Srivani Jade

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Srivani Jade is a Hindustani classical singer. She specializes in the North Indian classical form of Khayal and other traditional and folk-inspired music like Thumri-Dadra, Tappa and Bhajans. Srivani has performed regularly on stage, radio and television in India from the age of five. Her first solo album of 16th century devotional music (Sant Tukaram's Abhangs) released in 2007, and since then, she has recorded many successful albums of Indian classical and light classical music.

Srivani has performed extensively in the USA, Canada and India, and has received several awards, grants and residencies for original work in classical  music. She was founding editor of Ragavani Journal of South Asian Music and Dance in 2007. Currently, Srivani serves on the board of Kirkland Performance Center, a vibrant international art house, and helps curate an annual performance series called Namaste Kirkland. She is also a passionate teacher and enjoys a growing student following in the Seattle area.



Albums/Recorded Work

 
2011: Salagavarali and Audav Bageshree: Two North Indian Raags in a classical Khayal presentation.
        
2009: Meera's Love: seven soulful songs of love and longing based on 15th century poetry by Meera Bai.
        
2008: Bhoopali: Evening raaga Bhoopali, a Kajri and a Maand. 74 minutes of classical and folk/traditional music.
       
2007: Music album 'Bhakti darshana Tukayaache'; collaborative project with Dr. Sharad Gadre on Sant Tukaram's Abhangs.

2004: Theme vocals for Tasveer Films production 'Tapasya: A Life's Work'.


Awards/Grants/Residencies

2010-11: Folk Arts Master Apprenticeship grant from Washington State Arts Commission to teach Kirana-style Khyal.

2009: Fellowship Award from Washington State Arts Commission.
These awards recognize outstanding traditional artists for their contributions to their culture and community. They are based solely on recognition of past and continuing merit in maintaining cultural traditions.

2008-09: Artist Support Residency at Jack Straw Productions for a recording project that explores the "Indian soundscape" through the 16thC spiritual love poetry of Meera Bai.

May 2009: Artist Residency at University of Washington, Bothell to introduce traditional North Indian music through workshop and performance.

2008-09: Folk Arts Master Apprenticeship grant from Washington State Arts Commission to teach Thumri and exploration of this genre via Kathak choreography.

Education/Journey
 
Srivani was introduced to music at the age of four by her father Bhavani Prasad Jade and uncle Raghu Tilwalli. Although she formally trained in Carnatic music during her childhood, she found herself gravitating towards Thumri, Ghazal and other light classical music from North India during her youth. While she continued to actively perform various kinds of music for the next decade or so, her interest in classical music, particularly Khayal and Thumri, slowly intensified. In 2002, she began her formal training in Khayal under Dr. Sharad Gadre of Seattle.

Khayal: During this time, she also listened avidly to the rich and varied styles of various artists of Khayal, both old masters and contemporary singers. She found herself particularly drawn to the melody-centric style of the Kirana Gharana. In 2006, she found her Guru in the Kirana maestro Pandit Parameshwar Hegde (disciple of Padmabhushan Pandit Basavaraj Rajguru) of Bangalore, India. Under his tutelage, she is expanding her repertoire of raagas and compositions, and imbibing the nuances of Kirana gayaki (style).

Thumri: Over the last decade, Srivani has acquired an eclectic collection of Thumri, Dadra, Kajri, Chaiti, Hori, Jhoola and Tappa. She enjoys the folk verse, emotive capacity and versatile treatment of raagas in these genres.
 
Srivani has a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University. After nine years in engineering, she is now enjoying a full-fledged career in music.