Ranjani and Gayatri

Carnatic Vocal Duet Concert

Ranjani & Gayatri

Ranjani and Gayatri

Saturday, October 23rd, 2010 @ 7:00 PM

Venue:

Ethical Society Hall

9001 Clayton Road

St. Louis, MO 63117

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Tickets: $15 General, $10 Students

Free for Sangeetha Members

GENERAL TICKET:
STUDENT TICKET:

Profile

Ranjani and Gayatri are one of the rare few who have achieved enduring success in both violin and vocal music. After more than a decade as successful violinists of high calibre, the sisters’ foray into vocal music has brought them instant recognition and wide acclaim.

Ranjani and Gayatri began their music career as violin duet artistes even before they reached their teens. Through their intense training, command over the violin and fine artistry, they quickly established themselves as top-class violinists of international repute. The sisters started giving vocal concerts since 1997, and within barely three years, have won high praise from discerning critics and music lovers all over the globe. Their music, imbued with a deep and abiding classicism, has been described as an exhilarating blend of vitality, melody and emotion. Endowed with strong and pliant voices, the sisters have a striking style of their own, which has won the hearts of the traditionalist and the lay rasika at once.

Ranjani and Gayatri have the special distinction of being A-Graded in violin as well as vocal. Their concerts, both violin and vocal are regularly featured in all prominant sabhas in the December Music Festival in Chennai, and at premier institutions all over the country. They have to their credit several album releases, both violin and vocal.

Ranjani and Gayatri owe their rich musical heritage to the focussed and high-level training received from their gurus – Sangita Bhooshanam T.S. Krishnaswami for violin and Sangeeta Kala Acharya Sri. P.S. Narayanaswamy for vocal. They had their initial vocal training from their mother Smt. Meenakshi Balasubramaniam, from whom they still continue to learn.

Recent awards include the Kalki Krishnamurthy Memorial Award awarded by the Kalki Trust and the prestigious National Eminence Award given by the Shanmukhananda Sabha, Mumbai in the year 2004.

Career Milestones:

• Performed their debut violin duet concert at the prestigious Indian Music Group Festival of Music when they were thirteen and ten years old respectively.

• Recipients of the Government of India Talent Search Scholarship from the age of ten.

• Winners of the First Prize in the All India Radio National Competition for Violin.

• Recipients of the title of “Sangeeta Shanmukha Mani’ conferred by Shanmukhananada Fine Arts and Sangeeta Vidyalaya, Mumbai.

• Won The Outstanding Violinists Award for four consecutive years from the Music Academy, Chennai from 1994 to 1998. Won the Award for Best Kirtana Rendering for tir vocal concert from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in 1999.

• Highly successul concert tours in Singapore and Malaysia in May 2000, the USA and Canada in 2002 & 2003, Australia and the Middle East in 2004.

3 thoughts on “Ranjani and Gayatri

  1. Ram Lakshmanan says:

    Looking forward to an enjoyable evening on the 23rd with these accomplished artists!

  2. Ram Lakshmanan says:

    Among the best concerts that we have heard in recent years! It was a great lesson in maintaining overall balance, pleasing stage presence, and outstanding teamwork to deliver excellent quality. Great selection of ragas and kritis! Particularly liked Meru samana in Mayamalavagowla, Ranga Pura Vihara in Brindavana Saranga, and the RTP in Shanumukhapriya – with a pearl string of Shyama, Kanada, Hamirkalyani and Desh. The most touching aspect of the sisters’ music is their bhavam. Violinist Sri H N Baskar gave very thoughtful support and embellished the experience. Mrudangam vidwan Sri Sai Prakash demonstrated how to play for concerts with a great combination of gumkis, meetu-chappu, and melodious phrases, while keeping impeccable layam. Great teamwork! All the artists on stage had a great stage presence and were the first fans of their own music, and the joy conveyed itself to the rest in the audience.

    Sangeetha team did a great job organizing and executing the event. Timely, professional and warm. Looking forward to more such enjoyable experiences in the future.

  3. Sridhar says:

    It was nice to see such a good turnout for the concert. It was a very enjoyable evening . The following are the list of songs sung on the evening.

    Varnam – Sahana
    Meru Samana – Mayamalavagowla
    Sri Rangapuravihara – Brindavana Saranga
    Evvarura Ninnuvina – Mohanam
    Saravanabhava – Kannada
    RTP – Shanmugapriya
    Pallavi – Karthikeya Kangeya
    Narayana – SuddhaDhanyasi
    Velava vadivelava – Kavadi sindu
    Bhajan – Ramanama
    Abhang – Sharana Sharana – Piloo
    Mangalam

    From the sangeetha committe, we have also uploaded some videos in youtube.

    Please check it out and let us know your comments.
    http://www.youtube.com/user/stlsangeetha

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