ABOUT THE TEAM
The current YSTCA members (Prahlad Saravanapriyan, Sahana Gopalan, Sanika Pande, Sripradha Manikantan, and Sumanth Mahalingam) are all high schoolers who share a common passion for the Indian Classical Arts; each member is trained in multiple aspects. The team hopes to support deserving local organizations through their events.
CURRENT TEAM
PRAHLAD SARAVANAPRIYAN
Prahlad Saravanapriyan, a high schooler in Washington High, Fremont, is a passionate and committed student of Carnatic music. He has rigorously trained in both Vocal and Violin from Gurus, Sri. Saravanapriyan Sriraman and Lalgudi Sri. G. J. R. Krishnan. Prahlad has performed in concerts and music festivals in USA, India, and Malaysia and is a winner of several accolades at the national and international level. Prahlad is passionate about community service and volunteers for several causes. In his spare time, he enjoys playing basketball, biking, composes music, dabbles with mridangams and khanjiras, and creates Carnatic trivia quizzes.
SAHANA GOPALAN
Sahana Gopalan is a Junior at Leland High School, San Jose. She has been learning Indian Carnatic Vocal Music for the past 10 years and is currently under the guidance of Smt.Kasthuri Shivakumar. In addition, Sahana has participated and won prizes in numerous festivals and competitions, and has given many concerts all over the Bay Area. She is a member of her school's nationally ranked FRC robotics team and loves to participate in business and science competitions. She is committed to giving back to her community and has volunteered with several nonprofits including CCC. Aside from these activities, Sahana enjoys studying diseases, reading, baking, and crafting in her free time.
SANIKA PANDE
Sanika Pande is a budding young vocalist in the field of Carnatic music. She commenced her musical training under the tutelage of Guru Smt. Vasudha Ravi since she was 4 years old. She also learns Carnatic Veena from Guru Srikanth Chary and Carnatic Key Board from Guru Keyboard Satya Narayanan. She has given many concerts there in prestigious organizations like Lotus, SR Fine Arts, Nandalala Mission, Carnatic Chamber of Concerts, etc. She also gave concerts in 2018 and 2019 December Music Season in Chennai in Brahma Gana Sabha, Hamsadhwani, Maarga, VDS Fine Arts, Giri Events, and Sai Baba Temple.
SRIPRADHA MANIKANTAN
Sripradha is a high school Junior who is very passionate about Carnatic music. She is currently learning Carnatic vocal from Vidushi Sriranjani Santhanagopalan. She had her initial training for seven years from Sri Paduka Academy under the guidance of Vidwan Sri. Hari Devanath and Vidwan Sri. Vivek Sundararaman. She has been learning Veena from Kalaimamani Mudikondan Sri S N Ramesh for the past 6 years. She had her initial training in Veena from Sri. Srikanth Chary. Sripradha has given many vocal and veena concerts for various organizations in Bay area, Chennai and online. Apart from music, Sripradha is a strong believer of giving back to community through volunteering and knowledge sharing by mentoring. She is very passionate about Speech and Debate and is a varsity member of her school speech and debate team. Her other interests include playing tennis and basketball.
SUMANTH MAHALINGAM
Sumanth Mahalingam has been learning Carnatic Vocal for the past 10 years. He had his initial training under Smt. Hema Sista, a disciple of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. ML Vasanthakumari. He later continued learning from Sri Paduka Academy under the guidance of Sri Hari Devanath and Sri Vivek Sundararaman. He is currently a student of Sri Sikkil C. Gurucharan. He also learns Mridangam from Sri Ravindra Bharathy Sridharan of Nadhopasana Academy of Fine Arts. He is currently in 10th grade at Evergreen Valley High School. In his free time, he enjoys researching neuroscience, debate, baking, watching football, and learning new trivia. He is also a track and field athlete.