The rich traditional heritage of Carnatic Music in all its manifestations would come to the fore at a series of programmes beginning this weekend.
The first of these is a music concert by K N Shashikiran of the ‘Carnatic Brothers’ fame, accompanied by Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi (Violin) and Mannargudi Easwaran (Mridangam).
Hamilton based Sri Balaji Trust is organising the programme on June 1 (from 630 pm) at Phoenix House, 22 Richmond Street (Hamilton) to mobilise financial resources for Sri Balaji Temple Trust, which is constructing a Temple in the City for Sri Venkateswara (also known as ‘Balaji,’ the Lord of the Seven Hills at Tirupathi, in the South Indian State of Andhra Pradesh), an Avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Tickets for the Concert (followed by dinner), priced at $50 (Premium) and $15 (General) are available with the members of the Trust. Further details can be obtained from Trustee and 
Treasurer Malathi Vasudevan on (07) 8562652 or 021-942699.
Music Festival
The music scene will shift to Auckland over the following three days, with the New Zealand Carnatic Music Society (NZCMS) conducting its ‘Sangeethothsavam 2012,’ which would include a competition.
Accomplished Carnatic vocalists OS Arun and Gayatri Venkataraghavan will perform at the Fickling Convention Centre in Three Kings, respectively on June 2 and June 4. Both programmes, beginning at 5 pm, will have Ms Vijayalakshmi and Mr Easwaran as accompanying artistes.
Tickets priced at $40 for both concerts (Children under 12 years $35) and at $25 for each concert ($20 for children) are available at a number of Indian outlets.
For more details, please call Mrs Vasudevan, who is the President of NZMS.
Star Contest
Mrs Vasudevan said June 3 would be an important day for students currently enrolled at the Society.
“The NZ Carnatic Star contest will be held at the Mt Roskill Intermediate School Hall (Denbigh Avenue) from 9 am. A panel of judges, comprising musicians from overseas, will determine the ‘Star.’ We are sure that the programme, first of its kind in New Zdealand, would evince the interest of teachers and Carnatic music enthusiasts,” she said.
The programme is free and open to the public.
Famed vocalists
K N Shashikiran belongs to a family of musicians, known for their prowess in various forms of South Indian fine arts. His lineage includes his grandfather Narayana Iyengar (a legendary performer of ‘Gottuvadyam’), his father ‘Chitravina’ Narasimhan (Vocal and Veena) and his brother ‘Chitravina’ Ravikiran (Vocal and Veena).
O S Arun (original name O S Vaidyanathan) was initiated into Carnatic music by his father O V Subramanian, a performer and teacher. Raised and educated in North India, his qualifications include ‘Alankar Purna’ (Gandharva Mahavidyalaya) and ‘Sangeeta Shironmani Diploma’ (Delhi University).
Gayathri Venkataraghavan
Gayathri began her training in Carnatic music under the tutelage of Rajalakshmi and Padma Veeraraghavan She was also trained in various Kritis by Rukmini Ramani, V Subramaniam and Lakshmi Natarajan.
She received advanced training under the late A Sundaresan. She is currently guided by S Narayanaswamy.
