(January 22, 2023) In 2007, the year Rishabh Seen first heard the Foo Fighters and t their frontman, Dave Grohl, he knew his life had changed forever. “It was one of those moments where you just know that you’re experiencing something that will change you,” he said in an interview later. Until that point, Rishabh Seen, who belonged to an illustrious family of Hindustani musicians, had devoted himself to the classical tradition on the sitar.
Steeped in tradition
Rishabh Seen
Rishabh’s childhood in Jalandhar was spent immersed in music. His grandfather, Ustad Lachhman Singh Seen, is an acclaimed tabla maestro and music scholar, with his works preserved in the national archives. Rishabh’s father, Manu Kumar Seen, is an accomplished sitarist. Growing up in this environment, Rishabh began vocal training at the age of six and his sitar practice started four years later. Despite the family’s deep devotion to classical traditions, his father helped him understand the world of possibilities the sitar afforded him.
Still, his knowledge of what lay outside classical music remained limited and Dave Grohl came as an inspiration. “It changed my entire vision about life and music in general,” Rishabh said. “I discovered that progressive metal was based on instrument-driven songs and that is the point where Indian classical and metal meet.” His enthusiasm compounded when he realised there wasn’t anybody out there who seemed to have had the idea of sitar-metal, or even a band led by any instrument other than a guitar, keyboard or drums.
Dave Grohl and a journey of discovery
Rishabh’s own journey of discovery continued, and he went from the Foo Fighters to Slipknot and Nirvana. “It was around 2011, when I just played a metal song on the speakers. My dad, wondering what on earth was happening, came by to check on me. What was surprising was that he really enjoyed what he was listening to,” he said in an interview. Technically speaking, too, the two forms of music are very different. Hindustani classical music involves playing one scale or raaga in a 45-minute concert. With metal, a single song can contain several scales.
At first, the young Global Indian’s efforts were not well received. Metal was seen as dark and hairy, while the sitar receives reverence. His fortunes turned in 2015 when he released his first cover of Animals As Leaders’ ‘Tempting Time’. In no time, the song garnered lakhs of views. That was also the year he founded his band, Mute The Saint. They produced covers of artists like Animals as Leaders, Steven Wilson and Meshuggah and were a success. While the two genres might stand as polar opposites, to the trained and untrained year alike, Rishabh saw only common ground, a similarity “in terms of evoking an inner revolution and spreading peace.”
In 2016, Mute the Saint released a self-titled album and two years later, the second, which contained a bunch of covers of Coldplay and Foo Fighters. Rishabh has performed with singer Arijit Singh and solo headlines sitar metal shows.
(June 24, 2023) The worker justice and the labour movements in the United States of America have played a significant role in shaping the rights and conditions of workers throughout history. Inspired by the struggles of millions of people in the past, and attempting to better the future of labour in the States, is a young 20-year-old Indian American, Shyamala Ramakrishna. A student of Yale Law School, the young advocate was recently awarded the prestigious Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. "I think it was because of my parents," shares the advocate, as she connects with Global Indian from Yale for an exclusive interview, "They came to New York in the 1990s, and I grew up hearing about the curiosities that they had about the American society and the issues here. That really encouraged me to develop my own sense of curiosity. My parents were very free in allowing me to be the judge of what I was curious about and what I wanted to do. And that led me to the path that I am on now." As an undergraduate at Yale College, Shyamala distinguished herself as a scholar in the prestigious Multidisciplinary Academic Program in Human
ety and the issues here. That really encouraged me to develop my own sense of curiosity. My parents were very free in allowing me to be the judge of what I was curious about and what I wanted to do. And that led me to the path that I am on now."
As an undergraduate at Yale College, Shyamala distinguished herself as a scholar in the prestigious Multidisciplinary Academic Program in Human Rights, where her studies were centered around arts and advocacy. "I was deeply inspired by the work of attorney activist, Sarumathi Jayaraman, who is also an Indian American working for fair wages for restaurant workers and other service workers in the United States. You can say that she motivated me to pick this career path."
