Sustaining Sampradaya 2027 — Announcement

The 50th year Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival is scheduled to start on Tuesday March 23, 2027. We have put together two programs for Sustaining Sampradaya that include some of the greatest compositions of Carnatic music in some of the most enchanting ragas.

The first program is a tribute to the iconic and innovative scion of the G.N.B. bani, Thanjavur S. Kalyanaraman. The second program will be dedicated to the memory of the modern master of the flute, Dr N. Ramani, an innovator in his own right and a great friend of the Festival.

Sustaining Sampradaya — Tribute to Dr N. Ramani

Saturday March 27, 2027; 4:00pm–6:30pm

  1. Chalamela (Varnam) — Sankarabharanam, Ata, Swathi Thirunal
  2. Mahaganapathim — Nattai, Chathusra Ekam, Dikshithar
  3. Ninnu joochi — Sourashtram, Adi, Patnam Subramanya Iyer
  4. Nija dasa varada — Kalyani, Adi, Patnam Subramanya Iyer
  5. Enthamuddo — Bindumalini, Adi, Thyagaraja
  6. Nannu Palimpa — Mohanam, Adi, Thyagaraja
  7. Ninnuvina — Navarasa Kannada, Roopakam, Thyagaraja
  8. Soundararajam ashraye — Brindavana Saranga, Roopakam, Dikshithar
  9. Manasu vishaya — Natakuranji, Mishra Chapu, Thyagaraja
  10. Chintaya ma kanda — Bhairavi, Roopakam, Dikshithar (Thani avarthanam)
  11. Aparaadamula — Rasali, Adi, Thyagaraja
  12. RTP — Saveri, Khanda jathi thriputa (Thani avarthanam)
  13. Paalayaasu maam Paradevate — Arabhi, Mishra Chapu, Syama Sastri
  14. Govardhana Giridhara — Darbari Kanada, Adi, Narayana Theertha
  15. En intha varmam (Padam) — Thodi, Misra Chapu, K.N. Dhandayudhapani Pillai
  16. Era raaraa (Javali) — Khamas, Adi, Patnam Subramanya Iyer
  17. Thillana — Desh, Lalgudi G. Jayaraman
  18. Mangalam

Sustaining Sampradaya — Tribute to S. Kalyanaraman

Monday March 29, 2027; 4:00pm–6:30pm

  1. Srimahaganapathe — Abogi, Khanda chapu, N.S. Ramachandran
  2. Panchamathanga mukha — Malahari, Rupakam, Dikshithar
  3. Paramakripasagari — Yadukulakambodhi, Adi, G.N. Balasubramaniam
  4. Karunajudavamma — Varali, Mishra chapu, Syama Sastri
  5. Mokshamu galadha — Saramathi, Adi, Thyagaraja
  6. Everikai avathara — Devamanohari, Mishra chapu, Thyagaraja
  7. Korina varamosagumayya — Ramapriya, Adi, Patnam Subramanya Iyer
  8. Enthaninne varnintunu — Reetigowlai, Khanda chapu, G.N. Balasubramaniam
  9. Kailasanatham bhajeham — Kambodhi, Mishra chapu, Dikshithar (Thani avarthanam)
  10. Sudhaamayi — Amrithavarshini, Roopakam, Harikesanallur Mutthiah Bhagavathar
  11. Paramapurusha — Vasantha, Adi, Swathi Thirunal
  12. RTP — Simhendramadhyamam, Khanda jathi thriputa (Thani avarthanam)
  13. Kanda naal mudhalaay — Madhuvanthi, Adi, N.S. Chidambaram
  14. Ranjani mridu pankaja lochani (Ranjani Ragamalika), Adi, Thanjavur Sankara Iyer
  15. Maanini vinave (Padam) — Sankarabharanam, Mishra chapu, Kshetragna
  16. Alavaani namma raadhe (Javali) — Anandabhairavi, Adi, Dharmapuri Subbarayar
  17. Thillana — Darbari Kanada, Mishra chapu, S. Kalyanaraman
  18. Mangalam

Training will be spearheaded by senior vidwans and vidushis.

