Music and dance at School anniversary

Carnatic Music and South Indian classical dances will be among the highlights of the tenth anniversary celebrations of the Auckland based Sangeetha Bharathi School of Music scheduled to be held later this month.

The programme, called, ‘Annamayya Padahela,’ will be held from 530 pm on May 25 at Dorothy Winstone Centre of Auckland Girls Grammar School in Newton.

Scores of students will pay their tributes to Annamacharya, one of the greatest Saints of Andhra Pradesh, who lived in the 15^th Century (1408-1503).

He composed more than 32,000 hymns, songs and poems, mostly in praise of Lord Venkateswara, a form of Lord Vishnu, the Protector of the Universe.

Sangeetha Bharathi School of Music is perhaps the only organisation in New Zealand, which commemorates his birthday every year with devotional songs rendered by its past and present students.

School Principal Padma Govardhan is an exponent in Carnatic Music, with hundreds of performances in her native India and New Zealand, which has been her home for the past 15 years. Since establishing the School in 2004, she has honed the musical talents of an increasing number of music enthusiasts, including her daughter Vishnu Priya and son Balu.

Inspiring teacher

Her proficiency in singing and teaching has been a source of inspiration and endearment to many, who have gained a sound knowledge of Carnatic music, with many of them becoming singers at private and public concerts.

Beginning her music lessons at a young age, she became a proud student of doyen of Carnatic Music Dr Mangalampally Balamurali Krishna. His guidance enabled her to achieve a high level of proficiency in the traditional art.

A postgraduate in Public Administration from the University of Madras Mrs Govardhan is currently doing her PhD in Carnatic music.

Musical stalwarts

Her School organises (on its own and in association with other organisations) musical concerts of internationally renowned artistes to perform in New Zealand. Among them were Dr Balamurali Krishna, Malladi Brothers, Sudha Raghunathan, Dr Radha Venkatachalam, Ranjani & Gayatri sisters, Sikkil Gurucharan, Kadri Gopinath, Pandit Ronu Majumdar and Gayatri Venkatraghavan.

Mrs Govardhan is also a founder member of the New Zealand Carnatic Music Society.

University of Madras, one of the most renowned in India, has accepted the Society’s Centre of Learning as an ‘Institute of Distance Education.’

It is a matter of gratification that eight students (out of 11) who have successful graduated in music in Auckland, were taught by Mrs Govardhan.