A melodious beginning
In the vibrant city of New York, Shyamala Ramakrishna's journey began, nurtured by her parents who hailed from Tamil Nadu. The youngster grew up in a tight-knit Indian community. "My parents came to New York searching for better opportunities," the advocate says, adding, "And they both brought their passions along with them. My mother is a musician and a music educator. My father came to the US for a Ph.D. in theoretical physics. I grew up between New York and New Jersey, on the East Coast. There are a lot of other Indian immigrant families and Indian Americans in the neighbourhoods that I lived in. It was quite a thriving community - vibrant and supportive."
As brilliant a student as she is, Shyamala is also a very talented musician. Guided by her mother and grandmother, she delved into the intricate art of Carnatic music. "My mother introduced me to Carnatic music when I was just a toddler and at four I gave my first performance on stage at a South Indian music festival." And even today, despite a very busy schedule, the youngster never leaves a chance to perform. "I am still the lead vocalist in my band, FORAGER, and it's been an incredible journey, watching our music resonate with audiences, filling venues in New York City and beyond. I also had the incredible opportunity to music direct Shades, a remarkable singing group that places Black musical traditions at the heart of its artistic expression. No matter how busy I get, I plan on continuing to pursue music," the advocate shares.
Of activism and advocacy
After finishing high school, Shyamala was quite clear that she wanted to pursue graduation in law, and she chose to go to one of the best institutions in the USA - Yale. Pursuing a multidisciplinary academic programme in human and labour rights, the young advocate took part in various important legal research, including at the American Civil Liberties Union. "Currently I am enrolled at the Yale Law School's three-year Juris Doctor programme, which provides students with a legal education of outstanding breadth and depth. My focus is labour and employment issues, which I chose because of a long-standing interest in workers' rights and justice in the USA.
[caption id="attachment_31392" align="aligncenter" width="662"] Yale Law School, New Haven, Connecticut[/caption]
However, advocating for these issues is no cakewalk. Talking about the challenges she and many advocate activists like her face, she says, "When I came to Yale I realised how much people's success had to do with what they were given, including the resources, the money, the education, extracurriculars - the things their parents could sign them up for. Learning that the US pedals this myth of meritocracy that's not real was really a key development in my understanding of how to fix this country. A large part of it is recognising that the resources and opportunities that were given to people at a young age have much more to do with their success than any sense of brilliance."
Following her graduation, the young advocate embarked on a career in the future of work policy, assuming a fellowship role with the State of New Jersey, where she made valuable contributions by actively participating in the development of regulations aimed at tackling the discriminatory effects of algorithmic hiring technology. Driven by a strong commitment to social justice, Shyamala extended her efforts beyond the realm of policy work. Volunteering with Court Watch NYC, she engaged in crucial activities related to monitoring and reporting.
"Leaving the college behind, and working in the real world made me realise that a big challenge for any advocate who wishes to work for these issues is to not distance themselves from the people we are trying to serve. So, I am working on making sure that I can make an impact and help establish labour justice and rights," the advocate explains. "However, the fact that there are many South Asians in the USA who are dedicated to multi-racial, multi-generational, and cross-class solidarity has been a huge motivator to keep me on track."
Planning to dedicate her career to workers’ rights in the future, Shyamala is elated to have received the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship. "Higher education in the US is very expensive and getting funding for a law degree is going to make it very easy for me to concentrate on my mission without worrying about paying off my debt. Secondly, this fellowship will also help me meet people who were previous years' P&D Soros fellows, working in adjacent or similar fields as mine. I am really looking forward to that," says the advocate as she signs off.
