Saturday, July 15, 2000, 7:00 pm
Mandolin U.R. Raju & Mandolin P. Nagmani
with
Neyveli B. Venkatesh (Mridangam) &
Kannappa Murali (Ghatam)
Venue:
The Recital Hall,
College of Saint Catherine, Saint Paul
About the artists:
Mandolin U.P Raju learned from a young age under Sri. R. Subbaraju, undergoing 7 years of rigorous training through the Gurukulavasam system. He received advanced training from Calcutta K.S. Krishnamoorthi. Raju has performed all over India as a solo instrumentalist as well as in duet performances. In 1989 he was awarded a special prize by the Krishna Gana Sabha for distinguished performance. In 1994 he was awarded the music critic ‘K S Mahadevan’ endowment for the best junior artist playing a foreign instrument, by the Narada Gana Sabha. In the last 15 years he has given well over 2000 concerts. He has several commercial recordings to his credit.
Mandolin P. Nagamani, as a precocious teenager, ranks on par with many Carnatic exponents much senior to her in age. Under the loving and careful guidance of her uncle and mentor, Sri. Mandolin U.P. Raju, this prodigal child has developed into a fine artist. By the age of 9, she had performed as a seasoned soloist in the hallowed portals of the grand music sabhas of Madras. She has had advanced training under Sri. Calcutta K.S. Krishnamoorthi. In 1994 Nagamani was awarded the Best Junior Artist by the Krishna Gana Sabha. She is the recipient of the Ambujam Krishna award from the Madras Music Academy in 1994. Since 1994 she has also been a regular performer at the Music Academy in Madras. She has several concert tours and recordings to her credit.
Neyveli B. Venkatesh started training in Mridangam at the age of 7 under his father Sri. S. Balaraman. He received advanced training under Sri. Ramanathapuram M.N. Kandaswamy Pillai and Sri. P.P. Venkatesan. He has been performing since the age of 10. He has accompanied many stalwarts of Carnatic music and in 1986, set a record of playing the Mridangam for 28 hours at a stretch in Neyveli, India.
Kannappa Murali started learning the Mridangam at the age of 12 under Guru Trichy R. Thayumanavan. After two years of learning the Mridangam, he switched over to the Ghatam. Since then he has given over 1000 concerts all over India. He is presently an "A" Grade artist of the All India Radio in Trichy.
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