Sri Chandrasekharendra Sangeeta Educational Society is presenting its 11th Annual Cultural Festival & the 143rd Aradhana of Satguru Thyagaraja, from 17th to 21st February, at Keyes Girls High School.
The 5-day cultural festival will feature several upcoming artistes - Sruthi Sriram, T Aishwarya, Polipeddi Katyayani & Nalini and Dhulipala Sisters Swathi & Soumya - as well as senior artistes - Carnatica Brothers Sashikiran and Ganesh, O S Arun, Bombay Sisters C Saroja & C Lalitha, R K Srikantan, Sundari Janakiraman and T M Krishna.
Senior vocalist R K Srikantan will be performing on the fourth day of the festival. He will be supported by Professor Rudrapatnam S Ramakanth with the vocal support, Charulatha Ramanujam on the violin, M L N Raju on the mridangam, Shyam Kumar on the kanjeera and P Srinivasa Gopalan on the morsing.
Born in 1920, Sangeetha Kalanidhi R K Srikantan hails from a traditional family of musicians in Rudrapatnam in Karnataka. His father, late Krishna Sastry, was a scholar, artist and Harikatha vidwan. His grandfather, Narayanappa of Bettadapura, was also a musician and a close friend of Veena Seshanna of Mysore. Srikantan was initiated into music by his father and later by his brother R K Venkataramasastry, a leading violinist.
Srikantan retired as the music producer of AIR, Bangalore after a service of 32 years. He has been performing for over 6 decades throughout the length and breadth of the country in several sabhas and festival series. He has toured USA many times as well. Some of his disciples are Rudrapatnam Ramakanth, M S Sheela and T S Sathyavathi.
Sri Srikantan has been a recipient of many awards and titles including the prestigious Sangeetha Kalanidhi, and the Annual Music Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement in the field of Carnatic Classical music by SVN Music Academy, Bangalore. In 2003 he has been honored with Sangeetha Ratnakara award from Cleveland Aradhana Committee.
Sri Chandrasekharendra Sangeeta Educational Society was founded in 2000, to impart and spread Carnatic vocal music to music lovers of all ages. It was established by S Chandrasekhar, a renowned vocalist, who has a diploma in Carnatic vocal music. He teaches about 50 students, both young and old. Every Sunday, he also teaches Annamacharya Keertanas from 3pm to 5pm, free of cost to anyone eager to learn. The society also organises various music concerts of local upcoming and established artistes, and renowned classical musicians from Chennai.
The entry to the festival is free. Please contact S Chandrasekhar, Secretary of Sri Chandrasekharendra Sangeeta Educational Society, at 2780-5161 / 98661-87955 for further details.