Annamayya Jayanthi Celebrations / Michigan
Contributed by Murari Appan

Nadopasana celebrated Annamayya Jayanthi at Troy Community Center, Michigan (USA) on May 13 with a flute recital by Sikkil Mala Chandrasekhar. She was accompanied by talented Michigan artistes -Srikanth Mallajosyula on the violin and Rajasekhar Atmakuri on the mridangam.

Daughter and disciple of N. Neela of the famed Sikkil Sisters, Sikkil Mala combines the salient aspects of Kunjumani’s clear classical lines with Neela’s flair and expressiveness in her playing style. Purity of pitch, fidelity of tradition and vishranthi (engendering relaxed pleasure in listeners), pleasing tone and flawless delineation of ragas, were the high points of her concert.

She trained on raga lakshana, tonal modulations, keen sense of sruthi alignment (suswaram) and rendition of sarvalaghu swarams under M. S. Subbulakshmi, with whom she came into close contact after her marriage. Rasikas enjoyed the evening at Troy.

Nadopasana can be contacted at nadopasana.mi@gmail.com.