Sangeet Premi Club is calling for young Indian Classical artists under the age of 25 to apply for the Sangeet Premi Rising Star Awards, which will be presented at Sangeet Mela 2015 to be held on Saturday 19th September at Queensland Multicultural Centre (BEMAC) in Kangaroo Point.  Entries close on 31st July 2015 and winners will be announced on 15th August.

The awards will be granted in four categories of Sangeet: Vocal, Instrumental, Percussion and Dance, in each of the two broad genres of Carnatic and Hindustani Sangeet. The winners will be invited to perform at Sangeet Mela 2015, alongside high profile artists from Brisbane in collaboration with interstate and international artists.

The inaugural Sangeet Mela in 2014 was a highly successful event, promoting Indian classical music and dance in Brisbane and around Australia. Highlights videos as well as full-length performances are available on the Sangeet Mela website, www.sangeetmela.org.

Sangeet Mela 2015 will include both North and South Indian classical music and dance and the programme is already looking very exciting. Senior tabla master in the prestigious Benares Gharana, Pt Pooran Maharaj (son of late Pt Kishan Maharaj), and brilliant vocalist Sri Kumar Gaurav Kohli are already confirmed, as well as last year’s Rising Star Dance Award winner, Helena Joshi, performing Kathak dance with live accompaniment. The Carnatic music programme is yet to be finalised but is expected to be a highlight of the festival.

“We aim for Brisbane Sangeet Mela to be a prestigious annual Indian classical music and dance event recognised throughout the country for high quality of performances, fostering the development of Indian classical culture in Brisbane for years to come,” says Sangeet Premi Club acting president Yousuf Alikhan. “The Sangeet Premi Rising Star Awards will give young artists in our community recognition for their talent and hard work, and the opportunity to perform before senior artists and music aficionados.”

Further information on the awards can be found at www.sangeetmela.org/awards

Sangeet Mela 2015 is seeking business sponsors and cultural organisations to support the event. For more information please contact shen@sangeetmela.org.