NCYCAC 2019: 10th Annual Music Festival

About Kiran

Kiran's mission is to end the cycle of abuse and to serve and empower South Asian victims of domestic violence in North Carolina by providing culturally specific services and comprehensive economic, social and community resources.

While the abuse itself does not manifest differently in South Asian communities, there are a number of elements of South Asian culture that complicate identification of abuse and help-seeking. These elements include the stigma of divorce, collectivism, patriarchy, joint family households, and concepts of honor/reputation ("izzat"). These challenges leave South Asian victims vulnerable to multi-pronged crises like immigration-related concerns; physical and mental health issues stemming from the abuse; financial assistance for transportation, rent, or attorney's fees; childcare assistance; translation/interpretation; job search; transitional/permanent housing; and more.

Kiran is prepared and equipped to provide culturally and gender competent support, as well as prolonged case management to address the unique challenges faced by each client. 

  • 24-hour crisis line

  • Safety Planning: Personalized, practical planning that can help in avoiding future dangerous situations

  • Translation Assistance: Interpretation assistance is available for clients originating from South Asian countries

  • Secure Housing: Assist client in securing stable housing through strong partnerships with collaborative partners

  • Empowerment: Empower clients and their families to to live safe, healthy and productive lives

  • Resource Referrals: Legal referrals to family law, immigration, and criminal attorneys; referrals to secure, confidential shelters and other forms of temporary housing; and medical referrals to primary physicians, specialty care providers, and counselors/therapists

  • Secondary Family Services: Assistance in arranging childcare, transportation services, and medical referrals for immediate family members

  • Client Advocacy: Intensive case management encompassing court accompaniment, assistance with domestic violence protective order (dvpo) filing, green card applications, and more.

Saturday August 31st

Sunday September 1st

Performance Accompanists Time
Smt. Geetha Ganesh School of Music Siddharth Gadepalli - Mridangam 10:00 AM - 10:25 AM
Ragasudha School - Vocal and Instrumental (Sri Palghat Sridhar) Kartik Nagaraj - Mridangam 10:30 AM - 10:55 AM
Harini Sivaraman Vinithra Sudhakar - Violin
Vageesh Nanduri - Mridangam		 11:00 AM - 11:07 AM
Shivani Gadepalli Vinithra Sudhakar - Violin
Theajus Ram Jayendhran - Mridangam		 11:08 AM - 11:15 AM
Fundraising Pitch 11:15 AM - 11:25 AM
Triven Kannan Tejas Srinivasan - Violin
Visrut Sudhakar - Mridangam		 11:25 AM - 12:25 PM
Lunch 12:25 PM - 12:55 PM
Sai Shruthi Laya Music School (Smt. Divya Jandhyala) Siddharth Rajaraman - Mridangam 12:55 PM - 1:10 PM
Ahana Chellamani Srian Pedibhotla - Violin
Siddharth Rajaraman - Mridangam		 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM
Hrishikesh Ram Maitreyi Sivaraman - Violin
Suraj Srinivasan - Mridangam		 1:35 PM - 2:05 PM
Srinath Iyer Akhil Pramod - Violin
Guhan Jayakrishnan - Mridangam		 2:07 PM - 2:14 PM
Sarasri Kadambi Akhil Pramod - Violin
Guhan Jayakrishnan - Mridangam		 2:15 PM - 2:22 PM
Vihit Nanduri Akhil Pramod - Violin
Nikhil Jayanty - Mridangam		 2:23 PM - 2:30 PM
Fundraising Pitch 2:30 PM - 2:40 PM
Pallavi Tumuluru Akhil Pramod - Violin
Nikhil Jayanty - Mridangam		 2:40 PM - 2:47 PM
Sanjana Sundhar (Keyboard) Nikhil Jayanty - Mridangam 2:49 PM - 2:56 PM
Srian Pedibhotla (Violin) Nikhil Jayanty - Mridangam 2:58 PM - 3:05 PM
Prashanth Iyer Vinithra Sudhakar - Violin
Siddharth Gadepalli - Mridangam		 3:07 PM - 3:22 PM
Laasya School of Music
(Smt. Ranganayaki Rajan)		 Theajus Ram Jayendhran - Mridangam 3:30 PM - 3:40 PM
Tea/Samosa Break 3:45 PM - 3:55 PM
Maya Krishnamoorthy Akhil Pramod - Violin
Siddharth Rajaraman - Mridangam		 3:57 PM - 4:12 PM
Sreeram Venkat Tejas Srinivasan - Violin
Suraj Srinivasan - Mridangam		 4:17 PM - 4:47 PM
Akhil Pramod (Violin) Kartik Nagaraj - Mridangam 4:52 PM - 5:07 PM
Fundraising Pitch 5:07 PM - 5:12 PM
Ahi Ajayan Tejas Srinivasan - Violin
Suraj Srinivasan - Mridangam
Samarth Rao - Kanjira		 5:12 PM - 6:12 PM
Dinner 6:12 PM - 6:42 PM
10th Year Special Event 6:42 PM - 7:02 PM
SRK School of Music - Violin (Smt. Seetha and Ranjani Ramakrishnan) Siddharth Gadepalli - Mridangam
Samyuktha Sreeram - Ghatam		 7:07 PM - 7:22 PM
Madhu Vadlamani (Violin) Kapil Ramanarayanan - Mridangam
Samarth Rao - Kanjira		 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Meet our 2019 Artists

