Celebrating World Music Day 2021 With Special Messages and Performances

Music Heals!

What started as a music festival (Fête de la Musique) in 1982 in France eventually became World Music Day, observed on June 21 every year.  The theme of World Music Day 2021 is “Music at the intersections.” The other name of the event is ‘Make Music Day,’ which stresses the importance of nurturing one’s passion for music and sharing music with all without any restrictions.

Music is one of the most beautiful experiences known to humankind. There is some music for everyone. It transcends all borders and boundaries. The Michigan Indian community has seen a sporadic rise of classical exponents and light music vocalists who have contributed immensely. 

Miindia.com expresses its gratitude and respect to all the musicians in the community – you have consistently delighted the audience with your diversified expressions- through your music.

Madurai R. Sundar - Carnatic Exponent/Musician

Madurai R Sundar was initiated at a very early age into Carnatic music by his aunt Mrs. Ananthalakshmi Sadagopan, herself a musician of repute. Later Sundar came under the tutelage of the musical legend Sangeetha Kalanidhi Madurai T.N.Seshagopalan in 1972. As a much sought-after musician and guru Sri.Sundar has several awards to his credit:

The title of “Sangeetha Kala Sagaram” by Great Lakes Aradhana Committee.

» Prof. T.R.Subramaniam Award by the Cleveland Aradhana Committee.

» The title of Sangeetha Rathna' by Dubai Tamil Family.

» Award in the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Mrudangam Maestro Trichy Sri Sankaran in Dec 2005.

Sundar is an A-graded artiste of the All India Radio.

Mrinalini Arkatkar – Hindustani Classical Exponent

Mrinalini is a Hindustani classical singer and has performed over 500 concerts in the last 30 years all over the USA, India, and Canada. Mrinalini holds a degree in Music, Chemistry, and Diagnostic Sonography. By profession she is a music teacher, a performing artist, and a diagnostic sonographer. 

She is a disciple of late Dr. M.V. Patwardhan, son of late Pundit Vinayakbua Patwardhan, of Gwalior Gharana.  She performs “Hindustani Classical Music”, “Gazals”, “Bhajans” and “Hindi/Marathi Light Music” programs. She runs an Indian classical and light music institute, Gamak Academy, from Michigan. Hundreds of students have taken her guidance and some of them now perform professionally. Many of her students have won prizes in several competitions, including the gold-medal for a national level “Shabad” competition for Gurudwara. Her notable accomplishments include playback singing for a ballet, participation in orchestra conducted by well known music director Mr. Ram Kadam, and a tour of musical programs ‘Shukratara’ with renowned Marathi singer Mr. Arun Date and ‘Phite Andharache Jale’ with distinguished music director Mr. Shridhar Phadake. She has composed several Bhajans and Gazals. Her articles on Indian classical music have been included in the text book for Music department of Wayne State University. Mrinalini has received “Yua Prerana” and “Human Spirituality” awards from Utsav, Pune and Troy Temple. 

Sridhar Vaidyanathan - Music Arranger, Coordinator, Keyboard Player

Sridhar Vaidyanathan is an accomplished keyboard player and music coordinator. He has performed extensively in a variety of musical concerts all over USA. He hails from an illustrious musical family from South India. In addition to playing, he has been coordinating large scale musical shows under Geetmala Foundation for the last 15 years.
His strengths involve versatility in all genres of music from upbeat Bollywood to traditional and classical South Indian style of music. By profession, he is a senior manager in a leading financial organization. 

