Chennai-based Youth Association for Classical Music (YACM) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this past week at The Music Academy.
The unseasonal rains and overcast skies provided a great atmosphere for music listening but sadly, rasikas have been missing at this huge auditorium, though the first concert of the nine-day celebration starts at about 5.30 p.m..
This however has not discouraged the core YACM team from presenting what is certainly an imaginative programme schedule which respects the vidwans and provides space for the young stars of the day.
The celebrations began on 21st August at The Music Academy, Main Hall where the four core founders of this organisation lit the traditional lamp. Present were B. Kannan, Vijay Siva, R K Shriram Kumar and V. Suresh.
They took us back to a time when this group from RKM Vivekananda College, Mylapore, Chennai who had their foundation in Carnatic music realised that something was amiss at the sabhas. The performers were the same old vidwans and the seats were occupied by silver-haired rasikas.
There was a need to galvanise youths to pursue the arts passionately and seriously.
YACM was thus born and it helped nurture budding talent, provide platforms and avenues and signalled the rise of the Young Turks of Carnatic Music, many of whom are leading artistes of the day.
Today, this organisation is led by vocalist Ritwik Raja, assisted by Ramya and Dharini.
The silver jubilee event will be featuring artistes such as S. Sowmya, Neyveli Santhanagopalan, Sriram Parasuram, ‘Ghatam’ Karthick, Vijay Siva, and Shashank, amongst others.
YACM will also be hosting basic and advanced music contests for vocal, violin, and percussion instruments. August 29 morning is devoted to a Carnival of unique games like Raga Repertoire, Akshara Anthadi, Tala Tarangini, & Svara Jam.
You can find details at http://www.yacm.in.
