Veena maestros to perform, teach here

Staff reporter – 

Veena enthusiasts will have a rare opportunity to watch and enjoy the performance of famous brothers Ramnath Iyer and Gopinath Iyer in Auckland on Sunday, September 6, 2015.

Rasikas NZ and Sangeetha Bharathi School of Music have teamed yet again to bring the Veena legends at a concert at 630 pm at Raye Freedman Arts Centre, Epsom Girls Grammar School, Silver Road, Epsom.

The Melbourne twins will also conduct a workshop at the Lynfield & Waikowhai Rooms of Fickling Convention Centre on Saturday, September 5, 2015 at 430 pm.

The Workshop is open to Instrument and Vocal students at Intermediate and Advance Level. The Workshop fee of $30 includes the entry charge for the Veena Concert.

Interested students may register with their teacher or directly by email to rasikas.nz@gmail.com

Further details can be obtained from Priya Srinivasan on 021-613155 or Padma Govardhan on (09) 6245922.

Peer Specialist

According to Australia Council at which Ramnath has been employed as a peer specialist in Indian Music since 1996, he has worked with visiting professional musicians from India including famous flutist Dr N Ramani, apart from serving as an adjudicator in Indian Music.

“Ramnath Iyer and his twin Gopinath Iyer are disciples of Veena maestros R Pichumani and R Venkataraman. Ramnath has been a resident of Melbourne since 1986. In 2002, Ramnath served as an adjudicator for Veena at the Third Biennial Indian Music Competition held in Singapore by the National Arts Council of Singapore,” the Council’s website said.

New Zealand Resident

It mentioned that Gopinath was a resident of New Zealand before migrating to Australia in October 1993. His notable performances in this country have been on Wellington Access Radio, Victoria University of Wellington and the New Zealand Academy of Bharata Natyam.

He has performed with the renowned Violin maestro Dr L Subramaniam in a Workshop during the Asia Pacific Festival held in Wellington in 1992.

Flawless uniformity

“Ramnath and Gopinath Iyer are known for hard work and sincerity with an unmistakable uniformity in their concerts. Perfect coordination, robust presentation, strict adherence to Vadya Dharma (with no unnecessary gimmicks or swara manipulations) and appreciable technique derived after long years of joint practice assure the Veena duo, the Iyer Brothers success,” the Council said.

Fellow artistes

Ramnath and Gopinath Iyer will be accompanied by Chidambaram Balashankar on Mridangam and Adambakkam Shankar on Ghatam at the Auckland Concert.

Photo :

1. Ramnath Iyer and Gopinath Iyer
2. Chidambaram Balashankar
3. Adambakkam Shankar