Jay Antani - Tabla Exponent and Percussionist

Jay started learning Tabla at the age of twelve from Mrs. Manjari Hukkoo of Manav Mandir Sangeet Vidyalaya.  He hails from the Delhi Gharana.  Jay has accompanied several local and visiting artists in Classical Vocal, Light Vocal, Classical Instrumental and dance in India, USA, and Canada.  He has won several inter-school, inter-college awards, including a few at a National Level in Tabla, Singing, and Drama.  As a child artist, playing the Tabla, Jay has performed on All India Radio.  Most Recently he has performed at several fundraising events with the Michigan Philharmonic Symphony as a percussion director. He has also recorded for a fusion Album titled “Worlds” which is available on iTunes. He resides in Rochester hills, MI and is the Vice President of Business Development for NTT Data Services, a Global Business Consulting and Technology and Services company.

Nurani Chandra – Film Vocalist/Musician

Nurani Chandra is a well-known and well accomplished singer in the State of Michigan. Chandra’s ability to sing fluently in multiple Indian languages and genre makes him the most sought artiste.

He has staged over 400 live shows for great many causes and fundraising events in this community as well as in many US cities for over two decades. 

Rujuta Joshi - Hindustani Classical Exponent and Film Vocalist

Rujuta learnt Hindustani classical music from Late Pt. Vamanrao Sadolikar and Mrs. Shruti Sadolikar-Katkar of Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She also learnt from late Pt. Vasantrao Kulkarni of Agra and Gwalior gharanas. She is also trained in Marathi Natya-sangeet (Stage drama music) from late Smt. Jaymala Shiledar. Rujuta has performed in numerous music concerts in Detroit as well as all over the US and India and has spellbound listeners with her melodious voice and versatile talent. Rujuta has been teaching Hindustani vocal music in Detroit Metropolitan area since 1996 through Koojun Music Academy. She also organizes music programs and camps for our community youths to promote Indian music. Rujuta has also published a book on “The Theory of North Indian Classical Music” which is followed by several music schools. 

Sunitha Ananthaswamy - Sugam Sangeet Exponent/Musician

A world-class exponent of Sugam Sangeet, Sunitha comes from a family of musicians. As a child, Sunitha grew up in an environment surrounded by music and poetry.  She is the daughter of Mysore Ananthaswamy, the pioneer of Sugam Sangeet in Karnataka who has left an indelible mark with his numerous songs & compositions. Her father being her first Guru, she has also had formal training in Hindustani classical music under gurus, Pt. DB Harindra and Pt. Rajeev Taranath.

An All India Radio and Doordarshan artist, she gave her first stage performance with her father when she was 13 and has accompanied him in many performances all over Karnataka and in many Indian and US cities. A talented composer, she can play instruments like Harmonium, Keyboard, Guitar and Mandolin. Sunitha has a unique voice made for rendering Bhav Geet and Ghazals.  A composer herself, she has set to tune many Kannada poems, Hindi Bhajans, Geets and Urdu Ghazals. For the past 15 years she has been teaching preschool music at Novi Northville Montessori center and for the past few years at Minto’s Casa.

On Veena - Scions of the famous family of musicians from Rudrapatna, R.P.Prashanth (Michigan resident) & R.P.Pramod known as Rudrapatna Veena Brothers are the sons of Renowned Vocalist “Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Asthana Vidwan” “Suvarna Karnataka Chetana Awardee” Vidwan Sri R.K.Prasanna Kumar.

The brothers are the grandsons of Renowned Veena Maestro Asthana Vidwan in Mysore Palace, Vainika Praveena Sri. R.S. Keshava Murthy. They come from a lineage of musicians for many generations. They started playing the Veena at the tender age of 3 and 7 years. 

The two-some gave their Veena Duet debut in the year 2003 and have been blessed with many more. 

The brothers have given Veena duet Concerts in All India Radio, T.V Channels, Private and Public functions in India. They have performed at the prestigious Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Festival, US and also other places in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The brothers have acquired very good appreciation for their unique style of performance.

The brothers have won “Navodaya Award” from Shubhodaya Trust.

