual Festival of Music and Dance from 18th to 22nd March, and Drama on 28th & 29th March, at the Ravindra Bharathi Auditorium. As part of the festival, young flautist Shashank will play some fine Carnatic tunes on his flute on the 3rd day.

Shashank, born on October 14th, 1978, was barely 9 months old when he was initiated into Carnatic music, even before he started speaking his mother tongue.

At 6, Shashank picked up his father's flute and stunned onlookers by playing spontaneously to signal his entry into the flute world. His maiden flute concert was at Adelaide (Australia) in September 1990 when he was 11, followed by his debut in India on December 20th, 1990.

Some landmark concerts of his have been at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan; Kennedy Center - Washington DC; J Paul Getty Hall - Hollywood; National Academy of Sciences - Washington DC; Xebec Hall - Kobe, and Across Fukuoka - Fukuoka, Japan; India Music Group at St. Xaviers College - Bombay; UNESCO - Paris; Tropical Institute - Amsterdam; Modigliani Hall-Padova, Italy; Museum Rietberg, Zurich; and Seoul Plaza, Seoul (Korea).

SICA was founded in the year 1959 by Dewan Bahadur Aramuda Iyengar, patron of Carnatic music and Finance Minister of Hyderabad's Nizam. The association has since organised more than 1,000 concerts. It has provided a basic platform for upcoming artistes amongst whom are U P Raju and Nagamani, Mandolin Srinivas and the Malladi Brothers. It conducts workshops, felicitates artistes and provides both moral and financial support to upcoming artistes. Dr. S Chakravarthy, IAS, former Chief Secretary to Govt. of AP, is the present President of the association, and R Chakrapani is the General Secretary.

Entry is by donor passes. Season passes cost Rs. 400 / Rs. 250 for 2 persons for music & dance fest from 18th to 22nd March, and Rs. 500 / Rs. 300 for all the 7 days of the festival. Daily passes cost Rs. 100 / Rs. 50 / Rs. 30 per head. Please contact R Chakrapani at 98491-24675 for further details.