(June 28, 2023) When Bala received an offer to create art pieces for two of the recently opened Haldiram’s outlets in Hyderabad it was a pleasant surprise for the artist. She embarked on her creative journey to showcase Indian heritage through her unique Russian Sculpting Painting - a lesser–known art form in which she has garnered immense expertise. Despite the tight deadline, Bala’s dedication resulted in captivating artworks. Bala remarks in an interview with Global Indian, “Interest towards Russian Sculpting Art is a very recent trend. Not many are aware of it.” A fusion of painting and sculpture, mastering Russian Sculpture Painting presents a steep learning curve initially, but once people master it, they unleash magic on their canvas. Bala who is not just an artist but also an art educator, has guided over 2,000 learners from India and abroad to create their own enchanting artworks. One of India’s biggest retailer for art and craft supplies, Itsy Bitsy has also commissioned Bala as one of its brand ambassadors. [caption id="attachment_31475" align="aligncenter" width="529"] Bala Nivetha[/caption] Organic popularity Bala finds happiness and satisfaction in her swift success within just two years of venturing into Russian Sculpting Art. As an early adopter of
Bala finds happiness and satisfaction in her swift success within just two years of venturing into Russian Sculpting Art. As an early adopter of Instagram's reels feature, she witnessed her creations amassing impressive views, with some reaching as high as 18 million impressions.
Inspired by this organic growth, Bala recognized the potential of social media in expanding her business. She emphasises the importance of monetizing one's followers. Her influence has transcended national borders, and she has been able to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including the US, UK, Russia, and the Middle East.
Managing rapid growth
Within a short period, Bala's Instagram account experienced an exponential surge in followers, reaching 100K purely organically. She recalls being unprepared for the overwhelming traffic, as her follower count increased by 1,000 every second. “I didn’t know how to handle it,” she smiles. Acknowledging her remarkable growth, Meta, the company behind Instagram, invited her as one of the few influencers from Tamil Nadu to a conference in Chennai, attended by people from across the country.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOyahm8DitM
Within two years, Bala has successfully trained 2,000 individuals between the ages of 15 and 60, both within India and abroad. Language barriers have posed challenges in expanding her reach further, as enthusiasts from countries such as Iran, and Iraq have expressed keen interest but face communication limitations. “Since the art form originates from the country, the highest level of interest that I have received so far is from Russia but again, language is a barrier,” she remarks.
Bala conducts online classes and offline workshops in Salem, Bengaluru, and Chennai, providing art kits to participants in India and recommending local shops for those overseas due to customs restrictions on shipping Russian colour pastes.
From hobby to profession
Bala had always been interested in the arts. “It was my hobby for as long as I can remember,” she says. From standard eighth onwards, she consistently participated in and won competitions at school, district, and state levels. “I was popular for my art in school,” she smiles.
When she passed out of Cluny Higher Secondary School in Salem, the nearest and easiest course matching her creativity was that of fashion designing at the Kongu Art and Science College in Erode. It took one-and-half hours of travelling from Salem to Erode for Bala to attend college. “I could have gone to other towns like Coimbatore, Chennai, and Bengaluru but being a pampered child, I did not want to go too far from my parents.”
Passing out as the second rank holder in BSc, she went on to do her MSc in fashion designing from the same college and eventually gravitated towards the realm of arts.
Discovering Russian Sculpture Painting by chance, Bala immersed herself in the craft through self-teaching and learning from renowned painters’ worldwide by watching their videos. The unexpected boost of social media during the pandemic propelled her career. Now earning six figures per month, Bala looks forward to establishing an art studio in her hometown, Salem.
Future aspirations
Having already taught numerous individuals, some of whom have become teachers themselves, Bala anticipates Russian Sculpture Painting becoming more widespread in the coming days. With that in mind, the artist-educator plans to explore other unique art forms before they become commonplace, continuing her artistic journey.
