PAST EVENTS :  1999-2000

1999-2000 rasika INAUGURAL SEASON

JUNE 1999

Sunday June 6, 1999

  Our inaugural Flute concert by Shashank and ensemble was a stunning success.

"In love with India. Another group, Rasika, forms to remind us of the culture's stunning talent." - David Stabler, Preview, The Oregonian A&E June 1999

"Concert captures soul of India. Tradition and imagination intersect at Rasika's inaugural concert with flutist Shashank and his ensemble. Rasika, the Portland's new cultural group, proved, once again, that the city can never have enough great music."-Concert Review, The Oregonian June 1999.

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Monday June 7, 1999

Pizza Party with Shashank - The opportunity for children of rasika to 'meet the artists'. This brought a group of enthusiastic children who met the artists and were inspired by the all the artists who explained about their respective instruments. The children touched and played on the various instruments, thoroughly enjoying the evening.
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Friday June 26, 1999

Odissi and Kathak - Dance and Lecture. Smt. Behera (Odissi) and Smt. Kumar (Kathak)

"Lori and I look forward to attending other rasika-sponsored events and deeply appreciate the time and effort invested by all of you in bringing them our way. If last night's function is any indication, then wonderful delights are in store for all of us! The artistry and grace displayed last night were positively breathtaking!" -- Sobelsons, rasika members. June 27, 1999.
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JULY 1999

Friday July 17, 1999

Tala Vadya - Percussion duo - Lec-dem and recital
Tripunithura Radhakrishnan on Ghatam, N. Ramakrishnan on mridangam
First United Methodist Church
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Friday July 17, 1999

* Taste of Beaverton, organized by Chamber of Commerce and City of Beaverton.

 Percussion duo recital byTripunithura Radhakrishnan, Ghatam, N. Ramakrishnan on mridangam. Taste of Beaverton Festival organized by The Chamber of Commerce, City of Beaverton.
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Saturday July 24, 1999

Our premier concert by Padmasri Dr. K. J. Yesudas was a grand success and well attended.
Newmark Theater, Portland Center for Performing Arts.

Accompanied by Anuradha Sridhar on Violin, N. Ramakrishnan on Mridangam and
 Tripunithura Radhakrishnan on Ghatam.

"The man with a Silver Voice....Padmasri K. J. Yesudas is called the man with the golden voice. But listening to his soulful recordings that show case his astonishing control of vocal pitch and inflection, it isn't the word golden as much as silvery that comes to mind. He is one of India's leading classical vocalist.." David Stabler, July 1999, The Oregonian, A&E.

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July 26 - 30, 1999

 Children's Annual Summer Heritage Camp
Gurukulam 1999

"SINGING A SONG OF INDIA.....At a camp for Indo-American children, storytelling, songs, arts, even cricket connect them to a colorful heritage. They are the first new class of a new summer heritage camp, Gurukulam, which aims to teach children about Indian history, art and traditions. The children have learned chants about Sanskrit, made "Rangoli" patterns with color powders, and played cricket..." August 1999, The Oregonian.

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AUGUST 1999

Friday August 21, 1999

Vocal Classical Carnatic Concert

Smt. Prema Ramamurthy
Dharmala Ramamurthy on Mridangam and Raman Iyer on Violin
First Christian Church

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Saturday August 28, 1999

Vande Mataram - Temple Dance ballet of India
*Organized by  Natya Dance Academy and Dr. Jayanthi Raman

Newmark Theater, Portland Center for Performing Arts.

"Jayanthi Raman and her Natya Dance Academy provided a stunning weekend performance....Hindu divinity came to life when Raman danced the role of Radha...."- Phil Hunt, The Oregonian, August 1999.

Concert sponsored in part by Individual artist grant for Jayanthi Raman from the Regional Arts and Culture Council, Portland.

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SEPTEMBER 1999

Friday September 11, 1999

Vocal music and Percussion by TVG and ensemble.
Newmark Theater, Portland Center for Performing Arts.

