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Vidushi Emani Kalyani Lakshminarayana hails from the family of noted Vainikas from Andhra

Pradesh in India. She learnt the intricate techniques of playing Veena from her illustrious father

Mahamahopadhyaya Padmasri (Late) Sri. Emani Shankara Sastry. She is the only Veena

player of our times who is carrying forward the Emani legacy.

She was a child prodigy and under her father and guru’s tutelage, she learnt all the complicated

nuances and honed her skills. She has been performing from the age of 13. She accompanied

her father &amp;amp; guru - Maestro Emani Shankara Sastry on the second veena and earned

appreciation from stalwarts in the Carnatic Music Industry at a very young age.

She imbibed all the principles of her guru’s pioneering school - the Emani “Bani” (traditional

style), and evolved as a veena artiste with the distinctive Emani style. Her exquisite tonal quality

and versatility are her magical hallmarks, typical to Emani style of Veena playing, which produce

varied sounds from the majestic Varnams to melody based Keerthanams, peaceful Shanti

Mantra (Vedic Hymns) to many western-music based compositions. She is known to re-produce

the songs and compositions in an almost vocal like tonal quality on her Veena, and is also

known to evoke deeply emotional and appreciative responses from her audiences.

Her music impresses and invokes the interest and curiosity of connoisseurs and young

audience alike

An ‘A top’ graded artiste of All India Radio, Smt.Kalyani Lakshminarayana is a regular

broadcaster of A.I.R and Doordarshan Kendras. She has been featuring in the National

Programme of Music, Radio Sangeet Sammelan festivals of AIR &amp;amp; Doordarshan - Delhi and

Chennai Kendras.

Vidushi Kalyani’s raaga rendering is admired by music lovers, critics and connoisseurs of

Carnatic Music as the most pleasing and melody based one. She is noted for playing Swara

Prastharas with clarity, facility and precision.

Titles and Awards conferred:

● Ugadi Puruskar for lifetime contributions in the field of Carnatic Music by State

Government of Andhra Pradesh

● Lifetime Achievement Award by ZZZ Radio, Melbourne

● Titles - Vidwanmani, Vidushi, Veena Gaana Kala Saraswathi, Gaana Roopa Kala

Saraswathi, Veena Paani, Vaadya Bhushan, ‘Kalaimamani London’ (Awarded by Sri

Mahalakshmi Temple, London), Srikalapoorna SAPNA, Chicago 2014,

Recent Concerts (2013-2016)

● In 2017, performed in the august gathering of His Excellency, President of India, Shri.

Ram Nath Kovind and Honorable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Chandrababu

Naidu on the occasion of Andhra Pradesh Fiber Grid launch

● January 26, 2016, performed during Republic Day Celebrations at Indian Embassy,

Vientiane, Laos

● National &amp;amp; South Zone Hook up Concert (Doordarshan Hyderabad)

● VSR Foundation

● Performed at Shilparamam, concert by Centre for Cultural Resources and Training

(CCRT)

● Chennai Music Academy

● Veda Vyaasa Vigyaana Samithi - Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad

● Emani Memorial Programme Saptaparni – Banjara Hills, Hyderabad

● Gyaana Saraswathi Alayam – Hyderabad

● Felicitation and concert by Amalapuram Engineering College Alumni Association

● Sri Mahalakshmi Temple - London, UK

● Sri Annamacharya Project Of North America (SAPNA) Chicago, USA

● Silicon Andhra - San Jose, USA

● SVBC Tirupathi – Andhra Pradesh

● Thyagaraja Sabha – Rajamundry, Andhra Pradesh

● Saraswathi Gaana Sabha Kakinada

Concerts in India

Smt. Kalyani has been playing a number of prestigious concerts in all major Sangeet Sabhas all

over India:

● Shanmukhananda Sabha – Mumbai

● Maharana Kumbh Festival – Udaipur

● Dussera Celebrations – Mysore

● Rama Seva Mandali – Bangalore

● Rasika Ranjana Sabha – Kolkata

● International Music Club – Delhi

● Baiju Bawra Festival – Delhi

● Brahmotsava Celebrations – Tirumala

● Delhi Sahitya Kala Parishad - New Delhi

● SPICMACAY - New Delhi

● Krishna Gana Sabha, Narada Gana Sabha, Saraswati Gana Sabha – Chennai

Besides the mentioned prestigious Sabhas, she has performed at many major local sabhas at

Hyderabad, Udipi, Chickmagalur, Hassan, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Kakinada,

Vishakapatnam, Warangal, Guntur, Lucknow, Jaipur, Brindavan for Ganesh, Navaratri Festivals,

Saint Thyagaraja Aaraadhana Festivals, Sri Rama Navami celebrations etc.

