CTU 2016 Geetharthamu Performance

The Geetharthamu performance by children on the first day of the Chicago Tyagaraja Utsavam has steadily grown to be a regular feature at the annual Chicago Tyagaraja Utsavam music festival. Chicago Tyagaraja Utsavam is glad to announce this group performance will be held at the end of the Homage to Tyagaraja performances on Saturday, May 28, 2016.

Participation Guidelines

  • Participants must be between 10 and 20 years old as of the Memorial Day weekend.
  • Participants must have at least four years of training in Carnatic Music and have been trained in Sarali Varisai through Alankaram (3 speeds), Geethams, Swara Jathis and at least 5 Varnams in 2 speeds, before having them participate in this performance.
  • The practice sessions are for only those children who have fully learnt the Geetharthamu krithi according to CTU guidelines.
  • Participants must attend the Geetharthamu practice sessions on a regular basis and be open to corrections in order for the CTU 2016 Geetharthamu Team to deliver a well-coordinated, synchronized, high-quality performance.
  • The pitch (Shruthi) for this performance will be G (5 kattai) or G# (5 1/2 Kattai) and will be finalized during the practice sessions.

CTU 2016 Geetharthamu Team Selection Process

Date: Sunday, 14 Feb 2016 Time: 10 AM to 12 noon

Venue:  Skype

All applicants are requested to make arrangements in advance to make themselves available during the entire Team Selection Time Period.  Each applicant will be allocated a 30-minute slot.  CTU will contact the applicant by Skype during this 30-minute slot to start the Team Selection process.

CTU will be identifying candidate children for the CTU 2016 Geetharthamu team based upon the following process:

  • All applicants will be requested to play one of the following compositions in front of a CTU panel of experts:
    • If the applicant has been already trained by CTU on Geetharthamu in previous years, they can play Geetharthamu.
    • If not, the applicant will be requested to sing or play an Ata Tala Varnam of their choice
  • If there are technical issues encountered during the Skype connection process, the applicant may be also requested to send an audio recording of one of these songs.
  • CTU will factor in all the inputs from the CTU panel of experts to identify the members of the CTU 2016 Chetulara team
  • Subject to the selected applicants regularly attending the practice sessions, they will perform at the CTU 2016 Geetharthamu performance.

Practice Schedule

  • At the request of CTU, Vasanthi Iyer will be conducting these practice sessions.
  • The practice schedule for Geetharthamu is the same as the schedule for the G-Shruti Pancharatnam practice sessions. Geetharthamu practice sessions will be held at the end of the G-Shruti Pancharatnam practice sessions.  Additional practice sessions may be scheduled as needed.
  • If you are an out-of-town participant interested in learning remotely, please refer to the Remote Learning guidelines. Out-of-town participants must attend at least two practice sessions in person before the Memorial Day festival.

Registration

2016 Geetharthamu Registration Deadline:  Monday, 08 Feb 2016.

CTU requests children interested in being part of the 2016 performance (including those children who have performed in previous years) to provide the information requested below by the CTU 2016 Geetharthamu Registration Deadline by sending an e-mail to ctu {DOT} gt {AT} ChicagoTyagarajaUtsavam {DOT} org.

CTU may not be in a position to accommodate children who do not send all the information requested by the 2016 Geetharthamu Registration Deadline.

  • First Name of Participant
  • Last Name of Participant
  • Address
  • E-mail address
  • Phone Number
  • Skype ID
  • Age
  • Vocalist or Instrumentalist
  • Instrument played (if applicable)
  • Full name of teacher
  • Composition to be played during Team Selection (Geetharthamu or Ata Thala Varnam)

Questions: Please send an e-mail to ctu {DOT} gt {AT} ChicagoTyagarajaUtsavam {DOT} org.

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