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The Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple proudly presents the Carnatic Vocal Concert by Gana Kala Acharya Vidu. Smt. Prithi Narasimhan accompanied by Vid. Sri. Umamahesh Iyer on Violin and Vid. Sri. Raju Balan on Mridangam.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
About the Artists:
Vidu. Smt. Prithi Narasimhan
Prithi Narasimhan is a well-known Carnatic vocalist and a highly respected music instructor, voice trainer, and coach based in Dallas, Texas, USA. Prithi is a senior disciple of Kalaimamani Vidwan Sri. K.N. Shashikiran and Vidwan Chitravina Sri P. Ganesh, the esteemed Carnatica Brothers duo. In recognition of her dedication to Carnatic music and her vocal talent, she was recently awarded the prestigious Gana Kala Acharya title by Carnatica Archival Center Global during their silver jubilee celebrations.
Prithi regularly performs professional vocal concerts in the US and India, and has been performing in the prestigious Chennai Margazhi Music Season since 2016. Her performances were featured in prestigious venues like Mylapore Fine Arts Club, Carnatica and Parthasarathy Swami Sabha’s Global Heritage Festival, Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, Bramma gana sabha, Arkay Convention Center (Madhuradhwani), Chennai Fine Arts, GCMA, Hamsadwani, Paddhathi Music Fest, Gayatri Fine Arts, Kovaiyil Thiruvaiyaaru, Nadha Sudha, Guruvayoor Krishna Temple, Thiruvambady Sangeethothsavam, to name a few. She has also performed for Frisco Hanuman Temple Nada Seva (Dallas), Melharmony OVK Bach festival (Chicago), Sayanotsavam (Aurora, IL), etc.
Prithi’s concerts have received critical acclaim, including positive reviews for her concerts in Dinamalar, and her concerts were broadcast on popular TV channels. Her RTP concert (an advanced improvisation concert) in Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival in 2023, which was presented as a duet with her daughter Shruthi Ganesh, was received very highly by eminent musician and musicologist Vid. Dr. Radha Bhaskar. Her complex RTP duet with her daughter in the aradhana again in 2024 was extremely well received by eminent musicians.
A passionate educator, Prithi began teaching young children in. She is now a highly sought-after teacher in the Plano/Frisco area of Dallas and also teaches students across the globe through remote lessons. She is the founder and director of the Carnatica Archival Center for Music (USA), INDUS Fine Arts Conservatory, and Carantica Gurukul, where she offers Carnatic music lessons. Prithi’s students have excelled in several prestigious international music competitions and performed in the Chennai Margazhi season as well as other notable events across the US and online.
In 2017, Prithi conducted her guru Sri K.N. Shashikiran’s Carnatic Symphony in Raleigh, North Carolina, and has since conducted the Carnatic Harmony program at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival since 2019, coordinating vocals, Carnatic and western instruments for the orchestra. She also conducted the Bakthi Vijayam program premiered for the first time in Cleveland by Gayatri Fine Arts, her Guru Chitravina Sri P. Ganesh’s brainchild. Her 2022 Gana Kala Acharya award from Carnatica recognized her excellence in teaching and promoting Carnatic music in North America. She was also honored with the “DroneAcharya” award in 2015 by Vidwan Sri. K.N. Shashikiran and the “Kala Seva Rathna” award for her contributions to Carnatic music.
Prithi is deeply committed to music education and founded the Vidhyaadhaanam program (Click the link to check it out), which provides free music lessons through instructional videos to students lacking access to teachers. She also established INDUS Fine Arts Conservatory, a non-profit organization supporting the arts. Prithi has worked on Carnatic Fusion projects, collaborating with Indian film and Western music composers to create innovative fusion works. In addition to her musical pursuits, she is a senior leader in the field of Cyber Security, holding a degree in Computer Science and Engineering and a Master’s in Management and Systems from New York University.
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Vid. Sri. Umamahesh Iyer
Umamahesh is an ardent lover of music and started learning Mridangam and later his interest continued as a violinist. He started learning violin from the young age of 5 from Guru Pala Balakrishna Pillai who was an eminent violinist and was known for his unique style. Umamahesh had his first public concert at the age of 9. He continued his lessons from Shri. Nedumangad Sivanandan in Kerala and Prof. R Thyagarajan of Swathi Thirunal Music college, Trivandrum, Kerala.
He is now pursuing advanced lessons from Smt.Vaikom Padma Krishnan who is a senior disciple of Kalimamani/Padmashree A. Kanyakumari and consulting lessons from Shri. TKV Ramanujacharlu of Srirangam.
He actively participates and supports music activities & vocal and dance arangetrams in the DFW area.
He is a Software Engineer /IT Professional and employed in a reputed IT company in a Senior management position and currently lives in Plano, TX, USA.
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Vid. Sri. Raju Balan:
Raju Balan, is a senior mridangist who has trained for 10 years under Vid. Thalavoor N S Rajeev (A Grade artist of Trivandrum All India Radio) in the lineage of the legendary Palghat Mani Iyer. Hailing from Dubai, his journey began with Carnatic vocal training under the guidance of his mother, Vidushi Saroja Balan, a renowned musician in the Middle East.
With over a decade of musical expertise, Raju’s playing style seamlessly weaves into the nuances of a composition’s sahithyam. He has collaborated with esteemed artists such as Thanjavur Sangeetha Balasubramanian, Violin Madurai Anandakrishnan, and Mandolin Surya Manohar Rao.
As a key figure in the Carnatic Music community in Dallas, Texas, Raju is dedicated to uplifting the local music scene, mentoring numerous students. Beyond Carnatic music, he explores Western fusion, showcasing his adaptability as an artist.
Outside of his musical pursuits, Raju serves as the Director of AI & Data Strategy at Slalom Consulting.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
12030 Independence Parkway, Frisco, TX, United States, Texas 75035
