Participants
Elevate Their Artistry, Elevate Their Confidence
Sasanka SN
🏷️ #Vocal, #Violin
Sasanka is a vocalist and a disciple of Vid. Sri Kamalakiran Vinjamuri, a disciple of Sangeeta Kalanidhi Padmasri Vidushi A. Kanyakumari.
Sasanka began learning vocal music from the young age of 3 years old from his mother. He began his advanced musical training from Vid. Sri Kamalakiran Vinjamuri from the age of 6 years.
Sasanka has won several awards, including the prestigious Advanced Pallavi Tambura Prize in the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana and has also been awardsd the title of “Gayaka Yuva Bharathi” by the Sringeri Vidya Peetham.
In addition to being a vocalist, Sasanka is also a violinist, whistler, and also performs Western Classical music.
Shloka Aravind
🏷️ #Vocal
Shloka Aravind is a 5th grader at Louise Archer Elementary school, Virginia. Shloka has been learning Carnatic music for the past 5 years. She is currently a disciple of Vid. Chaitrra Sairam. She has won the first prize for Carnatic vocal singing, in the first and only competition she has taken part, conducted by the Washington Tamil Sangam.
Shreya Prasanna
🏷️ #Vocal, #Violin
Namaste! I’m Shreya and I’m a junior in high school. I’ve been learning Carnatic vocal for almost 10 years, and am under the tutelage of Cherthalai Mohana Sharma. I also play the Carnatic violin, and have been learning from Sri Subhash Vinjamuri for the past 6 years. Music is a huge part of my life, and I would love to share my passion for singing and playing violin with everyone else!
Taarun Ganesh
🏷️ #Vocal
Taarun Ganesh has been learning carnatic vocal for 9 years now, currently under the guidance of Sri Vignesh Subramanian. He is currently in 11th grade at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, and is hoping to pursue medicine alongside music.
Varshitha Kasiraman
🏷️ #Vocal
Varshitha Kasiraman is a sophomore studying Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Maryland. From the age of 6, she started learning Carnatic music from her guru Pavani Mallajosyula, participating in group concerts and fostering a love for singing. During COVID, she switched to learning Carnatic music from Abilash Giriprasad, refining her singing and beginning to perform full-length concerts. She loves singing Carnatic music because it brings her and the people around her joy, and allows her to continue to connect with her South Indian heritage even at college. Aside from singing, Varshitha also loves to draw, read, and go for runs.
Varun Kasiraman
🏷️ #Mridangam
Varun Kasiraman, a sophomore at centennial high school, is learning Mridangam under the guidance of Guru Sri Sai Raghavan, whose mentorship has been instrumental in shaping his foundation and approach to playing the instrument.
He has played for multiple Namasankeerthanams and concerts in the DMV area, bringing his talents and learning to the stage. Outside of playing Mridangam, he enjoys playing tennis, biking, and roller coasters. Through his journey, he is excited to explore rhythm, tradition, and collaboration on stage.
Vijay Sriram
🏷️ #Vocal, #Mridangam
Vijay Sriram is a senior in high school. He has been learning Mridangam from the age of 7 under the guidance of Guru Shri. Vijay Ganesh. Currently, he is learning from guru Shri. Neyveli Skanda Subramanian. With his guru’s anugraham he started playing Mridangam in concerts at our local DMV area.
Vijay is also been learning Carnatic Vocal Music from age 10 with his guru Sri Hari Kappiyoor and is currently learning from guru Shri. Chandramana Narayanan Namboothiri.
“Carnatic music makes me feel very happy and contended. I love to form and decipher complex rhythm patterns.”
Vishnu Shreehari
🏷️ #Violin
Vishnu Shreehari is a sophomore at Forest Park High School. He started learning violin at the age of 6 under the tutelage of Shri Subhash Vinjamuri and Kamalakiran Vinjamuri . He won many prizes at various competitions, including:
– Winner at Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana three years in a row.
– First prize and Most Popular Performance during Chicago Kalolsavam.
He has accompanied many aradhanas , arangetrams, and performed mini-concerts in the local DMV area and India. He participated in many festivals such as Margazhi Festival at New Jersey, Tampa FL, Raleigh NC and the Indian Octaves festival at Dallas TX.