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Spring Cultural Festival 2025The Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple welcomes you to the Spring Cultural Festival, an annual temple cultural event. Come and support and celebrate the talents of our community's young and senior musicians. The festival will conclude with a unique grand finale featuring all the performers. Everyone is welcome to attend!
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Kum. Dhwani Karthik
Dhwani Karthik started learning Carnatic Music at the age of 4 from her mother and Guru, Vidushi Sarada Karthik. Coming from a large musical family, Dhwani was always surrounded by music.
Since the age of 8, Dhwani has been awarded several top prizes in competitions held by various organizations, including Sivan Fine Arts Academy and the prestigious Cleveland Tyagaraja Aradhana. She actively performs and participates in Dallas programs.
Dhwani’s talent has led her to perform on several platforms, both in-person and online. She has been invited to share her music with audiences through online concerts hosted by organizations like Florida Fine Arts, Antarnaada Austin, Kala Prashala, and Music of Madras.
In 2023, Dhwani reached a major milestone in her career with her Arangetram (long debut concert), where she had the privilege of sharing the stage with senior musicians who appreciated her skill and dedication. She has been performing concerts for various organizations such as Indian Octaves, Nadopasana, Indus Fine Arts, and Saptami.
More recently, she was featured in the esteemed December 2024 Margazhi concerts in Chennai, a significant milestone in her growing career.
In addition to music, Dhwani plays the piano and continues to learn classical dance. She has participated in several piano festivals. She is a senior at Plano West Senior High School.
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Kum. Anjali Prabhala
Anjali Prabhala was initiated into music at an early age under her parents, Srini and Uma Prabhala. She later pursued advanced training under senior Gurus - Vid. Vizianagaram Vardhani, Vidushi Sriranjani Santhanagopalan, Vidwan Vishnudev Namboothiri, and currently under the guidance of Vidushi Amrutha Venkatesh.
Anjali is a graded artist from All India Radio and holds a Diploma in Carnatic Music from Potti Sriramulu University, Hyderabad. She is currently pursuing her master’s in Carnatic Classical Music at the University of SiliconAndhra.
She has performed extensively at various Sabhas in the USA and India, including the prestigious Chennai December season, Nadaneerajanam at Tirumala, and Mysore Datta Peetam. She has recorded music for many award-winning classical and devotional albums, as well as short and feature films like Sreekaram. She has sung for several Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi recitals and dance productions in India and the USA.
Anjali teaches vocal music under the Amritavarshini Academy banner in the DFW area. She is a Computer Science graduate from the University of Texas at Dallas and currently works as a software engineer.
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Guru. Smt. Saiharini Ramakrishnan
Saiharini Ramakrishnan, Director of Vasanthalaya School of Music, was fortunate to learn Carnatic music under the tutelage of Kalaimamani Chengalpattu Ranganathan and was mentored by Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi. She also learned Veena from her mother, Kalaimamani Vasantha Krishnamurthy (maternal granddaughter of Veenai Sri Pitchumani Iyer) and Smt. Kamala Aswathama (mother of Veena E. Gayathri). Additionally, she trained in Hindustani music under the renowned Guru, Pandit Aalaap Hussain.
Saiharini has been honored with several prestigious titles, including:
“Sangeetha Kala Sigamani”
“Acharya Kalaratna”
“Gana Kala Sigamani”
“Sangeetha Mala Vidya Nidhi - M S Subbulakshmi Memorial Award”
“Sangeetha Kala Ratna - Sri Chengalpet Ranganathan Memorial Award”
She has released two albums: Thiru Osai (Vocal) and Enchanting Strokes (Veena), based on her ongoing research on Ragas, their origins, and their relationship to literature.
Saiharini is also the Director of Arohana Inc., a nonprofit organization that promotes music and supports local needs. She has organized several fundraisers, including Sangamam, a thematic musical production that combined Indian Classical and Western Classical music to raise funds for cancer research.
Vasanthalaya School of Music, based in the DFW Metroplex, has been operational for the past 16 years, offering Carnatic vocal lessons specializing in the Semmangudi Baani and Veena lessons in the Pitchumani Baani. The school organizes annual recitals, thematic programs, and workshops on Carnatic Music Theory and Advanced Manodharmam concepts.
