SMC Monthly concert 2024

Dear Music Rasikas,

SMC would like to invite you with family and friends to our Monthly Concert to be held on Saturday 29th June 2024 at the Dundas Community Centre, 21 Sturt Street, Telopea. 

4.45 pm to 5.45 pm: Vocal concert by Ratan Venkatesan, accompanied by Sahasra Puttaparthi Thirumala on the Violin and Arun Muruganantham on the Mrudangam

5.50 pm to 6.50 pm: Lecture demonstration by Smt. Lavanya Balasubramanian on "Neraval singing" accompanied by Sri. Sivakumar Sethupathi on the Mrudangam

7pm to 8pm: Vocal concert by Mahesh White Radhakrishnan, accompanied by Abhinav Harishankar on the Violin and Sriman Nadamuni on the Mrudangam

Artiste Profiles:

Smt. Lavanya Balasubramanian

Lavanya Balasubramanian has a Masters degree in Economics and a Post Graduate Degree in Music from University of Madras She is a ‘B’ grade artist from AIR, Chennai. Lavanya is currently under the tutelage of Sangeetha Kala Acharya Smt  Suguna Varadachari. Lavanya has successfully completed an Advanced Course in Music and obtained the title ‘Sangeetha Vidwat Bhushana’ from the Chennai Music Academy. Lavanya was fortunate to come under the tutelage of Vidwans and Vidhushis while in Music Academy; to name a few – Shri P.S.Narayanasamy, Smt R Vedavalli, Smt Suguna Varadachari, Dr Ritha Rajan, Smt S Sowmya and Dr Sriram Parasuram. Lavanya had undergone her initial training under (late) Smt. T.R.Balamani, Sangeetha Kala Acharya  Smt. Kalyani Sharma and Smt Meera Kedarnathan. Recent concerts include: ‘Ragapriya’ Sydney; Madhuradhwani  - as part of December music season concerts 2017; Chennaiyil Thiruviyaru 2017 with Smt Suguna Varadachary; AIR Concerts; Smt Suguna Varadachary PARAMPARA series; Naradana Gana Sabha, August 2016; NSTS, Nanganallur, September 2016 and  ‘Nadanirajanam’, TTD at Tirumala.

Chi. Ratan Venkatesan

Ratan is a music enthusiast who received his initial training in Carnatic Violin under Sri. Sriram Panyam but later has been a student of Sri. Kranthi Kiran Mudigonda for over 10 years now. He is keen on developing his skills further, and regularly participates in events across Sydney. Ratan has also learnt Carnatic Vocal under Smt. Shubha Harinath. Currently, he is a student of Sri. Krishna Ramarathinam. Ratan is an active member of Karpahavalli, and is involved in organising events promoting Carnatic music to Sydney’s youth. He is a final year student at UNSW, studying Materials Science and Chemical Engineering and at present doing hgis internship at ANSTO.

Dr. Mahesh White-Radhakrishnan

Mahesh White-Radhakrishnan (they/them) is a singer, postdoctoral researcher of music and language affiliated with Sydney Conservatorium of music. They have received Carnatic vocal training from Lakshmi Raman, Dr. M. S. Ramanathan, the late Vaikkal Gnanaskandan and currently from Radha Kalyan and Swathi Narayanan. Mahesh's current research and practice focuses on connections between cultures including Irish music, quadrille tunes and circulations of Asian Portuguese music and dance in the Indian Ocean. They are founder of the world folk band Tapestries of Sound and a co-producer/presenter of the podcast Music!Dance!Culture!

Chi. Abhinav Harishankar

Abhinav Harishankar is a year 11 student of Girraween High School. He began his Carnatic vocal music lessons with Sydney based Mridangam and Vocal Guru Sri Raman Easwaran and currently is under the guidance of Sri Chitravina P Ganesh and Sri K S Vishnudev. Abhinav is also a Carnatic violin student and performer having learnt initially from Sydney based  Vid. Sri Kranthikiran Mudigonda and now continuing his advanced violin lessons under Guru Sri Pappu Gyandev. Abhinav has given several vocal and violin performances in Sydney for Yuva Sangeetha Margam, Ragapriya Sydney, other  

Abhinav Harishankar is a year 11 student of Girraween High School. He began his Carnatic vocal music lessons with Sydney based Mridangam and Vocal Guru Sri Raman Easwaran and currently is under the guidance of Sri Chitravina P Ganesh and Sri K S Vishnudev. Abhinav is also a Carnatic violin student and performer having learnt initially from Sydney based  Vid. Sri Kranthikiran Mudigonda and now continuing his advanced violin lessons under Guru Sri Pappu Gyandev. Abhinav has given several vocal and violin performances in Sydney for Yuva Sangeetha Margam, Ragapriya, worldwide Facebook and other online sabhas and also in Chennai in several sabhas.

Abhinav is a finalist for Gayathri Fine Arts Thithhikkum TamizhIsai competition 2022 and finalist for Guruguhaamrta Muthuswamy Dikshitar Kruthis competition for three years in a row.
Abhinav also learns Mridangam with Sydney based Vid Sri Raman Easwaran.

Chi. Sriman Nadamuni

Sriman Nadamuni – Sriman has had a great passion for music and percussion since the tender age of 4. He was initiated into Carnatic music by his mother Smt Gayathri Srinivasan and currently is under the tutelage of Sri Krishna Ramarathinam. He was an active participant at his School's Senior Music Choir and represented it as part of the Music Festival every year. Sriman learns Mrudangam from Kalaimamani Vidwan Sri Nellai A Ballaji from India. Sriman has actively participated in many music forums in Australia both on vocal and as mridangam accompaniment. He also has a great passion for theatres and has been an active participant in the Sydney Nadaga Priya theatre group.  Sriman is currently purusing his Bachelor of Business degree at Macquarie University.