Artist Bio
Ahi Ajayan Ahi is a 11th grader at Lamar High School in Houston Texas. She has been learning music since she was 3 years old. She currently learns from Suguna Varadachari and Palai C.K. Ramachandran. She has given multiple concerts in Chennai during the music season, as well as in the United States.
Akhil Pramod Akhil is a 9th grader at Green Hope High School. He has been learning Violin for the past 8 years. He has learnt from Sri. Vikram Raghukumar, and currently learning from Sri. Palghat Sridhar. Akhil has accompanied many singers in the local events and also performed at Detroit Marghazhi festival.
Divya Nataraj Divya Nataraj is a senior at Green Hope High School. Divya has been learning Carnatic music for 13 years. She is a student of Sampoorna Fine Arts where she learns from gurus Sri. K.N Raghu and Smt. Subha Sundarajan, and she has also learnt from guru Smt. Vatsala Sampathkumar of Bangalore. Divya has participated in the Sustaining Sampradaya program with Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, and has performed at events organized by NCYCAC, SIFAA, Swaralaya, and other local Raleigh events. Divya plays the violin in her school orchestra and also plays the piano.
Harini Sivaraman Harini Sivaraman is a junior at Green Hope High school . She has been learning Carnatic music from Mathangi Shankar. Harini has performed at local Carnatic music events and has also participated in the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana competition.
Hrishikesh Ram Hrishikesh Ram is a junior at Enloe High School. He previously learnt Carnatic vocal from Smt. Varuni Ravinder, and currently is a student of Vidwan Sri B.U. Ganesh Prasad of Chennai.
Kapil Ramanarayanan Kapil Ramanarayanan is a sophomore at UNC Chapel Hill. He has been learning mridhangam for more than 13 years and is currently under the tutelage of mridhangam maestro Bangalore Shri Arjun Kumar. He has been accompanying for concerts in the USA and has given performances in India during December Music Season in Chennai. He has won several prizes in the Junior and Senior categories at Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana. In addition to mridangam, Kapil is a trained western classical violinist as well as an A Cappella musician.
Kartik Nagaraj No bio provided
Lahari Kamanadiminti Lahari Kamanadiminti is a rising 10th grader at Grimsley High School in Greensboro, NC. She has been learning Carnatic music since the age of 5 under the tutelage of her mother Smt. Mallika Mantravadi of Nadhasudha School of music. In addition to learning Carnatic Music, Lahari also learns viola and is an avid dancer who has recently completed her Bharatanatyam Arangetram. Lahari has participated in various concerts, including the Triad Hindu Temple’s Concert Showcase, Swaralaya in Cary, and continues to challenge herself by competing in local and regional competitions such as SIFAA and Saptami Organization's Youth Talent Competitions.
Madhu Vadlamani Madhu (Ganesh) Vadlmaani has recently graduated (BS in Computer Science) from UNC Chapel Hill (Class of 2019). He had his initial training in vocal from his aunt Smt. Sujana Parupalli at the age of 6. Later he switched to Violin and is currently learning under the tutelage of Smt. Seetha Ramakrishnan and Vidushi Ranjani Ramakrishnan for the past 9 years. Madhu has won many awards both in US and India and regularly gives concerts during the December music season in Chennai.
Mahathi Sundarajan Mahathi Sundarajan is a rising seventh grader at Sterling Montessori Academy and Charter School. She started learning music from her mother Smt. Subha Sundarajan at the age of four. She also plays the violin with her initial training under her grandfather Sri. K. N. Raghu and continues lessons from Smt. Padma Shankar. She is an avid reader and enjoys drawing and painting as well.
