Rasika and Rathi
April 27th Arangetram
Rasikapriya Krishna
Hailing from a musical family, Rasika has grown up surrounded by Carnatic Music, both by the rich art form, as well as eminent figures that have defined it. Her own foray into the art began at the age of 5, with her mother, Smt. Neyveli Ramalakshmin and her grandmother, Smt. Trichy Premavathy. Through the guidance of her many gurus, including Smt. Trichy Premavathy, Smt. Neyveli Ramalakshmi, Smt. Rajarajeshwary Bhat, and Sri Neyveli Santhanagopalan, Rasika has blossomed into a talented vocalist who appreciates all aspects of this art form.
As a budding artist, Rasika has been awarded several prizes by prestigious organizations, including those by CMANA and Saptami Foundation. In recent years, Rasika has also performed multiple concerts with prestigious musicians and has continued to represent Sukadhwani Institute in various local events. She now teaches students as a Sukadhwani faculty member and enjoys working to help bring them to their full potential.
While Carnatic Vocal was Rasika’s doorway to music, she is well involved in it outside of Sukadhwani as well. She pursued Carnatic violin under Sri Vittal Ramamurthy for 7 years, accompanying students at various Sukadhwani events. Beyond Carnatic Music, she has also been a part of her school’s orchestra as a violin player and learned to play the piano for 8 years. Currently, she is a 6-year veteran member of her school’s choir programs and greatly enjoys being able to experience the various forms of music through different roles in her life.
Beyond her musical journey, Rasika is a senior at Centennial High School in Frisco, Texas. Possessing a noteworthy academic record and an admirable balance between her academic and extracurricular commitments, she has often leveraged her talents to help better the lives of others through organizations like Aim for Seva and FCCLA. In her free time, Rasika loves to capture the wonders of nature through photography, engage her imagination through dystopian and fantasy novels, and spend time with her loved ones. She endeavors to continue enriching the lives of those around her and will be attending ________ as a psychology major starting this fall.
Rasika is very thankful for all the support her family, friends, and gurus have given her that has led her to this momentous occasion.
Rathipriya Krishna
Hailing from a musical family, Rathi has grown up surrounded by Carnatic Music, both by the rich art form, as well as eminent figures that have defined it. Her own foray into the art began at the age of 5, with her mother, Smt. Neyveli Ramalakshmin and her grandmother, Smt. Trichy Premavathy. Through the guidance of her many gurus, including Smt. Trichy Premavathy, Smt. Neyveli Ramalakshmi, Smt. Rajarajeshwary Bhat, and Sri Neyveli Santhanagopalan, Rasika has blossomed into a talented vocalist who appreciates all aspects of this art form.
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Neyveli Ramalakshmi
Neyveli Ramalakshmi (aka Ramaa) is a disciple of Acharaya RathnAkara Sri Neyveli Santanagopalan. She started her musical training at the age of five under her mother, Smt. Trichy S. Premavathy and later under Guru Sri O.S.Tiagarajan(OST). Ramaa is a Carnatic vocalist gifted with a mellifluous, captivating voice and abundant musical talent. Her performances are a connoisseur's delight. Her music is marked by a deep insight into raga-bhava, sincerity in approach, and total involvement in the aesthetic beauties of Carnatic music. Ramaa has perform across United States, Cleveland Aradhana Festival and Music Season in Chennai. Ramaa also specializes her knowledge in Tevaram and Tiruvasagams, age old Pann's from the Shaivaite age. As a well accomplished music teacher, Ramaa has the distinction of teaching a great number of students in New Jersey and Dallas, some of whom are performing concerts and winning music Competitions.
Neyveli Santanagopalan
Sangeetha Kalanidhi Shri Neyveli Santhanagopalan is one of the rare and unparalleled musicians who strive to uphold the BaaNi that he hails from, reminding the audiences of various doyens from the past, with his perfect individual music style of classical traditionalism. Neyveli Santhanagopalan is an internationally acclaimed senior Carnatic musician who is known for concerts marked with traditional classicism with ‘Bhakthi’ (devotion) and ‘Bhava’ (emotion) spiritually elevating his music to the pedestal of divinity. He is also an excellent speaker known for his wit, timing and sense of humor which make him a very wholesome entertainer and performer. He is an erudite scholar and musicologist with excellent theoretical depth. This multi-faceted musician is also proficient in playing veena and percussion instruments with distinct strength in ‘laya’ exposition. He has given several veena concerts in India and abroad. He is an A-top grade artist in both All India Radio and Doordarshan and is recipient of several laurels, titles and awards. Shri Santhanagopalan is a brilliant Vaggeyakara (composer). Neyveli Sir is an inspiring Guru, with keen focus on student’s musical and personal growth and his Neyveli Gurukulam has blossomed into a global musical family. Guru Neyveli takes pride in grooming teachers who, in turn, can mold students while still upholding the rich heritage. With several of his students bearing the torch he has lit with his passion, unconditional love and staunch learning standards, Shri Santhanagopalan is more than a Guru- he is a true friend, philosopher and guide. He is a living visionary who foresaw how deep-rooted traditional classicism can still be propagated through today’s technology. Hundreds of students worldwide have benefitted from his traditional gurukulam teaching. Shri Neyveli Santhanagopalan is well known all over the world and he has represented, influenced and preserved our rich culture in several ways and in the process, has touched several hearts. He is truly an endearing personality who values personal connection.ed.
Shankar Rajagopalan
Shankar Rajagopalan started his mridangam journey at the age of 9 under the tutelage of Kalaimamani Shri Kutthalam Viswanatha Iyer, and had his arangetram at the age of 12 in the august presence of Shri Maharajapuram Santhanam, Shri MS Gopalakrishnan, Tanjavur Upendran, Veenai Pichumani Iyer, Flute N. Ramani and many other leading musicians. He has won various competitions conducted by The Music Academy, Mylapore Fine Arts, and YACM. He had the opportunity to accompany senior artistes like Veena Gayathri and Dwaram Mangathayaru along with Guru (double mridangam) and other leading artistes like Gayathri Girish, Gayathri Venkataraghavan and many others. He was also fortunate to accompany Shri TV Gopalakrishnan for a concert during his college days in BITS Pilani. He is also an AIR graded artiste and recipient of center government scholarship awarded by the Government of India. Shankar moved to Dallas in 2014 and has been actively involved in the community teaching mridangam to children and also accompanying various local and visiting artistes.
Voilinist
Voilinist
Ghatam
Ghatam
Tambura
Tambura