Empowering Tomorrow’s Maestros: HCL Concerts Announces Winners of ‘The Carnatic Quest 2023’

Telugu super news,New Delhi, 20 September 2023: HCL Concerts, a platform dedicated to identifying, nurturing and supporting the next generation of talent in the Indian classical performing arts space, today announced the winners of third edition of ‘The Carnatic Quest’, organized in association with Chennai based Rhapsody Music Foundation. A one-of-a-kind Indian music contest was specifically designed to recognize and empower exceptionally talented Carnatic musicians in the age group of 18 to 30 years. The contestants showcased their prowess across five categories including Vocals, Violin, Veena & Mandolin, Flute, and Percussion (Mridangam / Kanjeera / Ghatam / others).

The winners of The Carnatic Quest were chosen after four rounds of evaluation held over a period of three months. Among the 30 finalists, seven remarkable artists were crowned as India’s finest Young Carnatic musicians by notable jury members including Vidwan Sri. Sikkil Gurucharan(foremost young performing Carnatic musician), Vidwan Sri. H K Venkatram(Indian classical music violinist and Philanthropist.), Vidushi Smt. Jayanthi Kumaresh(renowned Indian Veena musician), Vidwan Sri. Shashank (accomplished flutist from India) and Vidwan Sri. B C Manjunath (globally-renowned Indian Mridangam player). The winners will have the opportunity to perform and display their artistry on the renowned HCL Concerts platform. 

Winners of the Third HCL Concerts Carnatic Quest include:

• Vocals
  • Dharini Veeraraghavan from Mumbai
  • Aditi B Prahalad from Bangalore
• Veena & Mandolin
  • B Saiharinni from Chennai
  • Ujaya Vigneshwar from Chennai
• Violin
  • Sumanth Manjunath from Mysore
• Flute
  • Sreejith G Kammath from Cherthala
• Percussion
  • Kripals from Kochi

Announcing the winners, Anshul Adhikari, Head, HCL Concerts said, “Third edition of The Carnatic Quest has been an incredible journey, finding hidden gems and celebrating the brilliance of Carnatic music. The dedication and artistry demonstrated by the participants have left an indelible mark on our hearts. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the winners, whose talents have illuminated this competition. The winners of The Carnatic Quest have not only showcased their exceptional musical expertise but have also become torchbearers for the future of Carnatic music, embodying the spirit of innovation and tradition in perfect harmony. Their achievements are a testament to the enduring power of this art form, which continues to captivate audiences around the world.”

HCL Concerts and Rhapsody Music Foundation introduced and conceptualized The Carnatic Quest in 2020 for the age groups of 15-30 years. Following its immense success, they expanded their efforts with the Carnatic Quest Junior Edition in 2022, catering to Carnatic musicians in the age group of 12-18 years. The third edition of this remarkable competition in 2023 has once again garnered overwhelming participation from Carnatic musicians across the country. This platform is envisioned as a virtual musical pilgrimage, drawing in Carnatic music enthusiasts while actively encouraging and promoting Indian classical music across various age groups.