New Zealand Carnatic Music Society Sangeethostsavam 2025 (May 31 to June 2)
Story updated at 9 am on May 26, 2025
Venkat Raman
Auckland, May 25, 2025
The timeless and divine melody of Carnatic Music will reverberate the corridors of Michale Prak School Auditorium in Ellerslie Auckland over the King’s Birthday Weekend as renowned vocalists from India render compositions that inspire piety and awe.
The four-day downpour of music is being organised by the New Zealand Carnatic Music Society as a spell of its annual Sangeethothsavam, a Festival that will bring together stalwarts and budding talents from our community in New Zealand.
They will be accompanied by Thiruvananthapuram N Sampath on Violin and R Sankaranarayanan on Mridangam.
As well as showcasing internationally renowned musicians offering captivating performances, they will provide invaluable learning experiences for students of Carnatic Music. In addition, two of the daytime programmes will feature talented local students and graduates, highlighting the depth of musical expertise within New Zealand.
For further information, please email secretarynzcms@yahoo.com. Email: http://www.nzcms.org; Updates at http://www.facebook.com/nzcms.
About S Adityanaryanan
Adityanaryanan (Adi), is a talented and accomplished vocalist who has been performing for over 15 years with his musical journey beginning under the tutelage of Sangeetha Kala Acharya Suguna Varadachari, He is currently a student of T M Krishna. In addition to his expertise in Carnatic music, he is proficient in Piano.
Adi began performing at the age of twelve and is an A-Grade artist of All India Radio. He is a professional voice trainer certified by the New York Vocal Coaching Institute and holds multiple music-related degrees and diplomas from renowned institutions such as the London College of Music, Middlesex University, and KM Music Conservatory in Chennai.
His accolades include the Junior Best Vocalist award from the Madras Music Academy in 2023, the Yuva Kala Bharathi award from Bharat Kalachar in 2022, and the prestigious MS Subbulakshmi Hindu Saregama Award in 2015, jointly organised by The Hindu and Saregama. He has participated in and won competitions hosted by All India Radio, Raj TV, Jaya TV, and the Times of India.
Adi is a regular performer during the Chennai music season and has travelled extensively, performing in the USA, UK, and across India. His collaborations with international artists have resulted in compositions, productions, and performances for several music albums. He frequently performs for organisations such as Madhuradhwani, Mathangi, and Nada Inbam. As one of the youngest musicians featured in NZCMS Sangeethothsavam, his performance promises to be a highlight of the Festival.
Kalaimamani Dr R Suryaprakash
Born in Chennai, Dr R Suryaprakash began his musical training at the age of seven under the guidance of his uncle, Tirukkodikaval V Rajamani, and M A Venugopalan, both disciples of the legendary Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. He later received advanced musical training from Padma Bhushan Sangeetha Kalanidhi T V Sankaranarayanan, nephew and disciple of Madurai Mani Iyer.
His repertoire has been enriched by the guidance of esteemed musicians such as Tambaram Sundaresan and T P Vaidyanathan, as well as distinguished musicologists Dr V V Srivatsa and Smt Sulochana Pattabhiraman. He holds a doctorate from the University of Madras, awarded in March 2020, for his thesis on a structured and systematic approach to Manodharma Sangeetham, the art of creative improvisation in Carnatic music.
Dr Suryaprakash’s distinctive voice, described as a ‘Ringing Temple Bell,’ has been praised for its perfect pitch and three-octave range. His concerts, filled with creative expression and impeccable tonal clarity, are sought after in festivals across India and internationally. He holds the distinction of being the only Asian musician to have performed at the Parliament House of Australia in Canberra and is an ‘A-Grade’ artist of All India Radio, Chennai.
His versatility as a composer extends beyond traditional Carnatic music, as he has written and set music for dance productions in Melbourne and Chicago.
He has also tuned and presented Subramanya Bharathi’s epic Kuyil Pattu, showcasing its musical beauty in weekly episodes on his official YouTube channel, ‘R Suryaprakash Official.’
His latest initiative, Kuyil Pattu Paduvom, has been warmly received by music lovers and recognised by the media as a significant contribution to both Tamil literature and Carnatic music. Flute J A Jayant
J A Jayant is a distinguished Carnatic flute exponent, celebrated as an artiste, collaborator, teacher and composer. His dedication to popularising the art of flute playing has earned him global recognition. A prodigy who began performing at the age of seven, he has captivated audiences across India and internationally in over 1900 solo and Jugalbandi concerts.
Born into a musical family, Jayant was naturally drawn to the flute from an early age. He commenced his training at the age of four, studying the bamboo flute under his grandfather and guru, the late Flute T S Sankaran, a prime disciple of the legendary Flute Mali. He is widely acknowledged as the torchbearer of Flute Mali’s distinctive style in Carnatic flute playing.
