Swaranjali School of Music - Vasu Sundarraj: Performing Artist

PERFORMANCES AND HONORS

The following is a list of some of Vasu’s noteworthy solo performances :

	Performed at age seven for Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, President of India

	Invocation prayer at a televised tribute to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, which was broadcast over major Seattle-area TV stations

	Concert at Meany Hall for Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the Art of Living Foundation

	Concert for Padmashri Krishnammal, winner of the Right Livelihood Award (a.k.a., the Alternative Nobel Peace Prize, presented in the Swedish Parliament)

	Concert at Paul Allen’s Experience Music Project

	Concert at McCaw Hall

	Several concerts at Northwest Folklife Festival

	Khayal concert at Utsav, conducted by Ragamala, Seattle

	Several fundraising concerts for charitable organizations such as Asha for Education, People for Progress in India (PPI), Child Rights and You (CRY), LAFTI, Art of Living Foundation, Planet Guru Foundation, Seattle Hindu Temple and Cultural Center (HTCC) and Oklahoma City Temple

	Classical devotional concerts in San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, St. Louis, Raleigh, Oklahoma City, Houston, Vancouver (BC), Montreal, Chennai, Mangalore and Bangalore

	Three annual Spring concerts for IAWW Seniors Program since 2000

	Lead Vocalist for Kathak Recitals

	Semi-classical and Ghazal concerts for the Indian, Pakistani and Ismaili communities

	Performed and recorded original compositions for the full-length feature film “Mixing Karma”

	Recipient of the 2005 Asian American Living Pioneer Award

	Recipient of the 2007 IAWW Friends of the Community Award

	Lecture-demonstrations and performances in Hindustani music to students at the following local area schools: The Lakeside School, Seattle; Odle Middle School, Bellevue; Stevenson Elementary, Bellevue; Gurukul, Bellevue; Sadhana School of Arts, Bellevue; Hazelwood Elementary, Newcastle; Somerset Elementary, Bellevue; Sammamish Montessori, Redmond; and Pine Ranch Montessori, Issaquah.

“Vasu’s musical expertise and her beautiful voice bring joy to the heart and uplift the soul. Because of her giving nature, she never hesitates to support the community through performances and fundraisers. As a disciple of Pandit Jasraj, she embodies that irrepressible delight and joy of music and is an enchanting performer.”

Robin Mastro,
Vastu Teacher and Author of “ Altars of Power and Grace”

“You were wonderful. I loved every minute of your performance. Thank you for performing at the Experience Music Project.”

Claire K. Stern,
Education Department at the Experience Music Project.

“Her ability to cover a wide range of musical notes and versatility to sing different types of songs was remarkable, and her skill in switching from songs in one language to the other was amazing. She sang in Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Rajasthani, Sanskrit and Urdu with ease and perfect diction. The concert, like the time of spring itself, rejuvenated the spirits of those who attended it.”

Hemalata Vasavada,
Review of Vasu’s 2002 Spring Concert in IAWW Samachar.

“The evening featured an hour-long classical devotional concert by Vasu Sundarraj. The compositions, with an underlying theme of compassion, were from ancient Sanskrit texts and in Hindi. Her voice and blissful music enthralled the audience and carried them on a devotional and euphoric wave.”

Review in Northwest South Asian Monthly of 2003 Art of Living Foundation Fundraiser