Vocal Concert By Garimella Balakrishna Prasad: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR VOCAL CONCERT BY GARIMELLA...

On the occasion of the 600th birth anniversary of Saint Annamacharya, the Annamacharya Project of the Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams, together with Sujana Ranjani, is presenting a musical concert on Annamacharya keertanas, on 11th May, at Sri Thyagaraja Gana Sabha. Garimella Balakrishna Prasad, the Asthana Gayaka of the Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams at Tirupati for the last 25 years, will render some Annamayya keertanas, including some self-composed keertanas.

Garimella Balakrishna Prasad is synonymous with Annamayya keertanas. Prasad, a diploma holder in Carnatic vocal music and a graded artist of AIR, has been into the fold of the Annamacharya project of TTD as a special graded vocal artist. His first and foremost gurus were his parents late Krishnaveni and late Garimella Narasimha Rao, with the latter being a music teacher as well as a vaggeyakara. He then trained under Sangeetha Kalanidhi Nedumuri Krishna Murthy. Later, he had some lessons under Padmasri Dr. Mangalampalli Bala Murali Krishna. He also had the privilege of being a disciple of Prof. D Pasupathy for some time.

He was awarded the titles of Annamacharya Vidwanmani in Chicago & Annamacharya Nada Jyothi in Los Angeles. He was also conferred upon the Gana Kala Visarada title in Vijayawada for the 7-day Sankeerthana Yagnam, where he sang 216 songs. The Academy of Fine Arts of Tirupati gave him The Spirit Of Excellence award in 1999 during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Indian Independence. The Delhi Telugu Academy conferred upon him the title "Enchanting Singer" in 2001.

Please contact Sujana Ranjani on 2370-5440/98493-02342 for further details.