(August 24, 2024)In the midst of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, PM Modi made a historic visit to Ukraine, meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This marked the first time an Indian prime minister has visited Ukraine since the two countries established diplomatic relations over 30 years ago. The visit has garnered significant global attention, with many expecting the Indian prime minister to play a mediating role. Global Indian reached out to two young Ukrainian nationals to get their perspectives on Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ukraine during these trying times of war. It's rare for Viktoria Burenkova to be in the audience. Typically, during big events or special occasions, she’s the one captivating crowd with her Bharatanatyam performances. As a regular performer at events organised by the Embassy of India in Ukraine, she was invited to attend Prime Minister Modi’s reception ceremony in the country. The Ukrainian Bharatanatyam dancer, who performs under the stage name Vijaya Bai, is passionate about the art form and teaches it in Kyiv, despite never having visited India. Meanwhile, Yevheniia Fedotova, a product manager by profession, spent a year in India as an ICCR scholar in 2017-18 and visited the country again last year. With a
eaches it in Kyiv, despite never having visited India.
Meanwhile, Yevheniia Fedotova, a product manager by profession, spent a year in India as an ICCR scholar in 2017-18 and visited the country again last year. With a deep passion for volunteerism, she is associated with an NGO as its vice-president, and has been voluntarily coordinating the Ukrainian parliament’s deputy group on inter-parliamentary affairs with the Republic of India. Based in Kyiv, she works for Convosight, an Indian multinational firm with headquarters in Gurugram.
[caption id="attachment_38941" align="aligncenter" width="621"] Viktoria (right) and Yevheniia (centre) during India's Republic Day celebration in Ukraine in 2022[/caption]
The young women who have deep love and respect for India shared their opinions and expectations about the Indian PM’s visit to their country during these tough times:
Viktoria Burenkova
Bharatnatyam exponent and teacher
“We face challenges every day because of Russia, but life goes on. We have to keep working and supporting our army because, honestly, what else can we do? Everyone here is affected, even if you are living in a relatively safe area. Your relatives and neighbours might be in the army, so you are constantly stressed. Shelling happens often, and one hears the air raid alarms five-ten times a day, depending upon the situation. Even when you are sleeping, you hear it, and you never know if the next bomb will hit your house. We don’t expect things to be fine anytime soon. The war impacts every aspect of life, including mental health.
When we watch the news, we see our soldiers. Those of us who have stayed back feel a deep sense of support for our army men. We are hopeful about the Indian PM visit because India possesses one of the world's richest and most profound philosophies. Every war is essentially a battle between good and evil, and the most important thing is to be on the side of good.
As India is a spiritual country, we believe that by coming here, seeing what’s happening, meeting our people, talking to our President, and listening to his perspective, Mr Modi can play a significant role as a mediator in this situation by understanding Ukraine’s perspective. We truly hope for a positive outcome from this visit. We trust in India's Vedic system, knowing that India has the capability to discern what is right and wrong, and to align with what is just and moral."
In many ways, we are similar to India - our emotions, our traditions - and we have warm feelings for India. The Indians living here, despite the war, are so helpful, always trying to explain Ukraine’s perspective to others.
Viktoria attended the event with a few members of her dance school, Nakshatra. “All of us were truly honoured to be invited to such a high-profile occasion. Some of us wore saris while others chose the traditional Ukrainian dress, the Vyshyvanka,” she shared.
Yevheniia Fedotova
Social activist and project manager in a multinational firm
“I feel happy because this is the first time India’s Prime Minister has visited an independent Ukraine. There was a visit in 1982 by late Indira Gandhi, but that was long ago when Ukraine was still part of the USSR.
However, I am unsure whether Modi’s approach to peace in Ukraine aligns with the vision of the Ukrainian people. I worry that if there is a discrepancy between Modi’s peace efforts and Ukraine’s expectations, it might lead to significant disappointment on both sides. As I understand it, India is making mediation efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the war. We want peace too, but our enemy, Russia, is not a country that respects diplomacy or international order - it only understands power, particularly nuclear power.