The Process

Please note that these two concerts will lay a lot of emphasis on raga elaboration, kalpana swaram and other aspects of manodharmam. We plan to give fairly rigorous training on these besides giving the participants a very authentic and traditional version of the krithis.

Nagai R. Muralidharan will have the overall responsibility for supervising the participants' musical progress in both streams. A team of musicians will be in the US about 4 weeks before the Festival to monitor each and every one's progress to assist him in this regard.

The concert format will be set by a panel of senior vidwans which will include vocalists, violinists, veena vidwans, flute artists and percussion instrumentalists.

The total number of performers for each of these programs will be limited and will include vocalists, instrumentalists, and accompanists. Although this will be a group performance, we think that there will still be scope to exhibit individual talent.

Expression of interest should be received by the Aradhana Committee no later than October 4, 2026. The above panel will select the performers out of the pool of applicants, and these will be notified by October 18.

Early Admission: If you apply before September 20, we will fast track your application process (including the interview process if you are a first timer) and let you know the decision by October 9. This gives you a better chance of being part of the Sustaining Sampradaya program.

Training by India-based vidwans will begin on October 24, 2026. There will be a minimum of 2 classes per week. We will be using video conferencing or other Internet-based tools for imparting training.

Additionally, individual coaching will be given once a week by a musician from India, covering the weekend classes. This coaching will be during weekdays at a mutually convenient time. This allows the vidwan/vidushi to personally assess the progress made and the potential.

If you are interested, please note that you should be ready to invest your time both for the classes as well as for practice. This commitment has to begin in late October and has to continue up till the festival. The final rehearsal will begin in Cleveland from Thursday March 25, 2027 onward.

How to Apply

If you would like to be considered for participation in one or both of these concerts, there is a two-step process to follow:

Step 1: Application Information

Please email Ravi Natarajan (ravi@aradhana.org) the following:

  • Completed application form. Please download the form, and fill out all fields. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
  • An audition recording in MP3 format, consisting of an introduction and your performance. The introduction (maximum 2 minutes) should give your name, city, state, and what you are trying to highlight in the performance. This should be followed by a performance not exceeding 10 minutes. Both should be in the same file, in MP3 format (maximum 12 minutes).

The audition recording is not necessary if you have participated in an earlier Sustaining Sampradaya program.

Please email both the completed application form and the audition recording (if necessary) to Ravi Natarajan (ravi@aradhana.org).

Step 2: Application Fee

There is a non-refundable application fee of US $100 per concert. You can pay electronically via Zelle from your bank account. Send the payment to treasurer@aradhana.org, and include "SS Kalyanaraman" or "SS Ramani" in the message section.

If you cannot use Zelle, please email Ravi Natarajan for alternate payment arrangements.

How the Selection Works

If you are accepted by the panel to participate in any of the performances, we will immediately inform you about all the modalities of the training process. These include class schedules, concert items with ragas and talams, assignment of Vidwans for training, online availability of the teaching material, et cetera.

Please note that the vidwans who will impart the training are musicians of great eminence and repute, and we expect that the participants be sensitive to this great honor.

If you are selected and if you accept our offer, there will be a training fee which is:

  • Tribute to S. Kalyanaraman — US $2,000 per person
  • Tribute to N. Ramani — US $2,000 per person

The fees are payable on or before October 23, 2024.

We recognize that the training process is going to be intense and rigorous, but we also know that it is a very unique way to attain musical proficiency of high caliber in a very short time. Based on our experience with the previous years' concerts, we are confident that the 2027 concerts will also prove to be memorable.

We had an overwhelming response for this initiative in the past, and I hope that you will choose to respond to this year's initiative also in a similarly positive way.