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Guru. Smt. Aparna Velamuri
Smt. Aparna Velamuri started her musical training at an early age under P. Durga Prasad Garu, a disciple of Violin Vidwan Padma Shri Annavarapu Ramaswamy Garu. She later continued her musical journey under the tutelage of Dr. Gowri RamMohan Vedula, PhD (Music), Professor and Head of the Department of Carnatic Music at Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. She also pursued advanced training under senior Gurus Malladi RamPrasad Garu and Dwaram Lakshmi Garu.
Aparna has performed at various Sabhas and events in the USA and India, including Annamayya Jayanthi and Annamayya Vardhanthi Utsavams in Tirupati conducted by TTD, as well as Tirumala Brahmotsavams.
She became an AIR (All India Radio) artist at the age of 14 and has given several programs in Cuddapah AIR and Doordarshan television alongside her mother, Dr. Gowri Vedula.
Currently, she resides in Coppell, Texas, where she teaches music.
Recent Contributions:
Aparna has composed and recorded several hymns and stotrams written by Sri Sri Sri Sidheswarananda Bharathi Swamiji of Courtallam, available on her YouTube channel Susloka - The Hymns of Mahimanvitha Yogi.
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Chi. Neeraj Chandrashekhar
Neeraj Chandrashekhar began learning Carnatic Music from his mother, Smt. Seetha Chandrashekhar. He discovered the beauty of the violin under the guidance of Shri B.R. Manickam and honed his skills further with Smt. Sita Jayanth and Shri Vittal Ramamurthy in Chennai.
After completing his violin Arangetram in 2014, Neeraj has accompanied numerous artists in Dallas and India. He contributed to an Indian Raga Labs production and was part of an ensemble with Shri Chitravina N. Ravikiran at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana festival. He actively participates in various Thyagaraja, Ootthukkadu Venkata Kavi, and Bhadrachala Ramadasa Aradhana events in the DFW Metroplex, as well as virtual events like Yuva Prathibha for IFAA and The Indian Octaves in Dallas.
Recently, he was awarded the Young Indian Cultural Ambassador at the Birmingham Thyagaraja Festival 2024, recognizing his dedication to Carnatic Music.
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Kum. Shruthi Ganesh
Shruthi Ganesh is a young rising vocalist and a senior disciple of Kalaimamani Vid. Shri K.N. Shashikiran. She has been under his tutelage since the age of 4 and continues to receive advanced training. She is also mentored by Vid. Chitravina Shri P. Ganesh and her mother, Vid. Smt. Prithi Narasimhan.
Shruthi also learns Carnatic violin from senior violinist Vid. Shri B.V. Raghavendra Rao and pursues Western classical violin and vocal genres. She regularly performs professional vocal concerts in the USA and India, including in the prestigious Chennai Margazhi Music Season since 2017, with over 80 solo concerts to her credit.
She was conferred the Young Vocalist Award in Kovaiyil Thiruvaiyyaru in 2018.
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Sri Kiran Kumar Manda
Sri. Kiran Kumar Manda - Started learning at the age of 12 from a reputed Violin teacher Smt. M. Bharati Prasad. Later on he learnt the advanced techniques of this art form from Sri Mutnuri Srinivasa Narasimha Murthy that made him as an accomplished Violin Artiste from accompaniment and solo perspective. Kiran Kumar is currently under the tutelage of renowned violin vidwan Sri TH Subrahmanyam. Kiran Kumar received numerous awards for his skills and ability in this art form, such as the ‘Ugadi Puraskar’ from Madras Telugu Academy from Hon’ble Governor of Tamilnadu - Sri Rangarajan in the year 2001. As a ‘B’ grade artiste in Violin.
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Chi. Tharun Ravikumar
Tharun Ravikumar is a promising young violinist who has been learning for the past 18 years under Vid. T.S. Krishnamurthy. He has performed alongside his guru and accompanied various artists in DFW, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam.