India has strong defence capabilities and can speak to Russia, and Russia depends on India. However, Russia also has some influence in India, and unfortunately, that influence is not beneficial for Ukraine. Russia is a vast country with a large population and more resources than we have. India may give some preference to Russia, not because of any goodwill on Russia’s part, but because India cares for the safety for its own people.
To be honest, if there were no war and India remained friends with Russia, it wouldn’t bother me. But in these times, when Ukrainians - and especially the Indian students here - are under so much stress, it’s hard to accept that Russia seems more significant to India.
We have hope from Modi’s visit, but we are concerned that he might push for freezing the conflict. For Ukraine, freezing the conflict would mean we wouldn’t regain our territories, and our prisoners wouldn’t return home.
We want peace, but that peace must include regaining our land and bringing our people back from captivity. We are grateful for the humanitarian aid India has sent us. I believe that if Ukraine wins, it will set a strong precedent—that if a small country like Ukraine can reclaim its territories, it will set an example for India that its borders, as marked by the United Nations, will remain secure from any encroachment by China. India should be more invested in a Ukrainian victory.”
Love and expectations from India
Both Viktoria and Yevheniia are in their late 20s. As a dance exponent with an Indian stage name, Viktoria’s life is structured around Bharatanatyam. She started learning Hindi at the age of 18 and can speak a little in Telugu and Punjabi as well.
While Yevheniia pursued her bachelor’s and master’s in Hindi at the Taras Shevchenko University in Ukraine, and studied for a year at the Kendriya Hindi Sansthan in New Delhi. Like Viktoria she holds a deep affection for India, having experienced the beauty of the country and its people. “I even defend India when friends criticise it, saying, ‘Look at how much oil India is purchasing from Russia,’” she laughs. “But that doesn't mean India is bad; India is a good nation, I tell them."
Like other young Ukrainians, both Viktoria and Yevheniia hope that world leaders, including the Indian PM, will understand their country's perspective and support their nation in overcoming the crisis without having to bow down.
(August 9, 2024) Padakanti Vishwanath Karthikey used to be a lazy kid, for whom being healthy was not a priority. But that was until the day he, as an 11 year old, accompanied his sister Vaishnavi on a trek to Mt Rudugaira in Uttarakhand. He trekked till the first camp but had to return due to Acute Mountain Sickness (ACD). Nonetheless, this experience turned his life around and sparked an interest in mountaineering. The 15 year old mountaineer has since gone on to hold three world records, and is the youngest person to summit Europe's highest peak Mt Elbrus in 24 hours, a feat he accomplished on India’s 75th Independence Day. “My mountaineering journey started because of my sister and I motivate myself to be better everyday. I want to be an inspiration for many people and also seek inspiration from them to do new things,” smiles mountaineer Vishwanath Karthikey, in a chat with Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_38746" align="aligncenter" width="267"] Mountaineer Vishwanath Karthikey[/caption] Taking on the icy Mt Denali In his most recent expedition, the teen mountaineer embarked on an arduous journey up Mt. Denali, the highest peak in North America, which stands at over 20,000 feet above sea level. He reached the
In his most recent expedition, the teen mountaineer embarked on an arduous journey up Mt. Denali, the highest peak in North America, which stands at over 20,000 feet above sea level. He reached the summit, conquering both physical and personal obstacles along the way.
Karthikey started the Mt Denali expedition on June 10 and reached Anchorage the following day, where he spent the night and shopped for essentials. “We took the West Buttress route to the mountain,” says the teenager, who reached the base camp by June 15.
From there, he climbed for 4-6 hours straight and reached camp 1 where he and few other mountaineers pitched their tents, cooked food and melted ice for water. “We stashed our non essential items into the snow and marked the spot so that we wouldn't lose it. Our climb started again the next morning, and went on for around eight hours.”
Karthikey says it was a tiring journey as he had to pull his sledges too. “No pain, no gain, so we went on and reached the camp site,” says the three-time world record holder, who reached the summit by June 24.
