Surya Sound Temple – Diwali concert – Monday, Oct 24th, 2022 at 7pm

This event is donation-based, Limited Space, Please RSVP.

Vignesh Ravichandran – Vocalist

Vignesh Ravichandran is a Carnatic Vocalist in the NY/NJ area. He is a student of Kalaimamani V. S. Balamurali of Pondicherry and Shanmuga Sangeetha Sironmani Vishnudev Namboothiri, Chennai. Vignesh holds a masters in fine arts (MFA) degree in carnatic vocal from the Annamalai University. He has won various awards and accolades for his performances. In addition to solo concerts, Vignesh frequently sings for bharatanatyam and kuchipudi dance performances and arangettrams.

Swetha Narasimham – Violinist

Swetha Narasimhan is a senior student of Late Smt. Gowri Ramakrishnan, from whom she was privileged to learn for 16 years. Swetha started learning violin at the age of 6 from Dr. Narayan Raman in Indianapolis, and was taught by several violinists, including Shri. Purnachander Rao, Trichy Shri. Sathyamurthy, and Smt. Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi. She enjoys playing for Carnatic vocal, instrumental, Bharathanatyam, and Kuchipudi programs around the country. She holds a degree in mathematics from Bryn Mawr College, and a master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania. Swetha was a high school teacher in Philadelphia for 7 years and is working in the field of education.

Visveshwar Nagarajan – Flautist

N Visveshwar is an All India Radio “A” graded (one of the youngest flautist to receive it) carnatic flute artist from Chennai and currently lives in New Jersey. Since he started performing at the age of 9, he has performed around 1200 concerts in reputed sabhas and weddings in the US and India in the past 16 years. He is a disciple of his maternal grandfather Singanallur Ramaraja. He was awarded the “Best Instrumentalist Prize” at the age of 14, by The Madras Music Academy. He has received several other titles and awards including “Venu Gana Rathna”, “Venu Ilamamani”, “Vamshi Kaladhara”, “Bala Kala Rathna” and is a recipient of Indian government cultural scholarship.

BalaSkandan – Percussionist (Mridungam and Kanjira)

Bala Skandan is a performer, educator and composer of Carnatic music. He performs both on the Mridangam (double-headed drum) and violin (Carnatic style). He also highlights the beauty of Kanjira (frame drum) and konnakkol (vocal rhythm) in his compositions as well as in performances. He is the lead artist and composer of Akshara Music Ensemble, a NY based Indian-classical music inspired band. Bala Skandan lives in Brooklyn and teaches actively.