"Bharat Sanskriti Yuva Ratna" award for Aishu Venkataraman

[cacm]

AISHU VENKATARAMAN a Forum member & Violin prodigy has been chosen to receive the FIRST EVER "BHARAT SANSKRITI YUVA RATNA SAMMAN AWARD"(2013) for Outstanding & Unparalled contributions in the field of Indian Art & Culture in the World. She was chosen by a commitee of EXPERTS like Sitara Devi, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Viswamohan Bhat etc to receive this award. She will perform at the Town hall Auditorium at Burdwan, West Bengal on dec 27th at 6P.M. & receive the Award on dec 31st. Her appearances will be part of the 3rd International Festival of Indian arts & culture and the 6th All India Indian classical music, dance, folk dances drama competitions held this year as a tribute to Swami Vivekananda (150th) & Baba Alaudin Khan by the Bharat Sanskriti Utsab & the Hindustan arts& music society (& Antara Sangit Vidyalaya).
On behalf of the Forum members I congragulate AISHU on her significant acheivements & efforts to propagate our music all over the world. Let the rest of the short concert tour of India build on this significant recognition & lead to further successes in 2014. It is very gratifying to note that the spohisticated experts & very sensitive as well as knowledgeable Bengali group has chosen to honour a South Indian born in USA for her abilities & talents. This bodes well for her already highly successful career. :-BD VKV

[mahavishnu]

Congratulations, Aishu!

[VK RAMAN]

Congrats to Aishu

[Nick H]

Very happy to hear of more success and a big award for Aishu

[cmlover]

Very pleased.
Congratulations!

[thanjavooran]

Congratulations to Our forum member Aishu
Thanjavooran
22 11 2013

[arasi]

So happy for you, Aishu!

An honor, indeed

[appu]

Wow, congrats Aishu on this coveted award. Well deserved. VKV sir or Aishu, can you please post concert schedule and venues where you are performing this music season.

[cacm]

Dear Appu,
I will try to get it & post it here soon. VKV

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

Hey Aishu : Way to go!!! Congrats on this well-deserved recognition--As VKV aptly pointed out,that the award is being given by a panel of Judges from West Bengal is testimony to your prowess!!! More power to your "EL(BOW)!!


Ramesh Mama.

[arasi]

Ramesh,
Like your el'bow'--
And Elle's bow!

[Rsachi]

Aishu makes us all rasikas proud, by her consistent progress and well-deserved recognition by this award.

It's incredible the amount of youth talent we are seeing today. Everywhere you turn, you find youngsters below 25 doing so well - on concert stages, in reality shows, in contests and collaborations. It surely augurs well for classical arts and delights us rasikas no end.

As mentioned by Sriranjani in her Hindu interview (quoted elsewhere here), this layers on in fact some interesting challenges to these wonderfully talented youngsters. It is no different to read that a brilliant IIT/IIM grad gets a campus recruitment with a salary > 300K USD with a 25000$ joining bonus.*** (In my time we celebrated numbers like Rs 1000 pm). What does this mean!? How does a man or woman cope with such early recognition and adulation!? How does one deal with such competition in an intrinsically fickle art world!? How do child movie stars cope!?

I feel these youngsters have to learn from the great examples before us.
How Rama, under his guru Vishwamitra, took such success in his stride.
How MSS became a divine legend in the very same field of performing arts.
How Tendulkar created history through combining physical and emotional stamina with raw talent and ambition to become an incredible sportsperson.

I wish Aishu all the very best in life!!!!


(*** real data I got last Monday).

[maduraimini]

Congratulations, Aishu!

[Nick H]

How does one deal with such competition in an intrinsically fickle art world!? How do child movie stars cope!?

I feel these youngsters have to learn from the great examples before us.
How Rama, under his guru Vishwamitra, took such success in his stride.
How MSS became a divine legend in the very same field of performing arts.
How Tendulkar created history through combining physical and emotional stamina with raw talent and ambition to become an incredible sportsperson.

Sometimes child stars "cope," sometimes they do not. I have no idea how many child stars of carnatic music have fallen by the wayside, but there are certainly examples in the now-not-so-young stars of today that stand as examples. How do they do it? Perhaps, in a way, it helps that carnatic stars, unlike international stars of film or sports, are not showered with cash, but the most important thing, judging from things that Ravikiran has said, is to always put the music, not the self, first. It's a great achievement. I have every confidence that both our V. Aishu and our S. Aishwarya have their feet planted firmly on the path.

[rajeshnat]

Congratulations Aishu, last year in bhopal and this year in burdwan- perhaps many of them there are tasting CM for the first time.

[cienu]

That is great news. Congratulations to Aishu

[uday_shankar]

Fantastic news. Congrats to the young vidushi.

[rshankar]

Aishu's..congratulations! As you can tell, we all take pride in you, and your amazing accomplishments as if you were our own child! 'mecci unnai UrAr pugazhndAl mEni silirkkudaDi'! May you go from strength to strength, and may we have many more such moments.
And Vinod..congratulations to you and the rest of your family too! I wish someday you'll share Aishu's other, and equally amazing accomplishments.
PS:And after all this, like my grandmother would say, 'kozhandaikku sutti pODungO'!

