Uma Sankar: Vocal
Uma was introduced to music at early childhood. She began her formal music education from Smt. Shanta Balasubramanian (Mumbai) and then did her advanced training with the renowned teacher and an accomplished singer Guru Smt. T R Balamani ( mumbai). At present, she continues to receive guidance from Vidushi. Smt. Vasundra Rajagopalan from Chennai. Uma had the opportunity to learn new repertoire with renowned musicians including Shri T.K Govinda rao ( Mumbai).
Uma has performed extensively in India and USA specially supporting fundraisers for charity and noble non- profit causes. She also leads the programs and education head in KHMC ( A non profit org) in Boston, MA.
Uma's approach to music is based on the soul of the raga, with bhava and sahitya given utmost priority. She has received critical acclaim for her voice throw and modulation and her repertoire and sensitive approach to rendering kritis. She has been lead vocalist for many dance productions. Her training with eminent teachers, coupled with a sincere and dedicated approach , has molded Uma into a capable and sought after teacher.
At present, she resides in Shrewsbury, MA where she actively teaches under the name of Sruthilayaa School of Carnatic Music. Her students have participated and won competitions in Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana.
Website: http://www.sruthilayaa.com/
Uma was introduced to music at early childhood. She began her formal music education from Smt. Shanta Balasubramanian (Mumbai) and then did her advanced training with the renowned teacher and an accomplished singer Guru Smt. T R Balamani ( mumbai). At present, she continues to receive guidance from Vidushi. Smt. Vasundra Rajagopalan from Chennai. Uma had the opportunity to learn new repertoire with renowned musicians including Shri T.K Govinda rao ( Mumbai).
Uma has performed extensively in India and USA specially supporting fundraisers for charity and noble non- profit causes. She also leads the programs and education head in KHMC ( A non profit org) in Boston, MA.
Uma's approach to music is based on the soul of the raga, with bhava and sahitya given utmost priority. She has received critical acclaim for her voice throw and modulation and her repertoire and sensitive approach to rendering kritis. She has been lead vocalist for many dance productions. Her training with eminent teachers, coupled with a sincere and dedicated approach , has molded Uma into a capable and sought after teacher.
At present, she resides in Shrewsbury, MA where she actively teaches under the name of Sruthilayaa School of Carnatic Music. Her students have participated and won competitions in Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana.
Website: http://www.sruthilayaa.com/
Jithendra Kishore: Carnatic Violin Artist
Jithendra is a performer and teacher in carnatic violin, he is born in a musical family and
received basic training from his father violin Vidwan Ananth. He has received higher
education from Vidwan Veerabhadraiah and Anoor Ramakrishna Bangalore.
Jithendra has emerged as one of the graded violin artist in Karnataka-India.
Jithendra has won several awards from prestigious institutions from Bangalore and
Chennai. He has performed in “All India Radio”, Doordharshan and the major “Sabha’s”
like Gayana Samaja, Karnataka Gana Kala Parishath, Indian institute of World Culture,
Music Academy Chennai, Ramakrishana Mission / Mutt (Colombo-Sri Lanka) &
Ganesha Temple (Tennessee USA), Hindu Temple (Connecticut USA). He has traveled widely and has given violin solo concerts, accompanied top ranking artists of Karnatka and also accompanied many top ranking dancers in major cities of India and abroad.
Jithendra runs music school Sri Vani Institute of Music Bangalore(established since 1953 by his father). He teaches students during his spare time, also he arranges special occasion concerts during Shravanamasa and Mahashivarathri.
Currently, he lives in New Britain CT, works in SAP division for Carrier Corporation –UTC Group.
Jithendra is a performer and teacher in carnatic violin, he is born in a musical family and
received basic training from his father violin Vidwan Ananth. He has received higher
education from Vidwan Veerabhadraiah and Anoor Ramakrishna Bangalore.
Jithendra has emerged as one of the graded violin artist in Karnataka-India.
Jithendra has won several awards from prestigious institutions from Bangalore and
Chennai. He has performed in “All India Radio”, Doordharshan and the major “Sabha’s”
like Gayana Samaja, Karnataka Gana Kala Parishath, Indian institute of World Culture,
Music Academy Chennai, Ramakrishana Mission / Mutt (Colombo-Sri Lanka) &
Ganesha Temple (Tennessee USA), Hindu Temple (Connecticut USA). He has traveled widely and has given violin solo concerts, accompanied top ranking artists of Karnatka and also accompanied many top ranking dancers in major cities of India and abroad.