Two days before reaching the summit, he was extremely dehydrated as he was not able to consume the water, which felt too hot while drinking, and also tasted foul to him. “Despite this and the low temperatures, I made it to the summit,” says Karthikey, who underwent strength, agility, stability, endurance and cardio training for this climb.
Mt Elbrus
The journey began with two months of rigorous training, as Karthikey prepared to climb Mt Elbrus in 2022. In his first attempt, he returned from the lower camps of the mountain. “I was successful in summiting Mt Elbrus on my second attempt. It was a very special expedition for me as I summited it on India’s 75th Independence Day,” smiles the teenager who became the youngest in the world to accomplish it in less than 24 hours.
He describes the Mt Elbrus climb as a wonderful experience. “I got to meet many new people, my cousin was accompanying me and there were two more people of my age group,” he says.
However, it wasn’t always smooth. The mountaineers faced terrible weather conditions on this climb. “The wind speed was 40-50 km/hr with a -30 temperature. We weathered these conditions and reached the summit,” Karthikey recalls.
Within 15 days of this climb, Karthikey went on to climb two 6000 meter peaks, Mt Kang Yatse 2 and Mt Dzo Jongo. “It was exhausting but I managed and became the youngest person to do it within 72 hours,” says the class 11 student of Resonance Suchitra campus, beaming with pride.
The following year, he climbed Mt Kang Yatse 1 and once again became the youngest person to do so. He is also the youngest person from Asia to climb Island Peak in Nepal.
Hyderabad's teen mountaineer
Born October 2008 in Hyderabad, Karthikey studied in DRS kids till LKG and shifted to St Peters high school, Bowenpally from where he completed his class 10. “I was a below average student before starting mountaineering but after starting it, my scores increased immensely,” says Karthikey, who is the son of P Rajendra Prasad and P Laxmi.
He enjoys various sports and came in second at the state-level weightlifting competition and third in powerlifting.
Mountaineering
Karthikey’s mountaineering journey began at the age of 11. “My sister was googling something when she found out about mountaineering and shared it with my mother, who arranged a trek for my sister as she knew some mountaineers. I wanted to be part of it and convinced my parents to send me with her,” recalls Karthikey, who has also climbed the Friendship peak in Himachal Pradesh, Dzo Jongo peak in Ladakh, Nangkartshang peak, Kilimanjaro in Africa, Tereskol in Russia among others.
After his first climb to Mt Rudugaira in Uttarakhand, Karthikey went to NIM (Nehru Institute of Mountaineering) for a 10-day adventure course, which only propelled his internet in mountaineering. It is there that he first experienced jumaring, rock climbing and rappelling.
Daily routine
Fifteen-year-old Karthikey is up by 4:30 am everyday and heads straight to the gym. “I directly go to college from the gym as my college timings are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. I study for about two hours in the evening and go to bed by 10 pm,” says the mountaineer. When he’s preparing for an expedition, he alternates between a 5km and a 10km run each day over the final month before his departure.
His plans are ambitious. “My next mountaineering expeditions include Vinson Massif, Antarctica’s highest peak, and Aconcagua, South America’s highest and then Mt Everest,” says Karthikey, whose ultimate goal is to join the armed forces.
The young mountaineer likes to do wave boarding, skating and playing games with his friends. “I don’t watch TV on a daily basis. I like to listen to Arijit Singh songs and 2000-2010s hits,” informs Karthikey, who also enjoys public speaking to motivate people.
With a relentless spirit and a commitment to pushing boundaries, Karthikey continues to pursue his dreams of scaling some of the world's highest summits, inspiring others with his courage and perseverance along the way.
