Annex1
NATIONAL INDIAN MUSIC COMPETITION 2004
Competition Schedule
Date / Time / Event / Venue6 September
7-9 September / 9am-6pm
11am-6pm / Competition / Civil Service Club Auditorium
60 Tessensohn Road
Singapore 217664
10 September / 10am-12pm / Master classes for veena, vocals and sitar / Civil Service Club Auditorium
60 Tessensohn Road
Singapore 217664
1-3pm / Master classes for tabla, mridangam and violin
11 September / 7.30pm-10pm / Prize Winners’ Concert and Prize Presentation Ceremony / Victoria Theatre
9 Empress Place
Singapore 179556
Competition Categories
1. Solo
Sections: a. Instrumental: Sitar, Veena, Violin, Tabla, Mridangam
b. Vocal (Carnatic)
Age Categories: Intermediate (16 years and below; as at 15 June 2004)
Open (35 years and below, as at 15 June 2004)
2. Ensemble
Age Category: Open (35 years and below, as at 15 June 2004)
Each group is to comprise 4 to 8 players. The ensemble may be entirely instrumental, or may be a combination of instrumental and vocal. However, there should not be more than 2 vocalists or 2 of the same instruments. The players can play any Indian Classical instrument but at least one instrument must be percussion.
There will be two rounds of competition, Semi-Finals and Finals.
Awards
All participants will receive certificates. Top three prize winners of the Solo and Ensemble Sections will each receive a trophy and cash prizes. Total cash prizes amount to $24,000.
Solo Ensemble
Open Category 1st Prize $1,000 $1,200
2nd Prize $ 700 $1,000
3rd Prize $ 500 $ 800
Intermediate Category 1st Prize $ 600 -
2nd Prize $ 400 -
3rd Prize $ 300 -
Master classes
Master classes conducted by the judges in sitar, veena, violin, vocal (carnatic), tabla and mridangam are on 10 September 2004, in conjunction with the Competition.
Selected participants of the competition will be invited to perform during the Master classes. The Master classes are also open to observers. Admission is at $5 per person. Tickets are currently available at NAC, and at the Civil Service Auditorium from 6 September 2004 onwards.
Prize Winners’ Concert & Prize Presentation Ceremony
The top 3 prizes of each section and category will be presented at the Prize Winners’ Concert and Awards Ceremony. Selected first prize winners of the Competition will perform at the Concert, which will also feature performances by the judges.
Admission tickets to the Prize Winners’ Concert & Prize Presentation Ceremony are at $5. Tickets are currently available at NAC, and at the Competition venue from 6 September 2004 onwards.
Annex 2
Profiles of Adjudicators
/ Violin/VocalMs Rajeswari Rajaretnam
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Ms Kavalam Sri Kumar took up music at the age of 6, and had her stage debut at the age of 12 on the violin. Since then, she has given solo performances and has accompanied both local and foreign vocalists. After completing her education, she left for Chennai for further coaching under the doyens of Indian classical music, Smt D.K. Pattammal for vocals and Sri T.N. Krishnan for violin. During this period, she performed during Esai Vilza (Music Festival) and Sri Thiagaraja Aradhana in Thiruviyar. Since her return, she has been performing and providing training in vocals and violin.
She obtained the honorary title “Nathavarithi” in 1984 and “Vathia Vidvamani” in 1986, awarded by Malaysian cultural organisations. She served as the President of a cultural organisation “Sangeethalayam” for 8 years (1995-2003). In recognition of her service in the field of music, she was awarded The National Title (Ahli Mangku Negara – A.M.N.) by the then Yang Di Pertuan Agong Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah in 1999.
/ Sitar/TablaMrs Jyoti Thakar
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Born to the Ashtewale family of Ujjain, Mrs Thakar is the scion of a long tradition begun by Sardar Krishnarao (Nana Saheb) Ashtewale (1841-1900), who was a great patron of music and disciple of the legendary Ustad Bande Ali Khan. Her music education was provided by her father, Vasudeoran Ashtewale (1925-1994), himself a great teacher of the sitar in Ujjain and Bhopal. Mrs Thakar also graduated with Bachelor of Music from the Prayag Sangeet Samiti of Allahabad, and Bachelor of Arts from Bhopal University.
Since her marriage, Mrs Thakar has resided in Pune, one of the epicenters of Indian classical music of the post-independence era. The vibrant Pune music scene offered her much exposure to the wide range of talent, style and innovation in music. Mrs Thakar’s musical expertise matured under Dr K.G. Gadgil and Shri. N.G. Gadgil, themselves disciples of her father. She also studied briefly with renowned vocalist Pandit Dinkar Kaikini, and more recently with Pandit Ram Narayan. Mrs Thakar maintains an active concert schedule and has toured India, Europe and the United States. She continues to extend her teaching experience of 20 years.
/ VeenaMrs Srimathi Revathy Krishna
Gandhi Nagar, Chennai, South India
Mrs Krishna comes from a rich and long lineage that is well-established in music. The great granddaughter of Shri Thilaisthanam Raman Iyengar, devoted sishya of the great saint Thyagaraja, Mrs Krishna’s devotion, dedication and love for music is evident. She is the great grand daughter of Shri Thilaisthanam Raman Iyengar, the devoted sishya of the great saint Thyagaraja.
She learned to play the veena under the tutelage of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Shri K.P. Sivanandam Pillai and his wife Smt. Sharada Sivanandham. She also has the honour of being trained by maestros like Veena Vishudhi Smt. Kalpagam Swaminathan and Pamadshri Lalgudi Jayaraman. Her training in Carnatic vocals, largely attributed to her mother’s coaching, enables Mrs Krishna to give a lyrical touch to her instrumental utterances, as noted by critic Subbudu.
Mrs Krishna’s formal training was completed when she was awarded the title “Sangeet Vidwan” from the Tamil Nadu Government Music College at Chennai. She has been giving public performances since 1990 and is an ‘A’ grade artiste of All India Radio who had been giving one-hour concerts on air since 1981. She has performed all over India and has been honoured and awarded many titles by various institutions, including the Best Performance awards from the Music Academy, Indian Arts, Krishna Gana Sabha, and Naradha Gana Sabha.
/ Vocal/MridangamProf T V Gopalakrishnan
Indra Nagar, Chennai, South India
Prof Gopalakrishnan was born at Trippunithura (Kerala, India) in a family with a rich and long-established musical heritage as royal court musicians. Prof Gopalakrishnan (TVG, as he is popularly known) was initiated to this great musical tradition handed down by Coimbatore Raghava Iyer, Mahavaidyanatha Iyer, Chakrathanam Subba Iyer (great grandfather of Chembai Viadyanatha Bhagavathar) and Palghat Anantharama Bhagavathar even before the age of five. He learnt his art from his father Sri Viswanatha Bhagavathar, himself a great exponent of Carnatic music. His uncle Sri Narayanasamy Iyer also taught him the mridangam too. At the age of six, TVG gave his maiden concert before the Last Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow.
TVG had a long and intimate association of over three decades with his Guru, the late Sri Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. Today, he is Chembai’s premier disciple and a master in his own right. Gifted with a mellow bass voice capable of an enviable range, TVG has successfully trained and moulded his voice to create enchanting and outstanding music.
To expand his horizons, TVG also focused his attention on Hindustani music and mastered it with the help of Pt. Krishnanand, a famous exponent of Kirana Gharana. He was awarded the title of “Gana Kala Bharathi”, by the Governor of Madras, H.E.K.K. Shah, when he gave his maiden concert in Hindustani music at the Music Academy, Madras, in 1969.