Electronic Press Kit – Akshara Music...

ElectronicPressKit–AksharaMusicEnsembleBuildingnewformsonthefoundationsofIndianclassicalmusic

Carnaticmusician,composer,andeducatorBalaSkandanformedAksharaMusicEnsemble in 2008, assembling New York’s strongest voices in Indian classicalmusic to explore the crossroads of the traditional and the contemporary.Skandan’s original music expresses classical Carnatic (South Indian) ragas andtalas through the forms of world music, jazz improvisation, and moderncomposition,creatingmusicasdynamicanddiverseasNewYorkCityitself.Withan instrumentation ranging from hammered dulcimer, violins, and cello tomridangam, kanjira, and bansuri, Akshara’smusic utilizes a broad sonic palettethat highlights its members’ backgrounds in Carnatic, Hindustani, WesternClassical, and Folk music. Through agile melody, propulsive percussion, andenergeticensembleinterplay,theycraftahybridmusicofuncommonbeautyandrigor.Akshara has presented work sponsored by some of New York’s leading artsinstitutionsandmusicvenues,includingTheRubinMuseumofArt,LyricChamberMusic Society, Cornelia St. Café and RockwoodMusic Hall. In addition to theirmusicalperformances,Aksharaisactiveincomposingandperformingnewmusicto accompany classical dance productions, teaching workshops and master-classestomusicstudents,andbringingtherichnessof Indianclassicaltraditionstoaudiencesofinitiatesandneophytesalike.THEENSEMBLEBalaSkandan-mridangam(percussion),konakkol(vocalpercussion)ArunRamamurthy–violin|MaxZT–hammereddulcimer|JayGandhi-bansuri(Hindustaniflute)|NitinMitta-tabla(percussion)|TrinaBasu–violin|DaveEggar–Cello|AmaliPremawardhana–celloSELECTPERFORMANCES2016DriveEastFestival,EllenStewartTheatre,NewYork,NYLyricChamberMusicSociety,KociuszckoFoundation,NewYork,NYRagasLiveFestival,NYCResidencySeries,RockwoodMusicHall,NewYork,NYVivalaVinylFestival,Boston,MAJuilliardSchoolofMusic,NewYork,NYCorneliaStreetCafé,NewYorkNYStLawrenceUniversity,Canton,NYORIGINALCOMPOSITIONSMohanaBlues–ahauntingmelodybasedonthepopularscaleMohanaOpusinFive–AnintricatepieceblendingsouthIndianmelodyrhythmSa–namedafterthefirstnoteinIndianclassicalmusicMindtheGap–adynamicpiecethatexploressilenceaspartofmusicUrbanKriti–blendingurbansoundswithatraditionalIndianscale

Akshara’sMohanaBlueswonthe

‘BestWorldTraditionalSong’awardatthe13thAnnualIndependent

MusicAwards

GenreWorldMusic/Jazz/Indianclassical

Press

“Aksharahasproventhemselvestobemastermusicians,whoseworkisexemplaryofbeautyandsublimity.”

–doobeedoobee.info

ContactBalaSkandanaksharamusic@gmail.comPh:(917)208-2424

Webwww.aksharamusic.comFacebook.com/aksharamusicInstangram.com/aksharamusicSoundcloud.com/aksharamusic