Maitreyi Sivaraman Maitreyi Sivaraman is currently a sophomore majoring in Computer Science at UNC Chapel Hill. She has been learning Carnatic violin under the tutelage of Seetha Ramakrishnan and Ranjani Ramakrishnan for almost 7 years. Maitreyi has participated in several local music events, as well as in the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana.
Manasi Krishnakumar Manasi is a freshman at NC State University with an intent to pursue Biomedical Engineering. She began her vocal training under Smt. Mathangi Shankar of Cary, NC. Currently, she is under the tutelage of Smt. Chaitrra Sairam, disciple of Vidushi Bombay Jayashri, and Smt. Ramya Kapadia of Natyarpana School of Music.
Nikhil Jayanty Nikhil Jayanty is a rising 6th grader going to Carnage Middle School. He has been learning Carnatic vocal from Smt. Varuni Ravinder for the 5 years and learning mridangam from Sri Sudhindra Rao for the past 3 years. He has participated in various Carnatic music events in the Triangle area.
Nithya Indlamuri Nithya Indlamuri is a 8th grader attending Cardinal Charter Academy. She is currently learning Carnatic music from Smt. Mathangi Shankar. Alongside music, she is passionate about art, poetry, tennis, playback singing and volunteering.
Pallavi Tumuluru Pallavi has been learning carnatic music from her guru Smt Sudha Dusi garu. She has participated in many performances and won many competitions in carnatic music.She is currently pursuing Diploma in Carnatic music
Pranav Krishnakumar Pranav Krishnakumar is a Junior at Panther Creek High School. He started learning from Shri Vikram Ragukumar, and is currently under the tutelage of Shri Vittal Ramamurthy. He also plays Western Violin and is a part of the Duke and Philharmonic Youth Orchestras.
Prashanth Iyer Prashanth Iyer is currently a student of Smt.Ranjani Ramakrishnan and Smt.Seetha Ramkrishnan. He has been performing at NCYCAC for the past eight years.He is very interested in the fusion of different genres of music.
Saadhvi G. Mamidi Saadhvi Mamidi has been studying Carnatic music for a little over 9 years. She is currently being taught by guru Mathangi Shankar at Nadopasana school of Music. She has performed at NCYAC, local religious and cultural events at SV temple, basant bahar, etc. Saadhvi is part of swaranjali, a bhajan group at Chinmaya Mission.
Sarasri Kidambi Sarasri is a rising seventh grader at West Cary Middle School. She started learning Carnatic vocal at the age of five from Smt. Subha Sundarajan of Sampoorna Fine Arts. She takes Carnatic violin lessons from Sri. K. N. Raghu. Sarasri plays Western violin and enjoys drawing and painting as well. Raam has been learning Mridanga from vidwan Kulur Jayachandra Rao, Bangalore before moving to US He is continuing his lessons under the tutelage of Vidwan Shri Sudheendra Rao in Apex
Sai Saranya Varanasi Sai Saranya Varanasi is a rising 6th grader at Mendenhall Middle School in Greensboro, NC. She has been learning Carnatic music since the age of 5 under Smt. Mallika Mantravadi at the Nadhasudha School of music. In addition to learning Carnatic Music, Saranya also learns piano and Bharatanatyam, and enjoys participating in musical opportunities in the community. She has performed at Triad Hindu Temple in Greensboro, Guilford County’s All County Chorus program, as well as participated and received awards in SIFAA competitions. Beyond her artistic interests, Saranya enjoys swimming, reading books, and spending time with family and friends.
Sai Sundar Sai Sundar has been learning mridangam since the age of 4 from Sangitha Kalanidhi Dr. Trichy Sank. He is going into his 4th year at Eastern Michigan University pursuing a degree in finance. .
Samarth Rao Samarth Rao started learning mrudanga at very young age from his father Shri. Sudhindra Rao and kanjira from Vidwan. Shri. Bangalore N Amrit. Samarth has performed at iCarnatic Summer festival in Chicago & iCarnatic Margazhi Festival in Detroit. He also has performed at Yuva Sangeetha Lahari and Brindavani, an annual youth festival in New Jersey. Samarth has been accompanying junior and senior artists on kanjira at various music sabhas in the United States and Bangalore. He has formed a youth Carnatic ensemble group called Laya Sinchana-Vadya Vrinda and has performed at many events; he is rising junior at Enloe High School in Raleigh.
