This is a two part series highlighting both Carnatic and Hindustani segments.

 Learn Quest Academy annual music conference, whose ability to bring together musicians from a wide array of musical genres both Carnatic and Hindustani—and from legendary performers to emerging artists—makes it a popular destination for both new fans and devoted followers. The Academy holds the unique distinction in New England of promoting both Carnatic and Hindustani music by conducting classes and organizing concerts. 

  This year from March 31^st to April 4^th, the conference enters its 5th successful year and hits all the right notes thanks to the patrons, supporters and music aficionados in the Boston area. While the main conference will take place at the performance center in Regis College in Weston from April 2^nd through the 4^th, the March 31^st program will take place at Boston University with the collaboration of the university and the program on April 1^st will take place at the Wong auditorium at MIT in collaboration with MITHAS, a MIT based music organization.

 This year the Carnatic segment will feature a dazzling display of  renowned artists from India: Here is a sampler:

·         A violin concert by Smt. Lalgudi Shrimathi Brahmanadam and her daughter Smt Anuradha Sridhar accompanied on the mridangam by Sri Lalgudi Shriram Brahmanandam. Smt. Lalgudi Shrimathi Brahmanandam is a very familiar name to the old time Carnatic patrons since she and her brother, the very well known violin maestro Sri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman used to storm through the Carnatic music scene in the 60’s & 70’s to delight  both the younger and seasoned audience.

·         U. Srinivas who performs with the likes of John McLaughlin and Zakir Hussain  pioneered playing Carnatic music on the Madolin and gave his first concert when he was only  10 years old. A world renowned artist he will give a lecture demonstration about the instrument and then a concert with his brother Rajesh. He will also be performing a Jugal Bandhi concert with the well known Sitarist Shahid Pervez.

·         Year 2010 is the birth centenary of the Carnatic vocal legend the late Sri G. N. Balasubramaniam. Carnatic music lovers from all around the globe are celebrating this great event. In order to join that celebration LQ is including carnatic vocal concert by Smt. Sangeetha Sivakumar who comes from the GNB School and she will be performing compositions either composed or popularized by GNB.

·         Unni Krishnan is a name that is very well known to both Carnatic music lovers and also movie buffs since he is a very traditional carnatic vocalist and disciple of Dr. S. Ramanathan as well is a popular movie playback singer. He will be performing at this conference accompanied on the violin by Embar Kannan and on the Mridangam by Arjun Kumar.

·         Kunnakudi (other wise known as Master) Balamurali Krishna who is a young and upcoming carnatic vocalist and is rapidly rising to stardom will be performing accompanied by our own local artists K.V.S. Vinay and Mahalingam Santhanakrishnan.

·         The very upbeat and rhythm based music group, Akshara, lead by Balaskandan from New York will be performing a very colorful concert with violin, bass, mridangam and tabla as part of the conference.

·         LQ also encourages the local artists and our young talents by giving them a slot to perform. This year Smt. Durga Krishnan gets that honor. Students from her school New England School of Carnatic Music will give an orchestra recital followed by a performance by Durga Krishnan accompanied on the mridangam by another local artist Gaurishankar.

Attendees to this event will remember its rich music, the countless performances, workshops and musicians it produces, and the incredible music events it orchestrates.

For more information please visit  http://learnquest.org/conference2010/

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