Raga Rasa & Cry Press Release

RAGA RASA ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH CRY AMERICA
– a collaboration premised on Kartik Seshadri’s guiding philosophy that “Music is one of the most powerful mediums for social empowerment and change”

 

February 12, 2013 (San Diego, CA)– Raga Rasa, the Kartik Seshadri Center for Indian Classical Music, today announced its collaboration with CRY America on a campaign to raise awareness for children’s rights. The nonprofit organizations will work together on a series of concerts and outreach events beginning on February 12 with the launch of CRY’s “Stay In School- Girl Child Campaign.”

 

Stay In School – Girl Child Campaign

 

The “Stay In School – Girl Child Campaign” will be a springboard for Raga Rasa
and CRY America to collectively widen their reach to audiences who may not be
aware of these issues. Planning is underway for events ranging from a benefit
concert at Qualcomm headquarters to a city-wide CRY Walk later in the year.
CRY America believes that when a girl child gets the opportunity to go to school
and remain in school, she sets off a cycle of positive change. Educated girls grow
up to be empowered women, they make better care givers for their own children
and influence the communities they live in.

 

“The situation of the girl child in India needs urgent attention. We believe the
partnership with Raga Rasa will help create awareness about these issues and
raise valuable funds, which will bring lasting change to the lives of thousands of
underprivileged children in India,” said Monica Kharkar of CRY America.
For Kartik Seshadri, renowned sitarist and founder of Raga Rasa, this goal is
closely aligned with his personal belief in the role of music and education to
empower social change. “Using music as the medium, we can push boundaries,
encourage dialogues and begin to address some of these problems at a
grassroots level.”

 

About Raga Rasa:

 

RAGA : RASA is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization committed to the tradition of
Indian Classical Music. The organization seeks to foster a deeper understanding
of Indian Classical Music and reach beyond to other traditions of music
throughout the world through performances, workshops, collaborations,
education and outreach projects.

 

RAGA : RASA – is the brainchild of world renowned Indian classical musician,
composer and educator: Kartik Seshadri.

 

RAGA : RASA: has a very strong social leaning rooted in the idea of Music as a powerful medium for creating Social Change and Empowerment. To that extent,
the organization’s vision ranges from proactively engaging with children through
outreach and educational projects that have been clearly proven to enhance
children’s overall developmental capabilities to participating with organizations
that are actively engaged in children’s social causes where music can be used a
powerful medium to negotiate social empowerment and change.

 

Visit www.ragarasa.org

 

About CRY America:
CRY America is a 501c3 non-profit organization driven by its vision of a just world in which all children have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential and realize their dreams. Our work in restoring the rights of underprivileged children ranges from making public schools function better, ensuring health care becomes a reality, helping families sustain livelihoods, addressing the issue of child labor, preventing child marriage and giving girls equal opportunities. For more information about CRY America and the “Stay in School- Girl Child Campaign.”

 

Visit www.cryamerica.org

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Tribute: 2013

Tribute: 2013 will be a year of tribute to musical legend and Kartik Seshadri’s Guru Pandit Ravi Shankar. The homage also extends to the larger legacy of the Maihar Gharana (founded by Aacharya Allauding Khan) and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Seshadri’s tribute began with concerts for IOS Festival, Kolkata, Sangeeth Nataka Academy and SAPTAK festivals in Ahmedabad and culminated in the prestigious Doverlane Festival, Kolkata.

Raga Rasa Past/Present

A relatively new organization, in the past three years, Raga Rasa has been fulfilling its mission through exciting concerts, outreach work and intensive musical workshops.

 

This year Raga Rasa aims to continue and expand its work – please check here regularly for Concert updates, Outreach and Intensive Master Classes.
 

A selection of events and education programs already hosted by Raga Rasa: 
Legend of the Sarode – Sufi Aashish Khan

 

Khayal: Indrani Mukherjee
Benefit Concert for Ada Harris Elementary School Band Program
In partnership with IFAASD vocal khayal recital by Parthasarathy Desikan

 

Dhrupad vocal music: Aliya Rashid and Amita Sinha Mahopatra

 

Outreach – Fallbrook elementary school district
Elementary School workshops with Grade 3,4,5,6, kids
Ada Harris Elementary School – band program students’ workshop

 

Music Master-classes with Kartik Seshadri – Spring and Summer 3 day intensives

 

We welcome ideas for outreach projects please do contact us to discuss further.

 

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