SMC Monthly Concert April 2023
Dear Music Rasikas,
SMC would like to invite you with family and friends to our Monthly Concert to be held on Saturday 29th April 2023 at the Dundas Community Centre, 21 Sturt Street, Telopea.
5 pm to 6 pm: Vocal concert by Chi. Abhinav Harishankar accompanied by
Ms. Nihitha Kutsav (student of Lalgudi Smt. Vijayalakshmi) on the violin and
Chi. Sayeesh Srinivasan on the Mrudangam
6.15 pm to 7.45 pm: Vocal concert by Kum. Srinidhi Rajan accompanied by
Sri. Balaji Jagannathan on the violin and
Sri. H S Krishnamurthy on the Mrudangam
Artiste Profiles:
Kum. Sri Rajan
Kum. Sri Rajan is a passionate musician who deeply values the Carnatic tradition. Taking after her grandmother, Smt Chellam Venugopalan, who was on AIR from the age of 12, Sri also takes inspiration from the legendary Sangeetha Kalanidhi, Padma Bhushan Sri Chembai Bhagavathar amongst many others.
Sri began her training under Smt. Uma Ayyar in Sydney a decade ago and now hones her skills from Sri Kalakkad Thyagarajan and Smt. Padma Shankar.
Born and raised in Australia, Sri’s musical interests extend to Western classical music, which she is equally enthusiastic about. A lyricist and composer, she blends creativity with her musical pursuits. Sri is a Bharatha Natyam dancer who is also trained in Kathak.
In addition to her artistic endeavours, Sri is an award-winning app designer. She holds qualifications in Psychology and IT and works for an international company.
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.
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.
Smt. Nihitha Kuthsav
Vidushi Smt. Nihitha Kutsav is a disciple of “Sangita Kalanadhi” Smt Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi. She has been fortunate to be under her tutelage since she was 13 yr old. She has performed in concerts in Chennai, India and has also trained students in India and the USA. Currently she’s working as a Network Engineer in Sydney . She is passionate about pursuing music and is aspiring to become a successful musician.
Sri. H S Krishnamurthy
Vidwan H.S.Krishna Murthy son of Smt Alamelamma and Sri H Srinivasiah born in Hedathale village in Nanjangud taluk, Mysore District Karnataka.He learnt Mrudangam from Ghatam Vid Sri K.N. Krishna Murthy disciple of Legend Sri Palghat Mani Iyer.
Has played for many senior Vidwans and others in various Sabhas in Bangalore, Chennai, Mysore, Puttaparthi Andhra and other places of Karnataka. His services have been recognised and has been honoured by prestigious Music Sabhas.
He has been recently awarded with
- Purandara Vittala Prashasthi by Purandara Aradhane Samithi Mulabagal.
- Sunadha Vidya Nidhi by Malleshwarm Brahmana Sabha
- Pranava Puraskara by Srikantham Nagendra Shastri Foundation and Sapthagiri bhajana Mandali
He is an Akashvani and Doordarshan “B” High grade Artist. He is also active as Trustee in some of the Music Sabhas and Jayamaruthi Temple Bangalore.
Retired from service as Senior Manager from Kirloskar Electric company
With the blessings of Parents and Guru has been active in the music field and, also teaching students with a desire that students to become good artists.
Sri. Sayeesh Srinivasan
Sayeesh is a Year-11 student from Sydney Technical High School. Sayeesh has been learning the art of mridangam since the age of nine, under the sterling guidance of Sri. Sivakumar Sethupathi. He has been performing in Sri Thyagaraja Aradhana, Sri Purandara Aradhana and the main Hindu temples around Sydney.
Sayeesh is also a student at Sydney Sanskrit School & School of Vedic Sciences (Aust) Inc and has been awarded Minister's Commendable Excellence in Student Achievement in 2021.
He also holds youth membership in Australian Red Cross, Amnesty International Australia and a trained first-aid responder at St John Ambulance Australia (NSW). Sayeesh frequently participates in all social and other community events being organised by local organisations.