(July 1, 2023) In a harmonious convergence of diplomacy and artistic brilliance, the corridors of power at the White House resonated with the enchanting melodies of 17-year-old Vibha Janakiraman, a young Indian American prodigious young violinist. Amidst the distinguished guests and the grandeur of a state dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden, it was the sublime talent of this 2023 US Presidential Scholar in the Arts that captivated all who were present. The youngster, who has graced illustrious stages with her mesmerising performances for years, masterfully rendered Kreisler's enchanting Recitativo and Scherzo at the White House, casting an ethereal spell upon the audience gathered for this momentous occasion. Speaking to the media after her performance, the violinist said, "It was such a privilege to play at the White House and to be a representation of Indian Americans everywhere! I had the most inspiring view: the Jefferson Memorial directly in front of me and the Washington Monument off to the side. I tried to soak in every moment of that experience, using silences between phrases to allow the beautiful location to be a part of my music-making. I will treasure this forever, and I am so grateful to the people
ument off to the side. I tried to soak in every moment of that experience, using silences between phrases to allow the beautiful location to be a part of my music-making. I will treasure this forever, and I am so grateful to the people and mentors that made this possible."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyNZqm3Q-_U
One among that audience was the First Lady of the USA, Jill Biden, who took to Twitter to praise the grace and finesse of this young virtuoso. Sharing a photograph of Vibha, Jill Biden tweeted, "Vibha Janakiraman, a youth violinist and 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts kicked off the Official State Visit for the Republic of India today. Vibha honored her cultural connection to Western classical and South Indian classical music for guests at the White House (sic)."
Melodic majesty
Inspired by her grandfather - who is also a prominent Carnatic classical musician and stage performer - Vibha embarked on her musical odyssey at the tender age of six, when she started learning violin and Carnatic music under his guidance. However, growing up in West Chester, Pennsylvania, the youngster was heavily influenced by Western classical music as well.
"I always liked music, and grew up surrounded by music as my grandfather is a professional South Indian musician and musicologist," the violinist said during an interview, adding, "When I was about six, my parents decided that it would be good for me to learn a musical instrument, and violin was the most well-known instrument at the time for me. So, we went to the Music School of Delaware, and signed me up for the violin classes there. Since the first class, the violin has been a core part of my life. I feel that it is not the instrument that makes as much of a difference to me as just being able to play music."
The violinist, who recently graduated from the Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School, is now gearing up to embark on her bachelor's degree journey at Juilliard School’s pre-college division this year, under the tutelage of the distinguished Catherine Cho and the legendary Itzhak Perlman. The Global Indian currently performs on a loaned 1855 Jean Baptiste Vuillaume violin, graciously provided by the Tarisio Trust.
It's a musical world...
An academic genius, who loves to study mathematics and Sanskrit, the young violinist finds music in every aspect of her life. "Even when I am not playing the violin, I am usually doing something musical or listening to music," the violinist shared, "I think it is because of my Carnatic music training, I am drawn to the Sanskrit language. I find it intellectually stimulating and quite beautiful. I feel it's a great way for me to connect with my culture, but also studying a language like Sanskrit, which has so many intricacies is also just very interesting."
[caption id="attachment_31540" align="aligncenter" width="646"] Vibha performing at the White House[/caption]
The violinist, who has on the Estella Hillersohn 2018 scholarship and the 2019 Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra competition, has previously played with the Gray Charitable Trust Advanced Scholarship Piano Trio at the Settlement School and has performed as a soloist with several orchestras in the Philadelphia region. In her message to young musicians across the globe, the youngster said, "I think it is important that one finds which aspects of music, or which medium resonates with you the most, and what brings you the most joy. Use that as a reason to always remember why you do what you do. Because when you are playing an instrument there will always be several periods when things aren't going the way you want or you might feel like your progress isn't how you planned it to be. So, for those days, it is helpful to know what I love about music and why I am pursuing it."
Yale Law School, New Haven, Connecticut[/caption]
Bala Nivetha[/caption]
Viktoria (right) and Yevheniia (centre) during India's Republic Day celebration in Ukraine in 2022[/caption]
Viktoria Burenkova[/caption]
Yevheniia Fedotova[/caption]
Vibha performing at the White House[/caption]