Volunteer Team Brings Musical Magic to Atlanta
Honoring one’s parents and gurus is a tradition steeped in our culture. In March this year, Usha Balakrishnan, an Atlanta-based singer and teacher of Hindustani classical music, began an effort to organize a concert in memory of her parents, Balwant and Prabha Joshi and in honor of her gurus Vidushi Padma Talwalkar and Vidushi Jayashri Patnekar.
[left] Ramdas Palsule
When she shared the idea with local organizations and businesses, many came forward with funds, including the Indian Classical Music Society, Sashikala Foundation, Ninan Legal, Darshane Realty, East Marietta Family 
Dentistry, WRFG Radio and the Bhave Family. Her students and friends swung in to help with the myriad tasks of marketing, finding a venue, transport, sound and stage set-up. The all-volunteer, Atlanta-based team that took time from their busy careers and worked tirelessly for two and a half months included Amit Kulkarni, Nitin Gadgil, Reazand SadekaSidiqui, Gopender Sharma, Ravi and Radhika Godbole, Sudha Shenoy, Renu Vasudevan, Nitin Mayur, Gopal Koratana, Jerry Fields, Shreyas Meokule and Prateek Jagad.
[Right] Sukada Khire
Usha reached out to the award-winning vocalist Yashaswi Sirpotdar (also a student of student of Vidushi Padma Talwalkar), who was touring the United States accompanied by the renownedtabla maestro Pandit Ramdas Palsule and Sukhada Khire, a talented exponent of the harmonium, and established June 1st as the date for a program of Hindustani classical music and devotional Abhangsin Atlanta.
[Left] Usha Balakrishnan
The audience that attended the full-house event was diverse; ranging from those steeped in knowledge of the Indian classical artform, to others who were hearing this genre for the first time. In her remarks introducing the artists, Usha also shared suggestions on how to appreciate Hindustani music. She asked the audience to note improvisations within the framework of a raag, and to look out for the ‘sum”, the point at which all the musicians come together after improvisational explorations within a rhythm cycle.
[Right] Yashaswi Sirpotdar
From the first notes of Raag Gaawati, Yashaswi had the audience in rapture. They showed their appreciation with claps and ‘Wahs!’ as she improvised and explored melodic expression, with Sukhada Khire shadowing her every move, along with Pandit Palsule providing the rhythmic framework, initially in Rupak Taal and later in Teen Taal. That first rendition was followed by an unforgettable portrayal of Raag Durga. After an intermission, Yashaswi moved on to devotional Abhangs in Marathi, including one of her own compositions- Raam Barawa. Some of the listeners moved from their chairs to sit baithak style in front of the artists for a more connected experience.
An Iranian family attending an Indian program for the first time remarked, “This was different from anything we had heard. Since Usha told us what to listen for, we got into it, and once we did, we just had to stay until the end.” Another listener mentioned getting goose-bumps and being transported into a trance.
“The Atlanta audience is very engaged and supportive,” observed Yashaswi Sirpotdar. “The exchange of energies and vibrations between us performers and enthused listeners takes the whole experience to a different level.”
“I am grateful to everyone who helped put together things from scratch, as we were just a group of enthusiastic volunteers and not an established organization. It goes to show Atlantans can come together with genuine passion to make things happen,” said Usha Balakrishnan. “I am also glad for the opportunity to honor my parents and gurus by opening the door for many people to enjoy the magic of music.”
-Vijay Balan
| Remember, we have new Website Bonus Features that are not in the print magazine. Every time you see the W symbol in the print magazine, you can go to our website to see additional print or audiovisual material! |
|
Submitting your report for consideration in Around Town Please send post event reports for consideration in the Around Town section to AroundTown@khabar.com. Publication of reports is based on several criteria including the volume of reports submitted for a given issue. Guidelines for the reports are on our website at http://www.khabar.com/magazine/around-town/guidelines_for_submitting_reports_to_around_town. Deadline: 15th of each month—for consideration in the following month. However, chances of inclusion are better if reports are received well in advance of the deadline – where possible, e.g. within 3-7 days of the event.
|
Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.