[aishuv]

Hi All,

First off, thank you for all the love and support. The great pains (and eventual satisfaction) of practicing niraval and swaram for hours on end are alleviated just by knowing that I have an army of support here on the Rasikas forum. Special thanks to VKV Mama for sharing my story with you all, and of course to all the great friends I have made over the years Cienu Mama, Ramesh Mama, Ramesh Mama (Mahavishnu), Dr. Shankar, Rajesh, Nick.

I am extremely excited to come to India in just a few short weeks to attend and perform as many concerts as physically possible. Of course every minute I am not at a kutcheri, I will be at SRJ Mama's house learning a new rare kriti or two. I look forward to sharing all I've learned over the last year! Here is my concert schedule:

1. 11/30/13 - Toronto Brothers for Muthuswami Dikshitar Day (Edmonton, Alberta) -- Rajesh Sir, this one is for you! I have finally been given the blessings to start accompanying. Hopefully this will be the first of many.
2. 12/21/2013 - Solo Violin Concert for Tarang (Hyderabad 6:05pm)
3. 12/22/2013 - Solo Violin Concert (Patna 6:15pm)
4. 12/23/2013 - Solo Violin Concert for Harekrishna Temple (Juhu, Bombay 6:00pm)
5. 12/27/2013 - Solo Violin Concert for Hindustan Art and Music Society (Budhwan, West Bengal 6:00pm)
6. 12/29/2013 - Lecture/Demonstration "The Math Behind the Music" for Agni Academy (Thrissur, Kerala 10:00am)
7. 12/29/2013 - Solo Violin Concert for Agni Academy (Thrissur, Kerala 6:00pm)
8. 12/31/2013 - Award Ceremony (Budhwan, West Bengal 6:00pm)
9. 01/03/2014 - Solo Violin Concert (Kolkata 6:00pm)
10. 01/04/2014 - Solo Violin Concert (Kolkata 6:00pm)
11. 01/25/2014 - Solo Violin Concert for the 1st Anniversary of Pandit Ravi Shankar Memorial Concert (Music Circle, Los Angeles 6:00pm)
12. 02/01/2014 - Solo Violin Benefit Concert for Partners in Health (Stanford, CA 6:00pm)
13. 03/08/2014 - Toronto Brothers Violin Accompaniment (Los Angeles, CA 8:00pm)

Hope to see you all during the season!

Best,
Aishu

[kvchellappa]

It is interesting that all the events are away from the citadel of CM.

[S.NAGESWARAN]

Vidhushi Aishu,

I remember your first concert at my home during the Rasikas meet 2009.

It is unfortunate that we will not be able to listen to your concert since you are not playing in any concert at Chennai.

Best wishes.

S.NAGESWARAN.
25.11.2013

[venkatakailasam]

RTP in Thodi. Thodi ragam as performed by Aishu Venkataraman live at IISc, Bangalore 12/28/06

Great tone. Reminiscent of TNK's tonality...
An exquisite music, fine technique-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emg2r8wj8i4


Below profile is only for those for whom she is new..

Aishwarya Venkataraman born in 1993 in Northridge, California, grew up surrounded by music and musicians. Aishu began her training in Suzuki violin at the tender age of two-and-a-half. At age four, she started learning the Carnatic style of music under the tutelage of the eminent violin maestro Shri T N Krishnan. Shri Krishnan has selected and groomed Aishu to be his next protege - an honor of the highest magnitude. While continuing to play South Indian Classical Music, Aishu has also mastered on jazz performance at the famed Berklee College of Music with. She carries the unique distinction of being the youngest student accepted into this four-year college at age 13. Aishu's tonal quality, spectral purity and strong bowing technique are the hallmarks of her performance style.

Aishu's debut CD, "Divine Strings" was recorded at the tender age of 9. She has most recently completed recording her newest album "Bliss" with percussion legend Vellore Ramabhadran.

Aishu's father, Vinod (V.R.) Venkataraman, a native of Bombay, India, is a professional Mridangam player and a guest lecturer at Berklee College of Music for a clinic called "The Math behind the Music." He is also a mathematics consultant and the director of the Center For Academic Excellence for the Long Beach Unified School District. Vinod has served as an integral collaborator with many legendary Indian performers including acclaimed musicians T. N. Krishnan, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Gottuvadyam Ravi Kiran, and Flutist Shri K.S. Gopalakrishnan as well as jazz greats Hubert Laws, Stephane Grapelli, Larry Coryell, Alice Coltrane, and Emil Richards.

[cacm]

ALSO A DISCIPLE OF PALGHAT RAGHU. VKV

[harimau]

Perhaps, in a way, it helps that carnatic stars, unlike international stars of film or sports, are not showered with cash.....

Nick, you need to get with current events.

Winner of a competition recently held in Bombay won the first prize of Rs 1 million. (That is 10 Lakhs in the Indian system of counting.)

