Srikanth was born into an Andhra musical family in Bangalore, India. Her mother, Ratna Srikantaiah, is a Carnatic musician and teacher.[1]
Musical life
Training
Srikanth's music training began with Carnatic vocals at age five under her mother.[2] It was a rigorous programme of coaching, with practice for six hours daily, and the attendance of concerts during the festival periods.[1]
At the age of six, she attended a violin performance by the virtuoso Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, which sparked her own interest in the instrument.[3] She began training under R. R. Keshavamurthy, a doyen of classical Indian violin.[4] Her first solo concert was at the age of nine.[1]
Srikanth recognised the necessity of learning the western classical style of violin, and began her training in this genre at the Bangalore School of Music. For more advanced training, she went to Chennai to study with V. S. Narasimhan, a solo violinist who works with the notable Indian composer Ilaiyaraaja.[2] She achieved her grading from the Royal School of Music, London.[4]
Career
Srikanth's initial foray into music came in the film industry, playing under the direction of film composers such as Hamsalekha and Ilaiyaraaja.[2] By her account, she has played for over two hundred south Indian films.[3]
Srikanth also performs jazz and fusion, and has set up a troupe called Fusion Dreams,.[2] She has collaborated with the classical guitarist Simon Thacker, and the flamenco/jazz guitarist Eduardo Niebla.,[3] as well as Fado saxophonist Rão Kyao.
She established a foundation Dhruva Arts to help upcoming Indian artistes to perform in the United Kingdom,[4] as well as raise funds for charity.[5]
In 2012, she organised the London International Arts Festival, a series of concerts of Carnatic, fusion, folk and Balkan music, as well as dance performances from Cyprus and India.[1]
^ abcdeAruna Chandaraju (16 January 2011). "Stringing it right". Bangalore Mirror. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
^ abcdGeetha Srinivasan (8 April 2011). "East meets west". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 November 2012.