The 42nd Chicago Tyagaraja Utsavam will be celebrated over a three-day period from Saturday, 26 May 2018 through Monday, 28 May 2018 during the Memorial Day weekend. We welcome everyone to attend and actively participate in the festivities on all days. Please mark your calendars for this festival of music, food and many activities that involve the children, youth and adults of all ages.
As the Utsavam continues to grow every year, we rely on your whole-hearted donations. There are many many volunteers who work hard throughout the year for its successful execution. While we are humbled by their sincere, dedicated and selfless effort, we are also in need of financial contributions from everyone.
We appeal for your financial support.
When you are making your payments online in advance, we request you to:
- Keep CTU’s mission in mind to nurture our traditional values in upcoming generations through classical music and dance. Read ahead to digest what we have accomplished as a community through Chicago Tyagaraja Utsavam.
- Determine your donation level — Annadhata? Patron? …. Ask yourself if you can take it to the next level this year … and click on the link below:
Chicago Tyagaraja Utsavam conducts several practice sessions year-round in preparation for this festival and provides this as a free service to the community thanks to all the hosting families who open up their residences for these sessions as well as the teachers who dedicate their personal time and effort.
CTU has coordinated over 85 practice sessions since June 2017 to date.
Thanks to these sessions, CTU trained children have delivered the following performances:
- Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram at HTGC Temple in Jan 2018
- Utsava Sampradaya Krithis, Lakshmi Ashtothram, Nama Ramayanam and Hanuman Chalisa during Abhivandanam in May 2018
- Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram at Balaji Temple in May 2018
The festival is attended by thousands of people including 450 children from across the United States actively participating in various events held throughout the festival. Over 300 volunteers work year-round for this event.
Our 2018 program schedule includes:
- A special performance by Winner of Airtel Super singer Junior- 2015 (Vijay TV) Spoorthi Rao
- Classical dance production on the Vachanas of 12 century from Karnataka, India
- Vocal Concert by Rithvik Raja and party
- Violin Duet by Maestros Ganesh & Kumaresh
- Vocal Concert by Sri Maharajapuram Ramachandran and party
- Vocal Concert by Malladi Brothers
- 7 performances by CTU-trained children and adults representing various cultural segments
- A colorful procession outdoors that brings different cultural segments together for a festive celebration
- A music competition that brings enthusiastic K-12 contestants from around North America
CTU trained children will be delivering the following group performances during the upcoming festival:
- Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram
- Chetulara
- Pancharatnam
- Geetharthamu
- Utsava Sampradaya Krithis
- Divya Nama Sankeerthanams
- Thodaya Mangalam
- Dikshithar Krithis
While CTU takes great pride in the growth of these children in our community, there is a multitude of expenses involved in conducting the festival with all the professional events.
The Utsavam has grown enormously over the years – but so has our need for major inflows of donations and contributions. We depend on donations from private citizens and sponsorships from organizations.
We appeal for your financial support.