SMC Monthly Concert - November 2018

Dear Music Rasikas,

SMC would like to invite you with family and friends to our Monthly Concert - to be held on November 24th 2018 at the Dundas Community Centre, 21 Sturt Street, Telopea.

04:00 PM - 05:00 PM: Vocal concert by Chi. Balaji Ravi accompanied by Sri. Sivakumar Sethupathi on Mridangam and Chi. Kranthi Kiran Mudigonda on Violin.

05:10 PM - 07:10 PM: Vocal concert by Smt. Lavanya Bala accompanied by Sri. Sivakumar Sethupathi on Mridangam and Chi. Kranthi Kiran Mudigonda on Violin.


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 and 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. She 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. Balaji Ravi


Balaji initially learnt from Smt Uma Ayyar in Sydney and later on he has been learning from Malladi Sri Ravikumar. He has won many Carnatic music competitions conducted in Sydney and India. In the year 2016, Balaji won the LV memorial award in the competition conducted by Rasika Ranjana Sabha, Trichy. With his guru’s blessings, he was fortunate to sing a few kritis in Thiruvaiyaru during the aradhana festival in 2017. In 2018, Balaji gave a half hour concert in Bhadrachalam, during Sri Bhadrachala Ramadasu 385th Jayanthi utsavam. Balaji is very fortunate to have met and sung before his Paramagurus Sangitha Kalanidhi Dr Sripada Pinakapani and Sangitha Kalanidhi Nedunuri Sri Krishnamurthy and received their blessings in person. Balaji Ravi is currently studying year 10 at Baulkham Hills High School, Sydney.

Sri. Kranthi Kiran Mudigonda


Kranthi Kiran Mudigonda had his initial training in music with Sri P.S.S.R Jagannatham and Sri N. C. Ramanujam. He had advanced training under eminent vidwan Sri Dwaram Satyanarayana Rao at Hyderabad. He is currently under advanced tutelage in vocal from Hyderabad Brothers and violin from Parur Sri M A Sundareswaran. He has a vast experience in accompanying local and visiting artistes for various concerts across Australia. He also developed interest in percussion and has undergone training in mridangam and kanjira from Sri Kaliprasad Babu, Melakaveri Sri K Balaji and Sri Nerkunam Sankar. He continues to learn mridangam from Maestro Sri Patri Satish Kumar. He founded Geervani Academy of Performing Arts and teaches Vocal, Violin and Mridangam in Sydney.

Sri. Sivakumar Sethupathi


Siva had his training in mridangam under Guru Sri T.S. Janakiraman, a disciple of Sri Palani Subramania Pillai. He was a recipient of music scholarship awarded by the Centre For Cultural Resources and Training, Government of India. He is a sought-after mridangam artiste for Carnatic music programs, Bharatanatyam recitals and Sampradaya Bhajans in Australia. He has accompanied several leading artistes from India. Siva is a founding member of Sydney Bhajan Mandali.