About Me

About Me

I have been learning Carnatic music for over 11 years. I started under the tutelage of Smt. Shyamala Krishna in Kansas. I am currently learning from Smt. Geetha Ganesh in Cary, NC as well as Sri Malladi Suribabu in India. I have given many programs in USA and in India. Recently, I won a prize in the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Whistle Competition. I am the president of a community music organization called Swaralaya and serve on the board of the North Carolina Youth Classical Arts for Charity.

Carnatic music is a source of peace for me; it allows me to cope with the stresses of everyday life and rejuvenate my mind. Music also provides a medium for me to express my creativity by singing various permutations of notes and rhythms. Ever since I began my journey in Carnatic music, I have always found time to practice and hone my skills. I also listen to as much music as possible and jump at every opportunity to attend a live concert. I try to perform when given the chance; I have given concerts throughout the Triangle area at venues including Thompson Hall at NC State University and SV Temple of NC.

When I was in sixth grade, I faced one of my biggest obstacles as my voice changed. Singing became extremely difficult as I struggled to reach higher notes and frequently ran out of breath. Many people also told me that, often, performers become unable to sing after their voice changes. However, I was determined to continue; I relentlessly practiced and regained control of my voice. I was soon able to perform for large crowds of people.

Having given a multitude of concerts, I have gained a lot of confidence which has allowed me to perform for hours in front of hundreds of people. The spontaneity with which I create complex patterns of notes in various ragams (scales) has also helped me solve challenging problems in innovative ways.

My learning outcomes:

• Leadership (through leading community music organizations)
• Collaboration (teamwork with accompaniments in concerts and with sound technicians)
• Innovation (spontaneously creating intricate patterns of notes)
• Giving back to my community (fundraising for charities and giving opportunities for upcoming musical talents)

Video Links

Here are a few links to my previous concerts