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Vinay Patel published Roopa Mahadevan: Songs for Many Lives in Fiscal Sponsorship 2025-01-27 14:35:50 -0800
Songs for Many Lives
Songs for Many Lives creates new Carnatic compositions inspired by stories of South Asian immigration to the United States. These songs reflect not only the successes and struggles, but also the myriad ways - some more visible than others - by which South Asian immigrants have made a new home, re-invented traditions, and fought for better lives for their communities. Songs for Many Lives is led by violinist Sruti Sarathy and vocalist Roopa Mahadevan. The project began with a grant from the Creative Work Fund, through which they began working with Alliance of South Asians Taking Action (ASATA) to learn more about the organizing history of South Asians in the Bay Area, and the issues that drive their ongoing advocacy work. After three successful work-in-progress showings in Chicago (Kalapriya), Atlanta (Emory University), and San Francisco, Songs for Many Lives will formally premiere in the Bay Area, California in 2025. The show will feature the new songs (vocalists and musicians), video projection, and testimonial/audience participation.
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About the Artist:
Drawing from her rigorous training and love for Carnatic music, vocalist Roopa Mahadevan creates unique works with artists in jazz, world music, free improv, and R&B/soul genres. Roopa leads the crossover ensemble Roopa in Flux, directs the innovative choir Navatman Music Collective, and sings for leading Bharathanatyam and modern dancers around the world.
Roopa trained in Carnatic vocal under Asha Ramesh and further under Suguna Varadachari in India through the Fulbright scholarship. Roopa has performed in diverse venues ranging from Chennai's Music Academy during the December festival in India and Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, which awarded her the title "Kala Ratna,” to stages like Jazz at Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub, and smaller, chamber settings nationally. She is a soloist on Christopher Tin’s Grammy Award-winning album Calling All Dawns, and a featured voice with many innovative ensembles, including Brooklyn Raga Massive, She has participated in residencies at the Banff Center for Arts and Creativity, Joe's Pub, MASS MOCA, Hedgebrook, and Ryder Farm, and is currently a fellow with Asian Improv Arts, working on new compositions inspired by South Asian American history with support from the Creative Work Fund. Prior to music, Roopa worked in public health policy, following degrees from Stanford University.
Roopa’s many avatars include composer, dancer/theater artist, comedian, teacher, facilitator, and more. Through all of these, she seeks to express joy, humility, and tradition as radical and essential antidotes to
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Johnny Huy Nguyễn
Johnny Huy Nguyễn is a multidisciplinary dance artist based in unceded Ramaytush - Ohlone territory (San Francisco) and is a second generation Vietnamese American. His physical and often autobiographical works incorporate movement, theater, text, ritual, installation, and humor to interrogate the social, political, and cultural forces that shape us. Through his work, he envisions activating collective dialogue, action, and healing towards individual and collective change through expressions of the body that are raw, vulnerable, and honest. Nguyễn is a 2023 United States of Asian America Festival Featured Artist, 2022 Isadora Duncan Dance Award recipient, and 2021 APAture Festival Featured Artist. His work has been presented by API Cultural Center, 500 Capp St, and Asian Art Museum. His dance films have shown nationally - CAAMfest, Sans Souci Festival and internationally - Contact Dance International Film Festival (Canada), Dance Camera Istanbul (Turkey).
Photographer: Robbie Sweeny
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Vinay Patel published AGASAN: Acts of Self Preservation in Fiscal Sponsorship 2024-10-09 13:34:44 -0700
AGASAN
Using sound, movement and visual art, our goal is to offer accessible artistic pathways of destigmatizing mental health through a culturally responsive and collectivized experience. We offer ongoing workshops and events for communities of color and LGBTQIA+ folks.
Learn more: https://www.agasan.org/
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Vinay Patel published Scott Oshiro: Deciphering Broken Rhythms in Fiscal Sponsorship 2024-09-24 15:33:34 -0700
Scott Oshiro
Scott Oshiro is a Bay Area-based flutist, electronic musician, music researcher, and music technologist. As an African and Okinawan American, Scott’s creative and academic work combines musical elements from his heritage with Jazz, Hip Hop, and Afrofuturism. Scott is also an Asian Improv aRt 2023 Fellow and holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University’s Center for Computer Research in Music & Acoustics (CCRMA). He has performed at the Asian and Pacific Islander Cultural Center’s 2021 USAAF Festival, Kearny Street Workshop’s APAture 2023 festival “Sonic Memories” at the SF Lion’s Den, Bird and Beckett, the Brava Theater, the 2023 New York City Electronic Music Festival (NYCEMF), Berklee College of Music, and many more. He recently debuted his new ensemble, "Deciphering Broken Rhythms Collective,” along with their show, Afro Asian Futures, at the 2024 USAAF festival, illustrating the connections between music, technology, science, and culture.
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Vinay Patel donated 2020-08-31 13:40:12 -0700
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