Awards2009:
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.
Grants/Residencies2009-10: Folk Arts grant
from
Washington
State Arts Commission to teach Kirana-style Khyal.
2008-09:
Artist Support Residency at
Jack Straw Productions for a recording project that
explores the "Indian soundscape" through the 16
thC 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 grant
from
Washington
State Arts Commission to teach Thumri and exploration of this genre
via Kathak choreography.
Albums/Recorded Work 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 on a
CD.
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'.
Community/OutreachSrivani is on the
4Culture King County Touring Arts Roster, recipient
of several artist grants for original work in classical music, and
founding editor of
Ragavani
Journal of South Asian Music and Dance. She also 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 a passionate teacher and enjoys a growing student
following in the Seattle area.
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 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 pursuing a
second career in music.