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When rhythm meets harmony
BEATS AND BONDING Sukrish Vikas, a sophomore at Energy Institute High School, played the mridangam in the momentous “EPIC Choir” performance at the 2025 Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival. The festival is a grand and joyous annual celebration of the centuries-old classical “Carnatic” music traditions of South India. The event, featuring over 250 performers aged 5-60, was officially recognized as the largest Indian music choral ensemble ever assembled.
I look up at the crowd of fans and proud families. As the thunder of applause slowly fades into silence, I finally hear my own thoughts – and with a quiet smile, I take in the moment. I feel part of something immensely bigger than myself. It fills me with a sense of pride and purpose. Being in the midst of such a joyful, musically talented community, whose passion shows no signs of wavering, feels rewarding. As I walk off the stage, I silently thank everyone that got me here. Most people don’t get such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
April 2025 was my first time performing at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival, the most prestigious arts venue for South Indian classical music in the U.S., participating in “Sishyakulam’s EPIC Choir” (a melodious confluence of ragas and rhythms) as a percussionist. I had never been on such a big stage before, especially with 250 artists, and I was extremely apprehensive. I was to perform alongside the legendary Shri. Neyveli Santhanagopalan, a torchbearer of the Carnatic artform, whose compositions bridge tradition and contemporary class.
Years of learning and practice on the mridangam (an ancient finger percussion instrument) with my teacher Shri. Ramkumar Raghunathan had prepared me for this day, and I knew that playing for one of the grandest ensembles in Carnatic music history was a true privilege. I still didn’t know exactly what to expect. But I eagerly anticipated contributing my percussion support, while making new friends in the process, throughout the intensive preparation with Shri. Shankar Santhanagopalan that spanned over three months.
As a team, my fellow mridangists and I helped each other learn the lessons for the accompaniment. When it was time to perform, we were well-prepared. We breezed through the songs and felt quite proud of ourselves. Collaborating with such a welcoming community made me realize two things. First, I will always cherish the mridangam and carry this artform with me throughout my life; and second, sharing this musical journey with fellow enthusiasts has amplified my own drive to learn and continue pursuing what I love.
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