She has been conducting Jayanthi and Memorial Festivals of her father and Guru

Mahamahopadhyaya Emani Shankara Sastry in India and abroad since 1988.

In 2013, she successfully led and presented a striking symphony of strings with 108

Veenas at Lalitha Kala Toranam, Hyderabad. A tribute paid to father &amp;amp; Guru with 108

Vainaks, the number depicting 108 pushpas.

Concerts Abroad

Smt. Kalyani has extensively toured USA, Canada and Russia. Her concerts are well attended

by international audience in many cities: New York, Washington, Los Angeles, San Fransisco,

Connecticut, Arizona, New Jersey, Austin, Toronto, Ottawa, Moscow, Samarkhand, Bokaro etc.

She has recently toured UK extensively and performed at Brent Town Hall, London, Yorkshire,

Lincoln, Birmingham, Cardiff, Milton Keynes etc.

Smt. Kalyani visited the then USSR (in 1978) as the youngest Member Delegate. She played

in front of the august body of world musicians and her concerts, in the presence of World

Musicians of the stature of Yehudi Menuhin, won her International acclaim.

Positions held

Smt. Kalyani orchestrated a musical ensemble for students given scholarships by Centre for

Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) in 2015.

Smt. Kalyani has been a Member of the Selection Committee for selection of music lecturers

and readers for Banaras Hindu University.

Smt. Kalyani has been an examiner for Graduate and Post Graduate courses in Delhi

University, Rabindra Bharati, Kolkata and Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University,

Hyderabad.

Press and other Reviews

Deccan Chronicle

● “Smt. Kalyani shines in Emani style”

● “Then Emani, now Kalyani”

● “The recital which revealed Kalyani in her best form was marked by elegance,

exuberance and poetic sensitivity.”

Eenadu

● “Smt. Kalyani’s Artistry was most evident in Simhendra Madhyamam. She delved

deep into Raga illumined fully projecting its Majestic Grandeur”

Hindustan Times

● “Trademark rendition of Emani style by Smt. Kalyani”

Indian Express

● “Soul filling music - Smt. Kalyani gave radiant delineation of HINDOLAM. Mantra

Pushpam brought the concert to spiritually satisfying conclusion.

KHARAHARAPRIYA was classy and it was well designed and well executed.

The kutcheri fully brought out Kalyani’s mastery over the Instrument and its

gamut and provided a spiritually satisfying aesthetic experience to the listeners.”

Hyderabad Western Music Forum

● This evening was spectacular with the Veena recital by Kalyani

Lakshminarayana. This Veena is called the Saraswati Veena. She did the

unexpected by playing so beautifully that those present who were not regular

listeners of Carnatic music were attracted to the music due to the striking tone of

the Veena and the musicians ability to draw such emotion and melody out of the

instrument. Kalyani Lakshminarayana was a picture of assurance and artistry.

The sound of the veena is mellow and meditative. Sharp and soulful, yet with a

singing quality true to the gayaki tradition of Carnatic music, which is essentially

a vocal music and meant to be sung. The artist did make the Veena sing.

Amongst the last songs that she did was one that sounded like a boogie. Many

thought that it sounded like an old song called ‘In the Mood’, and it got the

audience swaying and happy, and in the mood to boogie. We can say her

musicality was impressive and she has brought many new listeners to the fold of

Carnatic music and the Veena.” (Link)

Students

She is training students in India and abroad and is spreading the Emani style of Veena playing.

She is heading a Music Institution called the Emani School where she trains several students

and familiarizes them with the intricate techniques of this ancient instrument.

Television Appearances

She regularly performs at the Brahmotsavams, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, Naada

Neerajanam programme on SVBC.

● She has been the judge of prestigious music programmes on MAA TV, ETV,

Saptagiri and other popular regional television channels in Andhra Pradesh.

● She has been interviewed by several television channels like ETV, MAA TV,

NTV, Studio-N on several occasions.