August 2025 concertS

We have two concerts this Month including a 2-hour concert. Please attend, encourage the artists and enjoy the concerts.

DATE: Saturday, Aug 23rd, 2025 

TIME: 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM

VENUE: SANATHANA DHARMA KENDRA, 3102 Landess Ave, San Jose, CA 95132

Anushka Ramchander (Vocal)

Anushka Ramchander is a junior at Lynbrook High School, and she has been a part of Saphalya Music Academy for the past 11 years under the tutelage of her Guru Smt. Divya Ramesh. For the past two years, she has been fortunate to receive further training under her Paramaguru Karnataka Kalashree Tirumale Srinivas. In addition to vocal music, Anushka is also pursuing carnatic violin under the guidance of Sangeetha Kala Sagaram Delhi P. Sunderajan. She has completed both her junior and senior vocal music certification exams with distinction through the PSTU exams conducted by Sampada. Anushka actively participates in many Bay Area events and has been giving concerts regularly. She has performed in several platforms, such as OSAAT, Kala Aradhana, Lotus Thyagaraja Aradhana, and more. She has also performed in Maarga - Chennai, during Maargazhi Season. In her free time, Anushka enjoys reading and volunteering.

Nagaraj Mandya (Violin)

Nagaraj started his music education at the Vijaya College of Music, Bangalore over 25 years ago. He received advanced training under Sangeetha Kalarathna Late Prof.H.V.Krishnamurthy. For many years, Nagaraj received further training under renowned vocalist Smt.Asha Ramesh (disciple of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri.D.K.Jayaraman). Nagaraj is currently under the tutelage of renowned violinist Sri.H.K.Venkataram. Nagaraj has performed extensively both in India and in the USA. He has accompanied many artistes in various Sabhas all over India and abroad including The Music Academy, Chennai, Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai, Vani Mahal, Chennai, Bangalore Gayana Samaja, and in many other venues. Along with his guru, Sri.H.K.Venkatram, Nagaraj has developed a multi-media CD on Sri.Thyagaraja’s Pancharathakrithis. He has also developed and presented multi-media presentation on the “Life and Times of Sri Muthuswami Dikshithar”, “Navagraha Krithis of Sri Muthuswami Dikshithar”, etc at many music conferences. Nagaraj’s other interests include study of the Sanskrit language, and Srivaishnava Philosophy. Nagaraj is a software engineer by profession and works for Google.

Sanjeev Palamund (Mridangam)

Sanjeev Palamand hails from a family with rich cultural heritage in Bengaluru, India. He is a disciple of world renowned maestro Laya Kala Prathibhamani, Ganakalashree Guru Shri Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma and was initiated into the art form by Shri Chintalapalli Ashwathnarayan.

A regular performer on the Mridanga, Sanjeev is a much sought-after musician for music concerts, dance recitals, recordings and jugalbandis. He has performed at many prestigious venues with eminent artists in India and North America.

Sanjeev is also well adept with the Konnakkol, Kanjira and is a popular music composer. He has the honor of being the first Indian artist to be listed at the San Francisco Public Library music charts.

Sanjeev works as a Software Engineer in a cyber security company and balances out his passion for tech and music.

Arun Mahadevan (Vocal)

Arun Mahadevan is a Carnatic vocalist currently under the training of Vidwan Delhi P. Sunderrajan, with previous training under Vidwan O.S. Thiagarajan and Prof. T.R. Subramaniam. He is a graded artist at the Bengaluru station of All India Radio, and has performed at many venues in India and the USA, in addition to providing vocal accompaniment for several Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi recitals. Arun holds a PhD in Bioengineering and works for a biotech startup in Millbrae, CA. He is also a faculty member at the Shruthi Swara Laya school of music in Fremont, CA.

Prahlad Saravanapriyan (Violin)

Prahlad Saravanapriyan is a promising young violinist from the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the son and disciple of esteemed Bay Area guru Dr. Sri. Saravanapriyan Sriraman, and he is also receiving advanced training under Sangeetha Kalanidhi Lalgudi Sri. G. J. R. Krishnan. Prahlad is a sought-after soloist and accompanist, regularly presenting concerts at prestigious organizations, sabhas, and universities across India, the USA, and Malaysia. He also composes and performs intricate Ragam-Tanam-Pallavis in his solo concerts. Prahlad was the Featured Violinist in Oozh - Destiny Dance Drama (2023), which premiered at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana. He is currently an incoming freshman at UC San Diego, where he will be pursuing a degree in NanoEngineering.

Akshay Venkatesan  (Mridangam)

Akshay Venkatesan has been learning mridangam for the past 19 years. His initial training was under the guidance of Sri. Ramesh Srinivasan, and he has been undergoing advanced training under the tutelage of Vidwan Sr. S.V. Ramani since 2019. Akshay has been accompanying vocalists and instrumentalists regularly all over the US and in many sabhas in the December music season in Chennai since 2013. He has accompanied senior artists such as Sangeetha Samrat Chitraveena N. Ravikiran, the Carnatica Brothers, Kalaimamni Dr. R. Suryaprakash, Sri. V.V.S. Murari, Smt. Bharghavi Balasubramanian, and Sri. Salem Shriram. Akshay recently graduated from Columbia University with a master’s degree in Data Science.