Come Easter break each year, the Cleveland State University (CSU) undergoes a unique transformation. Thousands of Indians gather to attend the 'Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana'. The focal points here are Carnatic music and Indian classical dance. An electric atmosphere reverberates through the Comfort Inn lobby across the CSU, milling with artistes and attendees.

The Aradhana - in its 35th year - has grown to unbelievable proportions today . This year there were more than 490 participants in different age category for Carnatic music competition.

This year, students from the local area participated and won the prizes. A few notes about each of the kid:

Prayuth Naduthota is Senior at  Westford Academy, Westford MA. He had his Flute arangetram (stage debut) in October 2010. He continues to learn Carnatic Flute from well known professional Flautist Sri Mysore Chandankumar and performed in many places in New England, India and many places across USA. Prayuth has won many competitions in CMANA NJ and Aradhana in the past. Prayuth started teaching Carnatic Flute in the past 18 months. He also plays Western Flute in School band and Captain of debate and Chess team. This year, Prayuth competed in Senior Flute krithis, Senior Flute kalpana swaram and Senior Flute Alapana uring Cleveland Aradhana festival and he won one first place and two second places

Sahana Srinivasan is a freshman at Lexington High School. She is a student of highly regarded and accomplished teacher Smt. Tara Anand at the Anubhava School of Music. She enjoys playing the violin and also sings Carnatic music, Western Classical and Jazz. She won first place in the Kalpana Swaram competition and second place in the Alapana competition for Violin (Junior) at Cleveland Aradhana 2012. Sahana says - I love going to the Cleveland Aradhana and meeting all these great artists! There is so much more to learn!
 
Pratik Bharadwaj is a 4th grader won the special prize in Junior Kalpana swaram. Pratik has been learning vocal  from a very accomplished teacher  Smt. Tara Bangalore for the past 6 years.  He is very passionate about Carnatic music.  Pratik says “Tara aunties discipline and to aim for perfection makes me work hard every day. I have learnt so much from her.  While winning is good, I went for the experience and had a great time”. His other interests are playing piano, swimming and reading.

Sudarshan Ajai Thirumalai is a senior disciple of Guru Tara Anand. He is passionate about Carnatic Music. At the Cleveland Tyagaraja Aradhana music festival, he won prizes in the Alapanai and Neraval competitions. He also participated in the Sustaining Sampradaya program, culminating in a 2 1/2 hour concert by the future torch bearers of Carnatic music in North America. Children across the country were selected to take part in this music program. Apart from music, Sudarshan also learns mridangam from Guru Pravin Sitaram. He accompanies  young artists in the New England area. He is an 8th grader at the Advanced Math & Science Academy, and enjoys origami, robotics, basket ball and performing magic tricks in his spare time

Amrita Ajai Thirumalai is in 3rd grade and learns music from Guru Tara Anand. She won the first prize in the Kriti section in the sub-junior category at the Cleveland Tyagaraja Aradhana music festival. She also is an avid bharatanatyam dancer and trains under her mother Guru Sridevi Ajai Thirumalai. Amrita enjoys painting, drawing and knitting in her spare time.
 
Sreya Sankar won the special prize in the sub junior vocal category.  She has been learning music for the past 2 years from her mother Smt. Uma Sankar from Sruthilayaa School of Carnatic music in Shrewsbury, MA. She is 8 yrs old and also pursues Bharathanaatyam dance and Piano.

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