NUS Arts Festival 2017

The Raga Journal

NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble | Presented in-conjunction with the NUS Arts Festival

Mon 20 Mar | 7.30pm | Esplanade Recital Studio | $18, $15 (early bird)

NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble performs an evening of ragas which journal the universal passage of life. From a soothing lullaby to the cheerful sounds of childhood play to stories of adulthood when one faces difficult challenges, The Raga Journal turns the pages of significant human experiences, different moods and colours, until the final chapters of old age, and in the end, celebrates life.

NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble

Using music that has its roots deep within Indian culture, the NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble (IIE) provides an open and inclusive environment to stage cultural dialogues with a diverse range of genres across the globe.

Since its founding in 1987, IIE has explored a plethora of themes that form the basis of traditional Indian music ranging from the evolution of music in the Indian Subcontinent to religion and socio-political dialogues in the South Asian region.

IIE is made up primarily of five musical sections – veena, sitar, violin, tabla and vocals – with members also proficient in the flute, mandolin and mridangam. This range of instruments allows IIE to perform music that is representative of the ethnic diversity within India, from the Hindustani music of North India to the Carnatic music of South India. In its upcoming endeavours, the group is also looking to explore the relevance of this traditional art form in world music by blending elements of Indian music with elements of contemporary music genres.

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Rajandra Vadivale

Music Director & Resident Conductor

Rajandra Vadivale was appointed Music Director of the NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble (IIE) in 2004. Rajandra first played the saxophone and clarinet before switching to the flute when he was introduced to Indian classical music. Trained under world-renowned flautist Dr. N. Ramani in India, Rajandra was a flautist with the reputed Ramakrishna Sangeetha Sabha Orchestra (RSSO) in 1977 and was Assistant Conductor with Singapore Indian Orchestra and Choir in 1993. With a diploma in sound engineering, Rajandra is frequently consulted by music organisations to handle complicated musical presentations and was nominated for the National Youth Council’s Singapore Youth Award in recognition for his outstanding contributions within the Indian classical arena. He was also the recipient of the People’s Association (PA) Artistic Talent in 1997.