Considering that barely 40 years ago, an engineer took home a salary of Rs 550-600, that works out to 150 years of earnings!

[rajeshnat]

1. 11/30/13 - Toronto Brothers for Muthuswami Dikshitar Day (Edmonton, Alberta) -- Rajesh Sir, this one is for you! I have finally been given the blessings to start accompanying. Hopefully this will be the first of many.
....
2. 12/21/2013 - Solo Violin Concert for Tarang (Hyderabad 6:05pm)
3. 12/22/2013 - Solo Violin Concert (Patna 6:15pm)
4. 12/23/2013 - Solo Violin Concert for Harekrishna Temple (Juhu, Bombay 6:00pm)
5. 12/27/2013 - Solo Violin Concert for Hindustan Art and Music Society (Budhwan, West Bengal 6:00pm)

While it is fairly regular to see a post where in an indian born artist goes on overseas tour to US starting at East giving a concert in NJ, NY and then hops to north to Minneapolis and then travels to West to LA, SanJose and hits south to Dallas to finally fly out .Then after heading back to pavilion, the musician performs at Sastri Hall and ragasudha, Mylapore .

Here is Aishu an american by birth who is going in her overseas tour to India traversing the indian cities Hyderabad(south) , Patna(north), Bombay(West) and Kolkata(East) and after few weeks heads back to her pavilion LosAngeles and Stanford with her concerts . This is the first time I am knowing of a concert at Patna.

Very happy to hear that you are at last accompanying, I remember you said in the rasikas concert at Smt Prema rangarajan house ,that once my gurus give a green signal and if they deem me fit , i will go ahead.


Best wishes to you and also your appa(I thought he was the only math behind your music :-B ) and also your family.

[cacm]

Perhaps, in a way, it helps that carnatic stars, unlike international stars of film or sports, are not showered with cash.....

Nick, you need to get with current events.

Winner of a competition recently held in Bombay won the first prize of Rs 1 million. (That is 10 Lakhs in the Indian system of counting.)

Considering that barely 40 years ago, an engineer took home a salary of Rs 550-600, that works out to 150 years of earnings![

H, TO COMPLETE THE PICTURE I was a Demonstrator/Lecturer in PHYSICS (In late 50's) MY monthly salary was: Rs 75/125; My Salary pulling power did not improve a lot. When I retired from Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1993 after 60 years in "PHYSICS" my final salary was the Starting salary for my son who had just entered the work force! But I had met somewhat known even worked with the GODS OF PHYSICS including close to 30 Nobel Laurates. There is a definite Trade-off!
I say with holding a patent on the Giga bit chip & having worked with Cray etc Software is the solution to "Riches" & gateway to being asked to preside over Musical functions in Chennai & being considered geniuses... Reality in life?! VKV

[tkb]

Congrats and our best wishes!

[appu]

1. 11/30/13 - Toronto Brothers for Muthuswami Dikshitar Day (Edmonton, Alberta) -- Rajesh Sir, this one is for you! I have finally been given the blessings to start accompanying. Hopefully this will be the first of many.

Best,
Aishu

Vinod Sir, Could you please provide an update on this concert. A review or at least a song list would be appreciated.

[VRV]

Appu,

Review of Toronto brothers concert posted in "Kutcheris and Reviews " link. Enjoy,

Vinod Venkataraman

[vs_manjunath]

Aishu- Hearty Congratulations although too late ! Had missed this post.

[aishuv]

Dear All,

I want to share the information for my upcoming Hyderabad concert.

Date: December 21, 2013
Time: 6:30pm
Venue: Vidyaranya School Auditorium, Green Gates (Opposite Secretariat, Khairatabad)
Organization: Tarang, Hyderabad
Contact: Mr. Suri Penubolu, 98480 11910

I hope to see you all there.

Aishu

[appu]

Friends,

Please click this link to read an endearing newsletter from Aishu about her music, gurus and her India tour.

http://eepurl.com/L_Rnr

[kvchellappa]

A very nice one. Inspiring to read.

[Rsachi]

I wish Aishu all the best in her musical journeys. She's fortunate to have father and guide and percussion accompanist all rolled into one in, Vinod!

[vasanthakokilam]

Friends,Please click this link to read an endearing newsletter from Aishu about her music, gurus and her India tour. http://eepurl.com/L_Rnr

Very nice! Congrats Aishu.

Aishu wrote:
I performed at the Government Mental Health Center (GMHC) .... At GMHC, the audience consisted mainly of patients and doctors of the health center.

Great idea to perform at such places. I can imagine the refreshing change and entertainment it would have provided for all of them in the audience.

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

Aishu: Kudos to you for your 2013 achievements--your passion,sincerity and diligence are extremely commendable. Wishing you that 2014 should be even more fulfilling to your artistic goals.
If there is a chance for you and your dad to visit NY please do let me know in advance.
Ramesh Mama.

[appu]

Found this news segment on Aishu Venkataraman's FACEBOOK page. Produced by MediaOne Kozhikode

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxWDMrdeo2c