His innate talent, unwavering passion and rigorous training enabled him to deliver a Raagam Thanam Pallavi at three speeds (Trikaalam) at the mere age of seven, astonishing senior musicians, co-artistes and audiences alike.
He is regarded as a major influence on the current generation of flautists, inspiring many to emulate his style. He is also the first Carnatic flautist to introduce 106 cm long double bass bansuri flutes in concerts, creating a mesmerising, meditative ambience, while also showcasing the versatility of piccolo flutes as short as 15 cm.
His collaborations include performances with Cristal Baschet artist Loup Barrow, The New Jungle Orchestra, Guitar Virtuoso John Sund, Flute Maestro Ronu Majumdar, Shehnai exponent Ashwani Shankar, and renowned Carnatic musicians such as Chitravina Ravikiran, Guitar Prasanna and Veena Sri Rajhesh Vaidhya. He has recorded his flute for leading music directors, including Harris Jayaraj, and various documentary projects.
Dr N J Nandini
Dr N J Nandini is an acclaimed Carnatic vocalist from Trivandrum, belonging to a distinguished musical lineage. Her late grandfather, Vechoor N Hariharasubramania Iyer, was a revered Carnatic vocalist and esteemed teacher.
From a young age, Nandini displayed an extraordinary affinity for music. Her parents, C Neelakantan and S Jayanthi, encouraged her by taking her to concerts, and by the age of three, she was able to identify ragas and reproduce melodies with remarkable precision. Recognising her innate talent, her family ensured she received the finest classical training.
She was awarded the Chembai Puraskaram, the Isai Chudar title and the M S Subbulakshmi Fellowship by the age of 23. She has been mentored by eminent gurus, including Prof Parassala Ponnammal, Prof P R Kumarakerala Varma, Dr S Bhagyalakshmi and Dr M N Moorthy.
Nandini has been serving as Assistant Professor of Music at Maharaja’s College, Kochi, since December 2023.
Trivandrum Sampath
Sri Sampath hails from a family where music is a way of life. His earliest and most influential guru was his mother, K Chandrika Devi, a distinguished violinist and retired professor at the Sree Swati Tirunal Government College of Music. As a child, he would keenly listen to her teaching sessions at home, absorbing the nuances of music. One day, at the age of eight, he instinctively picked up the violin and began playing. His mother recalls that his innate musicality was evident in the way he held the instrument, which encouraged her to begin his formal training.
In addition to violin, Sampath received vocal music instruction from his maternal aunt Palkulangara Ambika Devi, also a professor at the music college, as well as from Professor Seethalakshmi and Mavelikara Prabhakara Varma, distinguished colleagues of his mother.
At the age of fourteen, he had the privilege of accompanying the legendary vocalist Neyyatinkara Vasudevan at Theerthapada Mandapam in Thiruvananthapuram, an experience that deepened his musical foundation.
R Sankaranarayanan
R Sankaranarayanan belongs to a distinguished musical lineage, carrying forward the legacy of his great-grandfather, the revered Padma Bhushan Papanasam Sivan, one of Indian classical music’s most celebrated figures. His father, Sankeerthana Kalanidhi Papanasam R Ramani Bhagavathar, is an exponent of Nama Sankeerthanam and a respected philanthropist. His mother, Ananthalakshmi, enriched the family’s artistic heritage as a performing singer for dance and a Bharatanatyam dancer in her youth.
Sankaranarayanan’s formal musical training commenced at the tender age of three under Vidwan Kumbakonam Sri Ganesan. An ‘A Grade’ artiste of All India Radio, Chennai, Sankaranarayanan has been honoured with several notable awards. These include the Award for Excellence in Mridangam from Padma Vibhushan Umayalpuram Dr K Sivaraman’s Laya Laavanya Fine Arts & Foundation, Chennai in 2016, and the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar in 2015, conferred by Sangeet Natak Akademi under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
About Carnatic Classical Music
Carnatic Classical Music is one of the richest and most profound traditions in the world of music. It is deeply rooted in history and philosophy, offering intricate melodic and rhythmic structures that captivate musicians and audiences alike. At its core, Carnatic music is not merely a form of entertainment but a discipline that requires devotion, study, and immense creativity. Over centuries, it has been shaped by extraordinary composers whose works continue to inspire generations of artists.
Among the most revered figures in Carnatic classical music are the three great composers: Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar, and Syama Sastri. These composers, often referred to as the Trinity of Carnatic music, revolutionised the genre through their compositions, blending lyrical depth, philosophical introspection, and melodic ingenuity. Each composer brought a unique approach to music, ensuring the tradition flourished and remained relevant across generations.
