WESTON, MA–With an opening ceremony and invocation, LearnQuest Academy of Music on Friday kicked off its f-ve-day music festival on Friday at the Regis College auditorium in Weston, MA.
The 16th Annual festival is scheduled at the same venue for March 29, 30 and 31 and April 13 and 14.
The program kicked off with Carnatic Flute with Shahshank Subramanyam on flute, Kamalakiran Vinjamuri on violin and Parupalli Phalgun on mridangam. This was followed by Hindustani vocal by Manjusha Patil with Abhinay Rawande on harmonium and Prashant Pandav on table.
On this occassion, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey issued a special welcome message. To watch the video, please click here, or on the image below.
LearnQuest Academy of Music is a leading platform dedicated to the promotion and celebration of Indian classical music and dance. The Academy also announced that it has expanded the festival from its original single weekend format to two immersive weekends this year.
Scheduled from March 29th to 31st and April 13th to 14th, 2024, this event will offer an unparalleled showcase of music and dance experiences, bringing together world-renowned artists and enthusiasts alike.
The LearnQuest Music Conference has long been regarded as a signature event for artistic expression in the region, and this year’s expansion signifies a commitment to further enriching the cultural tapestry by extending the celebration across two distinctive weekends.
Here are some other key highlights from this year’s festival:
Five days of music and dance spread over 2 weekends – March 29, 30, 31 and April 13, 14.
Presenting Indian Classical Music, both Carnatic and Hindustani styles.
Indian Classical dances – Kathak and Bharatanatyam, featuring established eminent maestros along with rising young musicians.
Presenting 24 music recitals and two dances featuring more than 80 artists.
First time a wide representation of artists from five different countries.
Forty artists from India, two from Europe, one from Canada, over 30 from the United States, including 28 from the Greater Boston area.
15 vocalists: seven Carnatic and 8 Hindustani.
16 solo instrumentalists.
17 melodic accompanists (violin and harmonium).
21 percussionists (Tabla and Mridangam), and
17 chorus singers.
Some of the distinguished and well-known artists included are: Carnatic Muisc: vocalists T. M. Krishna, Vijay Siva, Mridangist Thiruvarur Bhaktavatsalam, violinists Lalgudi GJR Krishnan and Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, Flautists Shashank Subramanyam and V. K. Raman.
Hindustani Music: Tabla legend Swapan Chaudhuri, Dhrupad singer Uday Bhawalkar, Sitarist Kushal Das, Sarodist Ken Zuckerman, vocalists Manjusha Patil and Mitali Bhawmik.
Classical Dancers: Padmini Ravi (Bharatanatyam), Farah Shaikh (Kathak).
Event Details:
Dates: March 29-31 and April 13 & 14, 2024
Location: Casey Auditorium, Regis College, Weston, MA ● Tickets and Information: LearnQuest Music Conference Ticketing website
Join the LearnQuest Music Festival 2024 for an unforgettable celebration of music and dance, where the finest artists and enthusiasts converge to create moments of pure artistic brilliance.
LearnQuest is a leading platform dedicated to promoting and nurturing Indian classical music and dance through education, performances, and community engagement. With a commitment to preserving cultural heritage, LearnQuest strives to inspire, educate, and connect enthusiasts and artists worldwide.