Upcoming Event on February 5, 2012

The upcoming event is scheduled on Sunday, February 5, 2012.
Venue: 7100 Nicollet Ave, Richfield, MN 55423
List of the performers is given below:
2:00 pm to 2:45 pm Manjusha Benadikar (Hindustani Vocal) accompanied by Subhabrata Ganguli on Tabla

3:00 pm to 4:00 pm Janani Narayan and Jeyani Narayan (Carnatic Violin Duet) accompanied by Sriram Natrajan on Mridangam and Balaji Chandran on Ghatam

Bios of the performers:
Manjusha Benadikar learnt from her father Shri Sharad Benadikar, Mrs Manik Bhide and Pt Arun Dravid in LA.  She is still learning from Pt Arun Dravid following the Jaipur Gharana of Hindustani Classical Music. She started learning at a very young age. Manjusha has a Sangeeth visharad degree from Gandharva Mahavidhyalaya.

Subhabrata Ganguli has been playing tabla in the Twincities area for the last 10-12 years. He has accompanied various solo artists and has also been involved with several musical bands. In addition to percussion instruments, he also enjoys playing the keyboard and the saxophone.

Janani Narayan and Jeyani Narayan are learning Carnatic music on the violin from Shri Mullaivasal Chandramouli, an accomplished violinist in Chennai, India. They had their initial vocal Carnatic music training from Smt. Bharati, Smt. Ramanamma and Smt. Nirmala Rajashekar.

Janani and Jeyani have performed mini concerts in India and for MICMC(Minneapolis), Sankara TV(India) and Geetmala on TPT. They have recorded a program on Carnatic Music for “World Music” section of a summer music camp organized by Minneapolis School District. They were selected to play Carnatic music in the Honors Recital( 2011) at MacPhail Center for music which involved a competitive audition. Janani and Jeyani have participated in many community events including the twincities aradhana, Oothukaadu venkatakavi day and Chicago thyagaraja utsavam, Both have won awards in music competitions such as the Minnesota Carnatic Star. Jeyani was awarded Carnatic Star of Minnesota (instrumental), 2010.
Janani and Jeyani also study western classical music on violin. They play for Minnesota Youth Symphonies and pit orchestra in musicals. As members of Modern Music Masters (Tri-M, similar to National Honor Society, focusing on music), they volunteer regularly teaching violin at Valley Crossing Community School to elementary school children in addition to hosting and organizing concert for charity events. Janani and Jeyani are grateful to organizers of MICMC for their efforts to promote local talents in the twin cities and for the opportunity to perform.


Sriram Natarajan on the Mridangam Sriram is a versatile Mridangam artiste and collaborative world musician. Sriram started training on the Mridangam at the age of 9, under the veteran Guru Sri K V Maniappan in Mumbai. Presently under the able guidance of Tanjavur Sri Murugaboopathy, Sriram has had advanced training from Sangeetha Kalanidhi Padma Sri Palghat Raghu. His style of accompaniment is very adaptive to both instrumental and vocal music. Sriram regularly accompanies renowned and upcoming artistes in India during the December music season in Chennai. He travels around the US and has performed at several venues in the cities of Chicago, Madison, Boston, Columbus, Philadelphia and across the state of Minnesota. His world music collaborations include the St Olaf Jazz Band, Northfield MN, Kora Artiste Mamdou Diabate at the Festival of Nations in St Paul MN and the Brass Kings. Sriram is a resident of Apple Valley MN and is the founder of the Layyasaaram school of music.

Balaji Chandran on Ghatam Balaji Chandran started his Carnatic percussion studies in Mridhangam under Sri.Kovai Mani and Sri. Kadayanallur Narayana Iyer. He is a disciple of Sri.Ghatam V.Suresh from whom he learns Ghatam for the past 5 years. He brings with him an energetic style of playing the Ghatam bestowed upon him by his guru. He has provided his percussive support to many artists in America and in India. He considers himself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to lend support to stalwarts like Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri.R.K Srikantan, Prof. Ramakanth, Isai Peroli Sri. Neyveli Santhanagopalan and stars of current generation like Smt. Nirmala Rajasekar, Smt. Sikkil Mala Chandrashekar, Sri Suryaprakash, Sri. Mullaivasal Chandramauli, Sri. Mysore Chandan Kumar. He has been part of the Aradhana celebrations in Minnesota, USA for the past 8 years, and has performed in many venues across America. He also features in the first Carnatic Audio album released by an Independent American record label Innova Records called “Song of the Veena”. He was part of an ensemble that won the top honors in the recently conducted carnatic music competition held by “International society of Laya awareness” in Chennai. He has collaborated with St.Olaf Collage Jazz band and “Brass Kings” an American Blue Grass Jazz band. He is also adept in playing the Kanjira and has also lent his support in both Mridhangam and Ghatam for Bharathanatyam Arengetrams.