Our Story
Vasupradha (aka Preethi), the founder and President of this nonprofit, is a Carnatic singer, former Bharatnatyam student, Professor of Computer Science, student of Biological Sciences, a wife and a full-time mother. She hails from Chennai, India and currently resides with her family in Texas.
Ganesh Chathurthi Mini-concert,
ca. 2000
Annual Day Dance Program,
ca. 1998
"Padmavathy Kalyanam" Dance Production, ca. 2002
Motivation ​
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Vasupradha was inculcated in the arts at the tender age of 1 ½. Over the next few years, she learnt Carnatic music and other art forms from revered Gurus in Chennai. These remain serious hobbies until now thanks to her parents' relentless efforts during the early years and her grandparents' immense influences on her upbringing.
Vasupradha has fond memories of the routine practice sessions with her mother, a Carnatic singer herself and her younger brother, a mrudangam player, while her father played audience. In 2009, she lost her only sibling to cancer (stage IV non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma) which would change her life and career aspirations forever.
Post marriage, her best friend and fellow music lover, her husband, continues to support and encourage her in every endeavor and is the co-founder of this nonprofit organization.
Education & Experience
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Vasupradha is an Adjunct Faculty of CS at LSC, TX.
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ATC in Biotechnology, LSC.
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MS in Management Sciences & Systems, UB, SUNY.
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BTech in IT & Engg, Anna University, India.
Mini-concert for Thyagaraja Aradhana festival accompanied by Chi Mukund Josyula (violin) & Shri K Rajesh (Mrudangam) @ HTW, ca. 2016
Kaishika Dwadashi concert by KGSMA students
@ MTS accompanied by Shri Mahesh Iyer, Kum Maya Iyer & Chi KIshore Iyer (violin) & Chi Nagasrinidhi Kuravada (mrudangam), ca. 2016
Photo Courtesy: Indo American News
Solo concert @ Chardham Hindu Temple Woodlands accompanied by Chi Pranav Praveen (violin), Chi Vishal Setlur (Mrudangam) & Smt Brindha Ganesh (Tanpura), ca. 2020
Carnatic Music ​
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Initial training under Smt Janaki Srinivasan (All-India Radio Grade ‘A’ Veena Artist and Mother’s Guru)
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Trained under Smt Vasanthi Ramesh (All-India Radio Grade ‘B’ Vocalist) during college years
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Debut solo concert at Naradha Gana Sabha mini-Hall, Mylapore, India: 2005
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While attending graduate school performed at Kaveri Sangam (city of Buffalo Indian Association) NY: 2008
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Post marriage, in 2013 started training with Vidushi Smt Rajarajeshwary Bhat of Houston, Texas (Founder of Krishna Gana Sudha Music Academy (KGSMA) & Houston Youth Music Association (HYMA))
Vasupradha was fortunate to meet Rajarajeshwary Ma’am in 2012 at a competition. She received her initial exposure to the vibrant Houston Indian Classical arts scene through Ma’am and got the opportunity to perform at prestigious locations such as Sri Meenakshi Devasthanam, Sri Guruvayurappan temple and Shri Krishna Vrundavan. She also completed advanced training and certification levels in Carnatic Music theory, history and practicals under Ma'am's guidance and gained immense experience serving on the nonprofit board of HYMA.
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In 2017, Vasupradha started training with KalaimAmani Smt Vidya Subramanian from Chennai, India (Carnatic Vocalist, Founder of Vidya Subramanian Online Academy and senior disciple of Padma Bhushan Shri Lalgudi Gopala Jayaraman sir) . Under Vidya Akka’s guidance, Vasupradha blossoms as a student and has had the wonderful opportunities to give solo performances for many organizations including Swarabharathi Houston, KalA PrashAla, Homage to Mysore Vasudevachariyar facebook page, Sri Gaanaalayaa Trust and Garage Arts Band-Art Salad. Owing to years of training with Vidya Akka, Vasupradha has become an ardent devotee of the art form.
With her Guru & Guru's daughter
ca. 2018.
Shri Abhishek Raghuram concert organized by HYMA in Houston, ca. 2013.
Photo courtesy: India Herald
Bharatnatyam​
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Inculcated at age 4 in the “Kalakshetra” style with Smt Savithri Jagannatha Rao (Kalakshetra Foundation Alumna and direct disciple of Padma Bhushan Smt Rukmini Devi Arundale)
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Later Trained at school with Smt Raji Kannan
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Came under the aegis of Smt Jayanthi Venkatesh (Chairperson of Sri Jayanatyalaya school of Bharatnatyam-Tanjore, Kalakshetra Foundation Alumna and former dance teacher at Bala Vidya Mandir Adyar)
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Vasupradha credits Smt Jayanthi for all her Bharatnatyam knowledge and skillset. She got to play key roles in Jayanthi Miss' productions such as Ramayanam, Mahabharatham and Padmavathy Kalyanam.​
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2009-2010 Vasupradha trained briefly with Smt Nandini Nagaraj from Chennai, India (Kalakshetra Foundation Alumna and renowned dancer & teacher)
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Post marriage and move to TX, in the summer of 2011, Vasupradha started training with Dr Lavanya Rajagopalan (Founder & Artistic Director of Silambam Dance Company, Houston) hoping to complete her "Arangetram" (graduation) the following summer. A tragic accident followed by a series of surgeries for her husband and herself later that year abruptly culminated her performance dreams.
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Nevertheless, Vasupradha has never once forgotten this art form and continues to stay in touch with the same in her own small ways. She is also extremely passionate about Painting (accolades from The Hindu & Titan), Creative Writing, Yoga and Baking.
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Concert by "Govinda Radhe" vocal group accompanied by Shri Mahesh Iyer & Kum Maya Iyer (violin) & Chi Karun Salvady (Mrudangam)
@ HTW's 1st year Anniversary, ca. 2013
