Ekam – Concert Series
Ekam – Concert Series, presented by SPIC MACAY Ireland (Community Outreach Initiative) in collaboration with Sree Shiva Academy and Sriram School of Music, brings together Indian classical music and Bharatanatyam that foregrounds tradition, training, and continuity. The series creates a shared space for performance and listening, presenting classical arts through discipline, lineage, and lived practice.
The Carnatic music concert is led by Shri Krish Kingkumar, a vocalist whose training began at the age of seven under Dr Sriram Sundaresan at Sriram School of Music, and later continued under Vidwans Shri K.S. Vishnudev and Dr Ganapathy Raman. With a clear sense of rhythm and an approach grounded in classicism, Krish completed his Carnatic Vocal Arangetram in April 2024. He has since performed across Ireland and in India, including at the Guruvayur Temple, gaining performance experience across diverse audiences.
On the mridangam is Shri Balakumar, who was initiated into the art by his father, the late Shri Sinnathamby Paramalingam, and later trained under Shri Karaikudi R. Krishnamurthy, Shri A.S. Ranganathan, and Sangeetha Kalanidhi Shri Thiruvarur Bakthavathsalam. A professor at the Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles, he has performed with Indian musicians and Western classical orchestras, including engagements at the Philharmonie de Paris and with the Normandy National Orchestra.
The melodic framework is provided by Shri Vivek, who began Carnatic violin training at the age of nine under Shri V. Sanjeev, remaining his sole disciple, while pursuing Western classical studies under Professor Radu Blidar at the Royal College of Music. A prizewinner at the 2025 Postacchini International Violin Competition, he presented his Carnatic violin Arangetram in December 2023 at Ragasudha Hall, graced by Sangeetha Kalanidhi Kum. A. Kanyakumari, and has performed at venues including the Royal Albert Hall.
The Bharatanatyam concert features Sushri Uma Shankar, trained under Smt Meena Purushothaman and Natyacharya Shri R.L.V. Anand, with continued mentorship from Shri Vishnu Shankar. She completed her Bharatanatyam Arangetram in 2014 at the age of eleven and has performed at the Guruvayur Temple and in leading Chennai sabhas. Her work reflects sustained training, musical awareness, and engagement with the classical repertoire.