Quick Facts
Biography
Anil Srinivasan (born June 3, 1977) is a classical pianist from India. Born in Chennai, India and educated at the University of Southern California and at Columbia University, New York, he is well known for his collaborative work with Carnatic vocalist Sikkil Gurucharan. Equally known is his pioneering work in music education in South India.
Early life
Anil Srinivasan was brought up in a South Indian traditional atmosphere with Carnatic music all around right from birth, has studied western classical piano since the age of three, owing to which he has been well-trained in both Carnatic as well as Western Classical music.
His Music
Solo Work
As a pianist, Anil has performed at various venues across the world. Memorable performances include those at the Kaplan Penthouse at the Lincoln Center in New York, the Southbank Centre in London, the Esplanade in Singapore, The Harbourfront Centre in Toronto and The Ashram in Pondicherry, South India. Anil’s solo work marries the Indian classical with the western classical styles and yet manages to create an aesthetic that is unique unto itself. Anil's solo album TOUCH released in 2015.
Collaborative Work
His collaborative graph has gone on to include such names as Mandolin U. Srinivas, Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman, Unnikrishnan, Chitravina N. Ravikiran, Aruna Sairam, Rakesh Chaurasia, Gaurav Mazumdar, The Lalgudi duo, Jayanthi Kumaresh, film actress and Bharata Natyam dancer Shobana , Supratik Das and others while he has also managed to work with prominent film musicians such as Singer Srinivas (singer), Chinmayi, Saindhavi, Shweta Mohan, Naresh Iyer, Madhu Balakrishnan, Harini, Anuradha Sriram,Navin Iyer and others. He has performed in the UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, the US, Canada, Korea, Indonesia and the Middle East apart from performances all over India. That he has managed to cultivate a dedicated following in a relatively short period of time (since 2007) is noteworthy.
He is very well known for his path-breaking collaboration with vocalist Sikkil Gurucharan, with whom his output includes 6 published albums and several national and international tours. He is also known for having organized alternative performing arts platforms and festivals such as the Festival of Parallels, an annual festival in the city of Chennai, the Children's Musical Rhapsody (an annual children's arts festival) [1]2[2] and his much acclaimed television show "Keys and Conversations" on NDTV-Hindu, co-anchored with Anuradha Ananth. He regularly works and records with noted vocalist and composer Vedanth Bharadwaj. Anil is also a friend and collaborator of UK-based Milapfest, with whom he has participated in cross-cultural educational projects.
Internationally, he has worked with the Eli Yamin Jazz Quartet (from the US), Pete Lockett (Percussion), Dominique DiPiazza, Randy Bernsen (Guitar), Mark Stone in a recent collaborative performance, members of the National Traditional Performing Arts repertory in Korea (where he was invited as an Artist-In-Residence). He has worked with well-known dancers including the Dhananjayans, Ramli Ibrahim from Malaysia, Anita Ratnam, Anandavalli (Australia) and the Lingalayam Dance Company, among others. He composes and scores music for several productions in the theatrical space as well. Prominent among these include Sita's Magical Forest for the Esplanade Theatre Company, Singapore; With Evam (Several Productions including "Chasing My Mamet Duck"), with JustUs Repertory with Gowri Ramnarayan (Water Lilies), with Teamwork Productions ("Guide”: A Musical, that premiered in Delhi in 2012) among others. He is also the music composer on special audiobook projects for children (Karadi Tales, 2011 and 2012) in collaboration with several well-known artists. In 2013, Anil embarks on a new project with the Southbank Centre's famed Alchemy Festival, where he will be training teachers of Western Classical music in the nuances and pedagogy of Indian music in classrooms.
Music Education
For Children
Anil is passionate about music education for children across all strata of society. His work with schools is in association with Rhapsody – Education Through Music. Rhapsody now reaches over 60,000 children in South India. Anil’s work with setting up initiatives for children from different backgrounds is best evidenced by his association with NalandaWay, an NGO that strives tirelessly to provide arts-based educational inputs to children from difficult backgrounds 3.
For Adults
Anil speaks regularly on music and its effect on human behaviour, organizational processes and related topics at various forums. His workshops and seminars have been received extremely well. He continues to write about music for various publications and media.
Writing
He has written extensively on music for several leading dailies (The Hindu, The New Indian Express, The Times of India, Deccan Chronicle), magazines and periodicals. He speaks regularly at conferences related to music, education and entrepreneurship and has been featured at prominent conclaves such as TED INDIA and THINK festivals, He is a trustee and ardent supporter of NalandaWay, an NGO aimed at providing hope and education through the arts among children in very difficult situations. Anil is associated with a highly innovative and popular educational mission of taking a multi-genre approach to music making to children in various schools. Since 2013, he is also collaborating with the Agastya Foundation to take music to children across villages in rural AP, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
In 2010, he was awarded the coveted Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for creative and experimental music from the central Sangeet Natak Akademi, the first person to be awarded in this particular category.
Compositions And Commissions
Various theatre projects (1997 – Present)
- Guide (Teamwork Productions, Delhi, 2012)
- Sita’s Magical Forest (Apsaras Arts and The Esplanade Theatre Company, Singapore, 2012)
- Chasing My Mamet Duck (2011)
- Barefoot in the Part (Evam, 2003)
Dance Works
- Graces (With Anita Ratnam)
- Aasai Mugham (With Ramli Ibrahim)
- Tapasya (With Rajika Puri)
- Karadi Tales (The Mouse Series, 2009)
- Karadi Tales (A Quiet Courage, 2012)
Discography
- Into the Light (2002) with Mandolin U Rajesh
- Spirits (2003) with U Rajesh, Pete Lockett and others
- Madhirakshi (2006) with Sikkil Gurucharan, Charsur
- Maayaa (2007) with Sikkil Gurucharan, Charsur
- The Blue Divine (2009) with Sikkil Gurucharan, Kalakendra
- Tarunam (2010) with Sikkil Gurucharan, Kalakendra
- Flame of the Forest (2009) with Chitravina Ravikiran, Kalakendra
- Kannamma (2009), with various artists, For Nalandaway (Kalakendra)
- Eternal Light (2010) with Lalgudi Krishnan, Felmay, Italy
- Samjhanitha (2007) with U Shrinivas and various other artists, Sony Dreyfus
- The Story of Silk (2012) with Sikkil Gurucharan, Silkworm
- Live at the Peninsula (2012) With Sikkil Gurucharan, The Peninsula Studio
- Keys to India (2013 – forthcoming), solo with featured guest artists
Residencies
- Music India, Milapfest (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
- Southbank Centre, London (2013 – on invitation – forthcoming)
- National Centre for the Traditional Performing Arts, Korea (2011)
- The Lingalayam Dance Company, Sydney, Australia in association with the Parammatta Arts Council (2010)