Vinjamuri Kamalakiran

Vinjamuri Kamalakiran is a 13 year-old boy from Washington DC, USA who plays the violin. And he is here for the 'season'.

Born in a musician’s family, he started learning violin from his father Subhash from the age of 3. He says he is the fifth generation musician on his father’s side and the third generation on his mother’s side.

His grandmother Kamala is a violinist herself and he has derived his name from her.

"He has totally 14 concerts this year," says his aunt in Alwarpet, Chennai, Mrinalini.

He is a disciple of the senior violinist Kanyakumari. His parents take turns in accompanying him on his Chennai tours, once during May and later in December. His mother Suchithra is with him for this December season.

Kamalakiran has won many prizes in music contests at Cleveland at the aradhana fest, the biggest in USA.

Reported by V. Vasantha

From Slovenia to Chennai in December!

Emilija Kercan is Co-founder of Gopuram, Institute for Vedic Culture in Ljubljana, Slovenia. And she makes it a point to be in Chennai for the December Season. In this short piece, she tells us why she enjoys being in the city in December.

My love for Carnatic music took shape some five years ago, which was a natural extension of my decade long interest in Indian spirituality.

What started off as simple bhajan singing, became a passion for this spiritually deep musical heritage of South India.

I started to train earnestly in Carnatic vocal with Chitravina Ravikiran two years ago. Conducive to my learning, I try to visit Chennai two times a year, of which one visit should be during the December season.

As there are no teachers, students nor musicians of Carnatic music in my country (Slovenia, EU), I come for the season to listen to the best of musicians live and experience the musical atmosphere.

Although my stay in Chennai is always too short, my schedule is fully packed, attending some three concerts a day and if possible taking classes with my guru in between, to make the most of it. Like every devoted music student I am looking forward to paying my homage to Saint Thyagaraja by visiting the Thyagaraja Aradhana in Thiruvayaru in January.

My passion for Carnatic music together with my brother's love for the Vedas prompted us to establish a non-profit organization called Gopuram, Institute for Vedic Culture, dedicated to promoting Vedic heritage and Carnatic music in our country.