Mysuru: Sri Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha, Mysuru, has organised unique vocal concerts this weekend at its premises on JLB Road.

On Mar. 8 (Saturday) at 6 pm, a Karnatak vocal concert with Kritis on Lord Krishna will be presented by Vidu. Archana L. Rao, for Smt. Gunamba Nanjaraje Urs Memorial Concert sponsored by Harin Najaraje Urs.

Archana will be accompanied by Keshava Mohan Kumar on violin, A. Radhesh on mridanga and Sharath Kaushik on ghata.

Hailing from a family of musicians, Archana was initiated into Karnatak classical music at a very young age by her grandfather “Haridasa Sangeeta Gana Ratna”  late Koviladi K. Rangarajan, a renowned musician of yesteryears in Srirangam, Trichy.

Archana is under the tutelage of her mother,  Guru Koviladi R. Kala, a renowned Music Guru in Mysuru.  She has been a regular performer in Karnatak music arena for the past 20 years. Archana is an A-Graded artiste of All India Radio in both Karnatak vocal and Karnatak devotional categories.

She has performed in many prestigious Sabhas and accompanied her guru in many concerts. Professionally she is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

On Mar. 9 (Sunday) at 6 pm, Omkarnath Havaldar will present a Hindusthani vocal concert with Karthik Bhat on tabla and Sameer Havaldar on harmonium followed by a Vachana Vani  as part of the  just concluded Mahashivarathri. This Smt. Indiradevi Praphullachandra Memorial Concert is sponsored by Praphullachandra Veerappan & family.

 Omkarnath was born into a family of Musicians. His father Dr. Nagaraj Rao Havaldar is a well-known Hindustani Classical Vocalist and his mother Sudhamayi is a graduate of Fine Arts.

Initiated into the roots of Hindustani Classical Music by his father,  his talent and promise naturally prompted his parents to request the doyens like Pt. Madhava Gudi  of Kirana Gharana and Pt. Panchakshari Swami Mattigatti of Atrauli Jaipur Gharana to train and hone the skills of their son. He was also  guided in Dhrupad and Khayal by Pt. Indudhar Nirody (Doyen of Agra and Gwalior Gharana). Omkarnath is fortunate to inherit the finest nuances of Kirana, Jaipur, and Agra Gharanas.

Omkarnath is a graduate of Psychology (from National College Jayanagar) and has completed a Master’s Degree in Music from Karnataka State Dr. Gangubai Hanagal Music and Performing Arts University, Mysuru.

A recipient of many awards, he has taught at many prestigious Universities like Yale, Elmhurst College of Music Chicago, Lingnan University Hong Kong, Kabul University to name a few.