Samyuktha Sreeram Samyuktha Sreeram is a 12th grader at Briar Woods High School in Virginia. She has been learning ghatam for seven years under the tutelage of Sangita Kalacharya Sri TH Subash Chandran. She also learns Carnatic vocal music from Kalaimamani Smt. Charumathi Ramachandran. Samyuktha has accompanied artists in venues around the US, Canada, and India.
Sanjana Sundhar Sanjana Sundhar is a senior at Green Hope High School. She has been learning to play Carnatic keyboard under the tutelage of Sri. Harikrishnan for the past 2 years and has been learning Western classical piano for the past 10 years from Dr. Richard Mckee. She was an Indian ‪Raaga‬ Fellowship Program finalist for 2018. In addition, Sanjana is also learning Bharathanatyam from Smt. Meena Rajagopal and has been part of ‪the orchestra‬ for Arangetrams. Sanjana recently received the “Excellence in Performing Arts” award for 2018 from the Heritage India Organization.
Shivani Gadepalli Shivani is a 7th grader at Apex Friendship Middle School. She began learning Carnatic Vocal Music from Smt. Shubha Sundar and Shri Siri Varadhan. She is currently under the tutelage of Smt. Mytreyi Sastry Aravind. Shivani won 1st place in the sub-junior Krithi and Varnam categories of the Saptami Foundation Regional Competitions. Shivani also learns Bharatanatynam from Smt. Sreedevi Jaganath.
Shivani Sundaram Shivani Sundaram started her music at the age of 5 under Mallika Akella and currently learning from OST mama for the last few years.
Shreyas Ashok Shreyas has been learning Carnatic music for over 13 years. He is a student of Kalaimamani Sri. R Suryaprakash, and received initial training from Smt. Mathangi Shankar. Shreyas has performed in various music festivals across the USA and is the president of NCYCAC, a youth Carnatic music organization based in North Carolina. He is now a senior studying Mechanical Engineering at NC State University.
Shrihari Bhaskar Shrihari Bhaskar started his vocal training from Smt. Padma Sundar from the age of 8, and has been continuing advanced training with Sri. Madurai Sundar since 2011. He had his vocal arangetram in the summer of 2015. Since then he has performed in multiple youth festivals in the US and India. He is currently a Senior at the University of Michigan.
Shruthi and Shwetha Kunjur Shruthi and Shwetha Kunjur started learning carnatic vocal at a very young age from Smt.Varuni Ravinder and have been under the tutelage of Smt. Mytreyi Sastry Aravind for the past five years. They have performed at NCYCAC, Swaralaya and several local events in the Triangle area. In addition to carnatic vocal, they also play piano and enjoy painting.
Siddharth Gadepalli Siddharth is a sophomore at NC State University studying Business Administration. He has been learning mridangam for the past several years under the Laya Sinchana School of Percussion by Shri Sudhindra Rao. He is now taking advanced training under Shri HS Sudhindra in Bangalore.
Siddharth Rajaraman Siddharth is a sophomore at Enloe High School. He has been learning Mridangam under Sri Sudhindra Rao for the past 6 years with the Laya Sinchana School. He also has been learning Carnatic violin under Sri Palghat Sridhar for the past 4 years. He has performed in NCYCAC, Swaralaya, SIFAA and several other venues.
Siri Rao No Bio Provided.
Sreeram Venkat Sreeram Venkat started learning Carnatic Vocal music from Smt. Shymala Krishna in Kansas and Smt. Geetha Ganesh in Cary. More recently, he has received advanced training from Sri Malladi Suribabu and Sri Madurai R. Sundar. Sreeram has performed at venues in the US and India. He is a 2017 US presidential scholar and is now studying mathematics and physics at NC State University.