Jithendra runs music school Sri Vani Institute of Music Bangalore(established since 1953 by his father). He teaches students during his spare time, also he arranges special occasion concerts during Shravanamasa and Mahashivarathri.
Currently, he lives in New Britain CT, works in SAP division for Carrier Corporation –UTC Group.
Aaron Paige: Mridangam
Aaron is currently a Ph.D. candidate in ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University. He has been studying Carnatic mrdangam for the last fifteen years, under the tutelage of Professors David Nelson and A-Grade mridangam artist Palladam R. Ravi of Madurai, India. Since his arengetram in 2005, Aaron has been providing accompaniment for dance and concert music at Wesleyan and the greater Connecticut area. He is also active as a mridangam teacher and presently has four students. Aaron was a 2004-2005 Thomas J. Watson Fellow, a 2012 Fulbright Fellow, and has received two American Institute for Indian Studies Advanced Language Fellowships for advanced Tamil study. His dissertation research focuses on Tamil music in the Malaysian diaspora.
Aaron is currently a Ph.D. candidate in ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University. He has been studying Carnatic mrdangam for the last fifteen years, under the tutelage of Professors David Nelson and A-Grade mridangam artist Palladam R. Ravi of Madurai, India. Since his arengetram in 2005, Aaron has been providing accompaniment for dance and concert music at Wesleyan and the greater Connecticut area. He is also active as a mridangam teacher and presently has four students. Aaron was a 2004-2005 Thomas J. Watson Fellow, a 2012 Fulbright Fellow, and has received two American Institute for Indian Studies Advanced Language Fellowships for advanced Tamil study. His dissertation research focuses on Tamil music in the Malaysian diaspora.
Joseph Getter: Flute
Joseph is a Middletown-based world musician. He has degrees from Oberlin College and Wesleyan University, where he learned from Ramnad Raghavan and Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. T. Viswanathan. Joseph composes and performs music with Dance Enlight modern dance company, Art Farm theater company, and Wesleyan Dance Department. He performs on many instruments with touring singers of Nama Sankeertan, and also with several experimental music groups. He is on the faculty of Southern Connecticut State University, University of New Haven, Independent Day School, and Green Street Arts Center, and is also the Director of the Youth Gamelan at Wesleyan, a children’s ensemble that plays the classical court music of Indonesia.
Joseph is a Middletown-based world musician. He has degrees from Oberlin College and Wesleyan University, where he learned from Ramnad Raghavan and Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. T. Viswanathan. Joseph composes and performs music with Dance Enlight modern dance company, Art Farm theater company, and Wesleyan Dance Department. He performs on many instruments with touring singers of Nama Sankeertan, and also with several experimental music groups. He is on the faculty of Southern Connecticut State University, University of New Haven, Independent Day School, and Green Street Arts Center, and is also the Director of the Youth Gamelan at Wesleyan, a children’s ensemble that plays the classical court music of Indonesia.
Urvi Pathak: Nattuvangam
Urvi is extremely multitalented with expertise in dance, music, and numerous artistic hobbies. She is an IT professional and an expert graphic designer. Founder of the Satvikam Shivam School of Indian Cultural Heritage, Urvi teaches Bharatnatyam, folk dances, innovative, creative and contemporary forms of dance in her school. Even before the curtain rises for a dance programme, the mood is set by the mere sound of the cymbals, striking together and provoking a resonance and a singular ambience. The art of wielding this pair of cymbals so vital in dance, of effortlessly reeling out the syllables or the sollus, of guiding the dancer, of holding the reins, is the art of Nattuvangam.
Urvi is extremely multitalented with expertise in dance, music, and numerous artistic hobbies. She is an IT professional and an expert graphic designer. Founder of the Satvikam Shivam School of Indian Cultural Heritage, Urvi teaches Bharatnatyam, folk dances, innovative, creative and contemporary forms of dance in her school. Even before the curtain rises for a dance programme, the mood is set by the mere sound of the cymbals, striking together and provoking a resonance and a singular ambience. The art of wielding this pair of cymbals so vital in dance, of effortlessly reeling out the syllables or the sollus, of guiding the dancer, of holding the reins, is the art of Nattuvangam.