Mysuru, the cultural capital of Karnataka, is resonant with the music of great maestros. Sri Prasanna Vidya Ganapathi Mandali Charitable (SPVGMC) Trust, Mysuru, has  been playing a crucial role in preserving the continuity of this resonance by organising music concerts during Ganesha festival since over six decades at 8th Cross Ganesha Pandal in VV Mohalla.

All the maestros of Karnatak music, right from Chembai, T.N. Krishnan, K.V. Narayanaswamy, S. Ramanathan, S. Rajam, T.R. Mahalingam, Lalgudi Jayaraman, Paroor Gopalakrishnan, D.K. Jayaraman, T.N. Sheshagopalan, Madhurai Mani Iyer, R.K. Srikanthan, Umayalapuram Sivaraman, Vellore Ramabhadran, Palghat Raghu to youngsters like T.M. Krishna, Chitraveena N. Ravikiran have performed here umpteen number of times.

Even the maestros of Hindustani music like N. Rajam, Hariprasad Chourasia, Gangubai Hangal, Rajeev Taranath have performed at this venue and they considered it a privilege to perform at this pandal. SPVGMC Trust, which believes in training and educating the listeners, has also organised ‘Learning Sessions’ tutored by great maestros like S. Rajam, P.S. Narayanaswamy, Chitraveena N. Ravikiran, T.N. Sheshagopalan and such others. Highly enlightening and educative ‘Lecture Demonstrations’ of stalwarts like Umayalapuram Sivaraman, T.N. Krishnan, T.N. Sheshagopalan, Mannargudi Eswaran, have also been organised.

SPVGMC Trust has been playing the vital role of a cultural ambassador in carrying Karnatak music to the masses.

This year the Trust is celebrating its 63rd anniversary by organising Heritage Music Festival at 8th Cross in V.V. Mohalla in association with Kannada and Culture Department from Sept. 7 to 18. The details are as follows:

Sept. 7 – 6.45 pm: Harikathe by Dr. V. Malini and troupe.

Sept. 8 – 6 pm: Formal inauguration of the 63rd Heritage Music Festival by Chamaraja MLA K. Harishgowda. Kannada & Culture Department Jt. Director V.N. Mallikarjunaswamy will preside.  SPVGMC Trust President Dr. M. Jagannath Shenoy will be present; 6.45 pm: Vocal Concert by Vidu. Sooryagayathri with Vid. Adarsh Ajaykumar on violin, Vid. Kripal Sairam on mridanga, Vid. Prasanth Sankar on tabla & Vid. Shailesh Marar on extra percussion.

Sept. 9 – 5.30 pm: Gamaka Vaachana; 6.45 pm: Vocal Concert by Vid Thiruvarur Girish, accompanied by Vid. R.K. Shriramkumar on violin, Vid. Thiruvarur Bhaktavatsala on mridanga, Vid. Bangalore Arun Kumar on rhythm pad.

Sept. 10 – 5.30 pm: Gamaka Vachana; 6.45 pm: Vocal Concert by Vid. Harish Sivaramakrishnan, accompanied by Vid. Karthik Nagaraj on violin,  Vid. Thiruvarur Bhaktavatsala on mridanga and Vid. Vyasa Vittala on kanjira.

Sept. 11 – 5.30 pm: Gamaka Vachana; 6.45 pm: Vocal Concert by Vid. Vignesh Eswar with Vid. H.N. Bhaskar on violin,  Vid. K.U. Jayachandra Rao on mridanga and Vid. B.S.Purushotham on kanjira.

Sept. 12 (5.30 pm to 6.30 pm): Gamaka Vachana; 6.45 pm: Vocal Concert by Vid. Kalyanapuram S. Aravind, accompanied by Vid. H.N. Bhaskar on violin, Vid. K.U. Jayachandra Rao on mridanga and Vid. B.S. Purushotham on kanjira.

Sept. 13 – 5.30 pm: Gamaka Vachana; 6.45 pm: Vocal Concert by Vidu. Spoorthi Rao, with Vid. H.N. Bhaskar on violin, Vid. Adamya Ramanand on mridanga and Vid. Shamith Gowda on ghata.

Sept. 14 – 10 am: Sri Sathyanaranaswamy Puja; 5.30 pm: Gamaka Vachana; 6.45 pm: Hindustani Vocal Concert by Vidu. Sangeetha Katti, accompanied by Pt. Satish Kolli on harmonium and Pt. Keshav Joshi on tabla.

Sept. 15 – 8 am: Sri Ganapathi Homa and Sri Bhoo Suktha Homa by Vedic Scholar Challakere Brothers; 5.30 pm: Gamaka Vachana; 6.45 pm: Flute Concert by Vid. Sruthi Sagar, Vidu. Charumathi Raghuraman on violin, Vid. Ananth R. Krishna on mridanga and Vid. Vazhapally Krishna Kumar on ghata.

Sept. 16 – 5.30 pm: Gamaka Vachana; 6.45 pm: Vocal Concert by Vid. Kunnakudi Balamuralikrishna, accompanied by Vidu. Akkarai Subhulakshmi on violin, Vid. Shree Sundarkumar on mridanga and Vid. Guruprasanna on kanjira.

Sept. 17 – 5.30 pm: Ranga Geethagalu by Vid. Kiragasur Rajappa and troupe; 6.45 pm: Violin Duet by Vidu. Akkarai Sisters (Akkarai Subhulakshmi and Akkarai Sornalatha), accompanied by Vid. Sumesh Narayanan on mridanga and Vid. Shree Sundarkumar  on kanjira.

Sept. 18 – 5 pm: Mass Tabla recital by Vid. Bhimashankar Bidanur and students; 6 pm: Feliciation to T.M. Krishna on being selected for Sangeetha Kalanidhi 2024; 6.45 pm: Vocal Concert by Vid. T.M. Krishna, accompanied by Vidu. Akkarai Subhulakshmi on violin, Vid. Sumesh Narayanan on mridanga and Vidu. Sukanya Ramgopal on ghata.