SMC Monthly Concert - September 2018
Dear Music Rasikas,
SMC would like to invite you with family and friends to our Monthly Concert - to be held on September 29th 2018 at the Dundas Community Centre, 21 Sturt Street, Telopea.
04:00 PM - 05:00 PM: Veena concert by Kum. Vishni Ravindran accompanied by Chi. Harish Gopikan Ravindran on Mridangam.
05:10 PM - 07:10 PM: Flute concert by Dr. Giridhar Thirumalai accompanied by Sri. Balaji Jagannadhan on Violin and Chi. Balasubrahmanyam Mallela on Mridangam.
Artiste Profiles:
Kum. Vishni Ravindran
Vishni is a disciple of Prof. Pudukkottai R. Krishnamurthy, a Top Grade artiste of AIR, and Smt. Padma Krishnamurthy of Tirupathi. Vishni holds Teacher's Diplomas in Veena and Vocal music with First Class Honours from The Academy of Fine Arts London and was bestowed the title ‘Isai Mani’. She had her Veena arangetram alongside her brother, Harish, on Mridangam, in Sydney in 2017. She is a regular performer in Sydney and has also performed in Melbourne, Auckland, Chennai, London and San Francisco. Vishni is a passionate Veena teacher, an accomplished Bharathanatyam dancer, and is currently in her final year pursuing the Doctor of Medicine at the University of New South Wales.
Dr. Giridhar Thirumalai
Giridhar Tirumalai started learning vocal and flute at the young age of 5 years from his mother Smt Vasundhara Srinivasan. Later on, he continued to learn flute from Sri. Dindigul S P Natarajan - disciple of the great - Dr T R Mahalingam. In addition to his mother being his eternal Guru, he receives technical guidance from flute prodigy Maestro Shashank Subramanyam and family . He is actively involved with the Purandararadasa aradhana, Sydney Annamayya brundamu and the annual Sri Taallapaaka Annamacharya Jayanthi celebrations. He has been involved with Sydney Music Circle and has given flute solo, Jugalbandi concerts in Bangalore, Portland-Oregon, San Jose CA, Sydney, in addition to performing at Sydney Music Circle on a number of occasions and concerts. He has written a number of articles on music related topics and also has given mini LecDems. He is a regular invited guest speaker at Vani Telugu Radio on Carnatic music topics, has been involved with G.O.D and ISKCON in providing flute support for their very special events. He holds PhD in the IT field, and teaches vocal, flute and Annamacharya sankeerthanalu via Vallaki School of Music.
Sri. Balaji Jagannadhan
Balaji Jagannadhan learnt vocal and instrumental Carnatic music from Bangalore Smt R. Thangammal, herself a disciple of Vidwan Sri R R Keshavamurthy. Balaji hails from the steel city of Jamshedpur, India, and is a frequent performer at Carnatic forums in Sydney and Brisbane. He is a enthusiast of both schools of music Carnatic and Hindustani. He has also contributed to the musical choreography for a few classical dance recitals.
Sri. Harish Gopikan Ravindran
Harish initiated the art of mridangam at young age and was under the tutelage of Dr. Suresh Ramachandra in Auckland. Harish has also been fortunate to pursue extensive training for many years now and is a proud disciple of Vidwan Sri. Thanjavur K. Murugaboopathi of Chennai. He had his Mridangam Arangetram in Sydney in 2017, alongside his sister Vishni on Veena, and was accompanied by eminent vidwans from Chennai. Harish is a regular performer in Sydney for carnatic concerts and bharathanatyam repertoires and has notably accompanied concerts overseas at prestigious sabhas and venues in Chennai, London, San Francisco and Auckland. Harish is also blessed to have accompanied many visiting artistes from Chennai.
Chi. Balasubrahmanyam Mallela
Balu is a passionate percussionist and has learnt the mridangam under the tutelage of Dr Suresh Ramachandra from Auckland. He continues to learn from Dr Ramachandra and Shri Peravali Jayabhaskar from Hyderabad. Balu is also a trained vocalist, under the mentorship of his mother Dr Padma Govardhan. He is currently studying in his 3rd year of a Double degree in Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of Medicine at the University of Sydney.