About The Orchestra
Who We Are
Smt. Harini Darbha
Vocalist
Ms. Darbha, is a Carnatic classical vocalist from Vijayawada, India. She started learning Carnatic music vocal under Kum. Kowtha Priyamvada and Sri. Modumudi Sudhakar at a very young age and has continued performing for more than 14 years. She has received advanced training from the Late Sri. Ampolu Murali Krishna, advanced school of Carnatic music of music academy in Chennai, India. Ms. Darba is now under the training of Vid. Savita Narasimhan from Chennai. She has a distinction in Certificate and Diploma in Carnatic music. She is a B+ grade artist in All India Radio and Indian television. She holds a B.E. (IT) from JNTU University in 2012 and completed Masters in Music from Padmavati Mahila Vishwavidyalayam, Tirupati. She has won many awards and to name a few, Bala Ratna award 2004 -2005 from State Government of A.P., Special Jury award for 2005 to 2006 from A P govt., Best concert award from Nada Prabha and Saraswathi Gana Sabha. Gold medalist of TTD 2002. Harini has performed in many sabhas in the US and India. She has been teaching for more than 10 years and has conducted workshops for organizations in Boston.
Sri Sivachelvan Ponnudurai
Mridangist
Sri. Sivachelvan “Siva” Ponnudurai is a mridangist from Yaalpaanam, Sri Lanka. Inspired by his mother who is a Carnatic vocalist, Siva received percussion tutelage for many years primarily under late Yaalpaanam A. Santhanakrishnan. Siva has also received training under Guru Karaikudi R. Mani Sruthi Laya Seva in Chennai. Siva is equally proficient in both Mridangam and Khanjira and has many years of concert experience, Siva has accompanied and collaborated with various artists in classical music, Bharathanatyam & fusion ensembles. Siva has
accompanied various popular visiting artists from India and has performed abroad with notable musicians. Siva is currently employed at The Walt Disney Company as Director of Business Technology Strategy. He resides and teaches percussion in Avon, Connecticut.
Miss. Swetha Narasimhan
Violinist
Ms. Swetha Narasimhan is a senior student of Late Smt. Gowri Ramakrishnan in New Jersey, from whom she was privileged to learn for 16 years. Before coming to New Jersey, Swetha started learning violin at the age of 6 from Dr. Narayan Raman in Indianapolis, and was taught by several violinists, including Shri. Purnachander Rao, Trichy Shri. Sathyamurthy, and Smt. Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi. She has played extensively for Carnatic vocal, instrumental, Bharathanatyam, and Kuchipudi programs around the country. She holds a degree in mathematics from Bryn Mawr College, and a master's in education from the University of Pennsylvania. Swetha was a high school teacher in West Philadelphia for 6 years and is working in the field of education.
Sri. Murthy Mamidanna
Flutist
Sri Murthy Mamidanna was initiated into Carnatic music at an early age. He received training in vocal music under Smt. Annapurna Pathri, a disciple of Sri Nch.Krishnamacharyulu who is a 5th generation student descendant of Saint Thyagaraja. He has later trained in Carnatic Flute under the guidance of Late Sri Viyyalawada Nagaraju (V Nagaraju) who was a top grade Carnatic Flautist in All India Radio Hyderabad. Sri Murthy Mamidanna also had the opportunity to train in advanced flute playing techniques under Late Sri Manda Balarama Sarma, a disciple of the legendary Flautist Sri T.R.Mahalingam. Sri Murthy Mamidanna resides in Brookfield, CT and performs at area music festivals and dance recitals.
