The 20th Year Edition of Sterling- Rotary Parallel Music Festival at The Music Academy
Shri N Murali, President of the Music Academy was the Chief Guest for the function like in all previous years. Sangita Kalanidhi Designate Vidwan TM Krishna, Carnatic Virtuoso, Original thinker , thought leader and Magsaysay award winner and a staunch advocate calling for more inclusiveness in Carnatic Music was the Special Guest of Honour at this years’ edition of PMF. It has been customary at the Parallel Music Festival of Sangita Kalanidhi Designate of the Music Academy inaugurating that years’ edition.
Life Time Achievement Award for the pandemic Year 2021 was conferred on the limbless wonder Kalaimamani S.R.Krishnamurthy , a carnatic vocalist , poly linguist and a motivational speaker.
LTA for 2023 was conferred on Percussionist Vidwan Guruvayur Durai one of the senior most percussionists and disciple of Legendary Master Late Pazhani Subramaniam Pillai of the famed Pudukottai School of Mrudangam and a differently Abled Artiste.
This year being the centenary year of renowned Vidwan Late Shri MD Ramanathan-an unmatched Carnatic Vocalist, Life Time Achievement Award 2024 was conferred on his renowned disciple Vidwan Prof. PP.Ramakrishnan – former Principal of Chembai Memorial Government Music College, Palakkad, Kerala an accomplished Vocalist, a famed Violinist being disciple of Sangita Kalanidhi Vidwan TN Krishnan, a Music Composer, Musicologist and a Visually Challenged artiste.
This years’ edition of the festival also saw conferring of Distinguished Musician Awards on Vidwan Valangaiman Thiagarajan, Mrudangist from the famed Pudukottai School of Mridangam for 2023 and Vidushi Coimbatore Usha, Violinist for 2024. Usha is a disciple of Sangita Kalanidhi Vidwan Dr.M.Chandrasekaran, Violin Maestro.
Promising Musician awards were conferred on Carnatic Vocalist cum Violinist Akshaya Parthasarathy for 2023 and Vocalist cum Violinist Jyothi Kalai for 2024. There were two vocal concerts. The first one was a Carnatic Vocal concert by Vidwan Karaikal Jaishankar who was conferred the Promising Carnatic Musician Award in 2016. The second one was a Carnatic Vocal concert by Kalaimamani S. Mathangi niece of the famed Vidwan Late Tanjore Kalayanaraman. She was conferred the Distinguished Carnatic Musician Award in 2020.
It is pertinent to point out that all the above artistes were differently abled or visually challenged but have made a mark for themselves in Carnatic Music taking life’s challenges as an opportunity to focus and excel becoming perfect role models for the visually impaired Karna Vidya students cared by Rotary Club of Madras Coromandel trained in computer and soft skills for employability . The artistes performed with a challenged team of accompanists as well. Like in previous years, there was a packed hall this year too.
The event was organised by the Rotary Club of Madras Coromandel which has an independent Trust Karna Vidya Foundation which assists the visually impaired to acquire computer and soft skills for better employability and standing on their own feet. The main sponsor this year was Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited. Associate Sponsors were Limra Overseas Education, Urbando, Puliyansadam Group, Karna Vidya Foundation, AVR associates, MDnD, Pillai & Sons Motor Company (Nexa) & Rajagopal and Balasubrahmaniyan Rotarian Past Presidents of Rotary Club of Madras Coromandel.
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