A recipient of the prestigious CCRT Scholarship (Delhi), representing Karnataka, Tharun has won several esteemed competitions. He has also performed on All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan, with live broadcasts. Additionally, he has accompanied talented disciples of legendary musicians, including Vid. Sri T.M. Krishna, Vidushi Smt. T.S. Satyavati, and Sri T.N. Seshagopalan.
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Kum. Swapanthi Mallajosyula
Swapanthi Mallajosyula is a dedicated Carnatic violinist, trained under Vidwan Sri Srikanth Mallajosyula and Sangeetha Kalanidhi Padma Shri A. Kanyakumari Amma. Beginning her violin journey at a young age, she has developed a deep commitment to preserving and enriching the Carnatic tradition. She holds a four-year diploma in violin from Silicon Andhra.
Currently in 11th grade, Swapanthi has earned widespread recognition, including the Saptami SUPER STAR Award in the concert-level competition organized by the Saptami Foundation. She has also received top honors from institutions such as Veenadhari, Paapanasam Sivan, Silicon Andhra, Global Siva Padam competitions, and Vijayanagaram Dwaram Music Academy.
Her notable performances include:
Youth Festival at Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai (Summer 2024)
Nadaneerajanam at Tirumala
Chennai Margazhi Season at prestigious sabhas like Madhuradwani, Carnatica Padhathi, Brahma Gana Sabha, Nada Sudha, and SRGMPDN.
Swapanthi has also had the honor of performing alongside her guru Kanya Amma in Chennai and accompanying Vidushi Amrutha Venkatesh in the Sadhguru Krupa concert series during the Margazhi season. An active member of the music community, she collaborates frequently with artists and music schools across the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area.
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Sri Ramakrishna Neti
Sri Ramakrishna Neti is a highly regarded Mridanga vidwan and teacher in the Dallas metroplex. His initial training was under the late Vid. M.A. Krishnamurthy of Mysore, followed by advanced training under Padma Shri Dr. Yella Venkateswara Rao. Hailing from a family of distinguished musicians, his lineage includes:
Harikathakesari Sri Neti Lakshminarayana Bhagavathar, a renowned Harikatha exponent and disciple of Harikatha Pitamaha Sri Adibhatla Narayana Dasu.
Sri Neti Srirama Sarma, a top-ranking Voco-Violinist at All India Radio, Hyderabad.
Smt. Indira Kameswara Rao, a top-ranking vocalist at All India Radio, Visakhapatnam.
Ramakrishna has performed in Sangeetha Sabha concerts across India and North America, as well as on Prasar Bharati Network. In addition to Mridangam, he has trained in Hindustani vocal and sings bhajans.
Beyond music, he is a Data Analytics professional with an MBA and a degree in Electronics Engineering.
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Vid. Raju Balan
Vid. Raju Balan is a senior Mridangist, trained for 10 years under Vid. Thalavoor N.S. Rajeev (A-Grade artist of Trivandrum AIR) in the lineage of Palghat Mani Iyer. His musical journey began in Dubai, with Carnatic vocal training under his mother, Vidushi Saroja Balan, a renowned musician in the Middle East.
With over a decade of experience, Raju’s Mridangam playing seamlessly blends with the nuances of sahithyam. He has collaborated with esteemed artists such as Thanjavur Sangeetha Balasubramanian, Violin Madurai Anandakrishnan, and Mandolin Surya Manohar Rao.
A key figure in the Carnatic music community in Dallas, Raju actively mentors students and contributes to the local music scene. He also explores Western fusion, showcasing his versatility as an artist.
Outside of music, Raju is the Director of AI & Data Strategy at Slalom Consulting.
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Chidatma Datta Chaganti
Chidatma Datta Chaganti is an emerging percussionist with a deep passion for rhythm and melody. Trained under the guidance of guru Rudrapatna Shankar Ramesh from Mysore for the past 12 years , Chidatma continues to hone his skills in the esteemed bani of maestro Guru Karaikudi Mani sir. From a young age, Chidatma showed a keen interest in percussion, and his dedication has led him to win prizes from prestigious organizations and festivals like the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana and ICMDA, earning accolades from both peers and Gurus alike. Chidatma is currently a freshman at UTD Computer Science program.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
12030 Independence Parkway, Frisco, TX, United States, Texas 75035