On Mridangam - Laya Vadhya Gambhira Vidwan Sri R K Prasanna Kumar 

Being endowed with Rich Talent, amazing fingering techniques Prasanna Kumar has by dint of hard work been recognized as one of the Versatile Musicians. He has been giving concerts in All India Radio, many sabhas, T.V Channels, private & public functions all over India, Europe, UK & USA. 

His main aim is to propagate Indian Music throughout the world to bring credit to the nation.

On Tanpura - Smt. Poornima Prasanna Kumar, wife of Sri R K Prasanna Kumar. She has completed her Bachelor of Arts in Music. She is the sole inspiration for the family and the first guru for her sons Prashanth and Pramod.

Jigs Kapadia - Sound Engineer/Musician

From an early age, Kapadia had a love of music and entertaining. He also had a passion for technology and engineering. This fusion of art and science led Kapadia on an educational journey across continents to study music and engineering. 

After earning a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from Swami Vivekananda Institute of Technology in Mumbai, Kapadia moved to New York City in 2008 to study music at the prestigious New York University. He earned a Master of Music Technology in 2010. While there, he spent time in several music studios learning and creating different sounds. He has also performed as a vocalist throughout US and other countries. He now works as GM's senior performance engineer and Sound Director. Kapadia, is also a trained fitness and yoga teacher who focuses on well-being using sound and frequencies to trigger hormones and glands in the body.

“When creating sounds for our new vehicles, I try to keep the psychology of music in mind,” explained Kapadia. “My years of research in psychoacoustics – the scientific study of how humans perceive various sounds – is an element for inner well-being and healing that I consider when developing new sounds.”

Vasudha Komaragiri - Carnatic and Film Vocalist

Vasudha Komaragiri is a professional Bollywood, Tollywood and Devotional singer. She began her singing career with "Paadutha Teeyaga", “Yendaro Mahanubhavulu”, music based program on ETV and Gemini TV hosted by late Sri. SP Balasubramanyam and Nava Ragam in Gemini TV. Vasudha has worked under the guidance of popular Telugu music directors in Telugu film Industry for several years and has given many stage shows along with them in India and US and continues to perform in various Indian organizations. Vasudha has sung for serials in Doordarshan, ETV and Gemini TV.  She also releases cover songs on her YouTube channel. Presently she teaches Carnatic music and performs devotional and film music concerts. 

Hrudhwani is a Michigan based contemporary fusion music band formed by enthusiastic and talented musicians. The band brings in a combination of Indian Classical music with a Western touch, Indian movie songs and own compositions. The band consists of classically trained lead vocalists and various Indian & Western instruments like Indian stringed instrument Veena, Bamboo Flute, Drums, Guitar, Keyboard/Synthesizer and other instruments.

Hrudhwani team's musical journey started in January 2017. Till date, the band has performed on various stages and esteemed sabhas like Great Lakes Aradhana Committee (GLAC), MlINDIA, Indian League of America, Pampa Kannada Koota, AKKA Dallas, Ford Asian Indian Association (FAIA), Corporate Event at Wipro Ltd., for Film promotions, for Celebrity visits, private and public events. The team has gained great appreciation for their unique style of presenting the musical compositions involving the audience. The team aspires to grow in the world music arena bringing in unique style as a performance band. Hrudhwani band has released many albums which are available on social media.

Tanuj Raizada - Singer

Tanuj Raizada, a talented singer with a fabulous voice that captivates the audience, had an active interest in music at a very early age where he participated in various school and college level singing and musical programs.

Tanuj has been performing at various fundraising and cultural events in and around Michigan since 2005 for organizations such as FOMAPI, SEVA, Indian Cultural Association (Lansing), Hindu Temple of Lansing, Hindu Temple of Toledo, Bhartiya Hindu Temple of Troy and many other occasions.

Mai Family Services seeks to raise awareness of the problems facing the South Asian community in Michigan and to provide support services in the areas of partner and family violence, substance abuse, mental health, and senior issues through confidential and culturally sensitive intervention. 

Learn more: www.maifs.org

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