India Post News Service
Shruthi Swara Laya School of Music presents the third annual Bay Area Kala Utsavam (BAKU) festival, a two-day South Indian classical (Carnatic) music competition and concert series on February 22 and 23, 2025.
Anuradha Suresh, founder of Shruthi Swara Laya and board member of the Fremont Cultural Arts Council, says: “Now in its third year, our festival celebrates the exceptional talents of Bay Area musicians. Featuring local artists as competitors, judges, and performers, it provides a platform to showcase the region’s talent, build community, and strengthen support for the arts.”
The festival honors the late Rajam Swaminathan, a Bay Area musician and patron who worked to preserve and promote this art form. This year’s Rajam Swaminathan recognition award recipient is bay area carnatic music vocalist and composer Sindhu Natarajan.
Manasa Suresh, director of Shruthi Swara Laya, adds, “For those of us raised in the Bay Area, Carnatic music has given us a way to explore what it means to be bicultural, blending two cultures to shape who we are. The younger generation plays a key role in keeping this tradition alive – as performers, organizers, judges, and listeners. This festival is about honoring the past generation while building community and creating platforms for the next.”
The festival begins on February 22 with a competition for young Carnatic music enthusiasts. This year we are expanding the competitions to 3 disciplines including Mridangam in addition to Vocal and Violin. The grand finale on February 23 features performances by judges and local talents. Both events will take place at the University of Silicon Andhra in Milpitas, CA.
For more information, visit www.shruthiswaralaya.com.
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