"I would just like to congratulate you on putting together the thoroughly enjoyable concert last Saturday. T.V. Gopalakrishnan and company were remarkable in the variety of styles they were able to cover in the three hours they had, and each and every one of them seemed to be consummate professionals who were really enjoying their involvement in the concert. And regarding his daughter, Devi, all I can say is that her voice's clarity and melodiousness were exquisite, it was delightful to hear her harmonizing with her father on some pieces and then outshine him on others...... she descended the notes of the raga in a most unexpected way and which was so sublime and beautiful to hear that I heard members of the audience actually drawing in their breaths as if they were riding a roller coaster which had dropped from a great height all of a sudden."- rasika audience member- Prabhu Muthu

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Friday September 17, 1999

Nritya Saram--Essence of Dance

Musical Dance Ballet presented by Ramya Harishankar and troupe of 10 dancers and musicians. Accompanied by Vocalist Reji George and Nellai D. Kannan on Mridangam.

Lincoln Performance Hall, Portland State University

"We complement rasika organizers for arranging such a superb, first class entertainment program tonight for rasika . ...... one of the finest dance performance that we have witnessed in Portland. Congratulations for bringing such a wonderful group into town." Shakuntala and Krishnamurthy, RASIKAs.

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OCTOBER 1999

Saturday October 16, 1999

Nrityollasa --Joy of dancing - Musical Dance Ballet presented by Shobana and troupe of 10 dancers and musicians.

"I want to congratulate you on the splendidly well-organized concert...Having a group of youthful well-organized and committed team, of volunteers, seems to be the best asset Rasika has. One thing that is worthy of appreciation just by itself is - doing everything possible to ensure every Rasika was updated on the schedule changes for Shobana's concert. Thank you and your team - for taking the time and interest to organize these cultural events. Let's trust we will all continue to work on learning and growing together - be it our country folk or otherwise. Best Wishes for your continued success." Sridhar K. (Rasika member)

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Saturday October 30, 1999

Natya Sangeet (Classical vocal concert) by Pandit Prabakar Karekar at PCC, Rockcreek.
*Organized by Oregon Marathi Mandal, co promoted by rasika.

Thank you for bringing programs offered by different organizations tothe attention of RASIKA members. Since the goal of all music and dance lovers is to enjoy ALL the wonderful artists that come to town, I really appreciate your efforts to reach out to other groups and offer their programs to all of us RASIKA members. I admire this spirit greatly,keep up the good work! --Sadhana Shenoy, Rasika SPONSOR
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NOVEMBER 1999

Saturday November 12, 1999

Sitar Recital by Pandit Ravi Shankar and Anoushka Shankar
*Organized by The Oregon Symphony, co promoted by rasika.

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland Center for Performing Arts.

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Classical Carnatic Vocal Concert

Saturday November 20, 1999

O. S. Thyagarajan
Mullaivasal Chandramouli on Violin and J. Vaidyanathan on Mridangam
First Christian Church, Portland

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FEBRUARY 2000

Saturday February 26, 2000

Classical Chitravina Concert

Chitravina N. Ravikiran
Kalpana Venkat on Violin, Poovalur Srinivasan on Mridangam and Kanjira,
Subash Chandran on Ghatam and Konakkol (Vocal Percussion)
First Unitarian Church, SW 12th, Portland.

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Classical Flute Concert

Master Shashank
Raghavendra on Violin, N.Ramakrishnan on Mridangam,
Tripunithura Radhakrishnan on Ghatam and Thamarakudi Rajasekar on Moorsing

Saturday March 26, 2000
Milam Auditorium, OSU

*Presented by SPICMACAY, Oregon State University and cosponsored by rasika.

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APRIL 2000

Vocal Classical Carnatic Concert

Sanjay Subrahmanyan
S. Varadharajan on Violin & Srimushnam Raja Rao on Mridangam

Friday April 7, 2000

First Christian Church (1315 SW Broadway, Portland, OR-97201)

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MAY 2000

Sitar Recital

Kartik Seshadri (Disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar)
Accompanied by Arup Chatterjee on Tabla
Saturday May 6, 2000

St. Mary's Academy (1615 SW 5th Av, Portland, OR- 97201)
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RASIKA, India Arts and Culture Council.

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