Srinath Iyer Srinath Iyer is an 8th grader at Smith Middle School in Chapel Hill. Srinath started formal lessons in carnatic vocal when he was 4. He has been learning from Smt. Ranganayaki Rajan, and from Sri. O.S. Thiagarajan. Srinath has participated in the Traingle Area and Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhanas, NCYCAC, and SIFAA. Srinath's other notable interests include western violin and quiz bowl.
Srian Pedibhotla Srian Pedibhotla started violin at a young age of 6 and has been learning violin under the tutilage of Sri Palghat Sridhar. He has also been learning vocal since he was 4 years old and has been learning under Sri B. U. Ganeshprasad. He has given many performances with Swaralaya, SIFAA, Cleveland & Chicago Tyagaraja and has won prizes in each. He is currently attending Enloe High School and is 10th grade.
Sriya Venkat No Bio Provided.
Suraj Srinivasan Suraj Srinivasan began learning mridangam at the age of 7 and is currently receiving advanced training from Sri Vinod Seetharaman and Sri Arjun Kumar, both disciples of Padma Vibushan Sri Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman. He has performed with various artists across the nation and has won several prizes at competitions including the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana. Suraj is currently a rising sophomore studying computer science and mathematics at MIT.
Tejas Srinivasan Tejas was initially introduced to Carnatic vocal music by Shri C. M. Venkatachalam and is currently undergoing advanced vocal and violin training from Delhi Shri P. Sunder Rajan. He has performed vocal concerts, violin solos, and accompanied several musicians in the USA and the Chennai Music Season. Tejas is an upcoming Carnatic musician and a freshman at Duke University.
Theajus Ram Theajus Ram is a rising Sixth Grader in Carnegie middle school. Theajus started his initial Mirudhangam learning from Guru Shri. Bangalore Narendra for about 2 years. He is currently learning from Guru Shri Sudhindra Rao for about 3 years. He has played in ICMDS and layasinchana's percussion ensembles. He started learning Carnatic Music initially from Guru Shrimathi Anjali Jayakumar for about 3 years. He is currently learning from Guru Shrimathi Mathangi for over 1 year. He is also learning Carnatic Violin from Guru Shri. Sadhashiva Bhat for over 1 year and passionate with Music learning
Vageesh Nanduri Vageesh has been learning Mridangam from Shri Peravali Jayabhakar Garu for the last 5 years. He has been accompanying regularly in the local events. He plays western Violin for the advanced carnage school orchestra.
Vihit Nanduri is an Enloe Sophomore and has been learning carnatic classical music from Shri Raghavachary garu for the last 5 years. He performed in a number of local events. He plays classical Carnatic and Jazz on Saxophone as well.
Vinithra Sudhakar Vinithra Sudhakar is a violinist from Cary, North Carolina under the tutelage of Smt. Seetha and Ranjani Ramakrishnan. She has performed as a soloist and accompanist at at various festivals and programs across North Carolina, and has competed and won prizes at carnatic music competitions. She also serves as a board member for NC Youth Classical Arts for Charity. Currently, Vinithra is a student at the George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Vishal Varadarajan Vishal is a rising eighth grader at Academy of Lincoln, Greensboro. He trained in Indian classical music ( vocal) since age 5 under Ranganayaki Rajan in Cary, NC and later with Divya Udaygirish when he moved to Greensboro . He has participated for last 3 years in Sangeetha Aaradhana at Triad Hindu temple. He also plays the Western Flute and Indian flute and has accompanied many artistes in the area.
Visrut Sudhakar Visrut Sudhakar is an upcoming mridangam artist based in North Carolina. He is a currently a disciple of Sri. R Sankaranarayanan.