Indian Music Society of Minnesota

N Ravikiran: Hailed by Radio National, Australia as 'perhaps the greatest slide instrumentalist in the world today', Ravikiran made headlines as the world’s youngest prodigy at the age of two (in 1969), identifying and demonstrating 325 ragas, 175 talas and answering numerous other questions. He presented his first vocal concert at five, first chitravina recital when he was 12 and set a record with a non-stop show for 24 hours when he was 18. Ravikiran has toured around the world several times and performed in numerous international festivals and venues such as: Autumn Festival, France, Millennium Festival, UK, Brisbane International Festival, Australia, Esplanade, Singapore, Pablo Caslo Festival, France, Cal Arts Festival, USA, Harborfront Festival, Toronto, Canada, House of World Culture, Berlin, Vienna Palace and Theatre de la Ville, Paris. He has been featured by major radio and TV networks including CNN, BBC, NPR, ABC and leading record labels such as Nimbus, Naxos, Waterlily and Music Today.

He has collaborated with top international musicians such as Taj Mahal, Glen Velez and Larry Coryell and orchestras like the BBC Philharmonic and Cleveland Opera in fusion performances and award-winning recordings. Recognized in world music for his concept Melharmony, Ravikiran is also the most prolific performing composer today in the classical arena with over 500 original pieces including music-dance productions such as Lakshmi Prabhavam, Savithri, Cosmos and Vinayaka Vaibhavam. He has authored several books, trained numerous disciples and has recently founded Shakti Extratainment - India's first IPTV culture channel. His awards include the President's Sangeet Natak Akademy Award, Harvard University Sangeet Award, Houston and Tulsa City Awards, Music Academy TTK Award, Kumar Gandharva Samman, Sangeeta Choodamani and Vadya Ratnakara, to name a few. He attributes all his successes to his gurus - Chitravina Narasimhan and T Brinda.

Akkarai S Subhalakshmi: Trained by Shri O V Subramaniam, Shri P S Narayanaswamy and Chitravina N Ravikiran, as also her father Akkarai Swaminathan, Subhalakshmi has blossomed into a prodigiously talented violinist. She has accompanied eminent artistes and performs widely in India as well as in other countries like USA, Japan, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Bahrain, United Kingdom, Singapore and Canada. She also gives vocal concerts as well as violin duets with her sister, Swarnalata. She has been featured in several albums. Subhalakshmi’s awards include the Bismillah Khan Award from Sangeet Natak Akademi, Rajiv Gandhi Youth award, Yuva Kala Bharati, Kala Bhooshan and Kalki Award. Shubhalakshmi is also a member of faculty Ravikiran's International Foundation for Carnatic Music.

Trichy Sankaran: He had his early musical training under his cousin Sri Poovalur Venkataraman and subsequently under mrdangam legend, Pazhani Subramaniam Pillai. He has accompanied top artistes for over 3 generations in Carnatic music and over the last 34 years, has made a contribution of unique range and scope to the Carnatic and Canadian musical culture. He has done significant work as a performer, composer, academic, musical educator, and cultural ambassador. As an educator, Prof. Sankaran has bridged Eastern and Western pedagogical styles and has influenced generations of students who have gone on to be important Canadian performers, composers and music educators themselves. Trichy Sankaran is the Founding Director of Indian music studies and Professor of Music at York University , Toronto , Canada . His awards include the prestigious Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Association teaching award, Sangeeta Choodamani (Krishna Gana Sabha) , Sangita Seva Ratna ( Cleveland ), Vishwa Kala Bharati (Bharat Kalachar) and Mysore Chowdaiah Award (Karnataka Government).

IMSOM’s Fall 2008 Concert Series has been supported in part by funds provided by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council’s (MRAC) Arts Activities Support and Capital Grants, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature, the Honeywell “Dollars for Doers” Grant, and IMSOM members. This concert is co-sponsored by KFAI “Fresh Air” Radio (90.3 FM Minneapolis/106.7 FM St. Paul).