Tuesday, February 26, 2002

WILMINGTON, NC – K. Sridhar, master of the India sarod, will perform at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 16, in UNCW’s Kenan Auditorium as part of the university’s Arts in Action Series.

Sridhar, who began touring in 1982, has performed throughout the world and has conducted seminars in Indian music with musicians of various disciplines including jazz, flamenco and classical. At the age of 14, he became the youngest member of Ravi Shankar’s orchestral group. Shankar is considered India’s foremost sitarist. The sitar is an India lute with a long neck and a varying number of strings. Sridhar specializes in the sarod, a North Indian lute.

In India, the two music traditions of Hindustani from Northern India and Carnatic from Southern India co-exist. While both share the same basic systems, they differ in the instruments used. Sridhar has mastered performing in both traditions.

A recording artist for Peter Gabriel’s Real World label, Sridhar’s latest release Arab Path to India explores the musical connection between Persia and India. In addition to six recordings, Sridhar composed soundtracks for the films Meher Baba,The Awakener and Franco Indian Documentary.

Tickets are $5.50 for UNCW students and children ages 12 and under, $11.50 for UNCW faculty and staff and $17.50 for all others. Contact the Kenan Auditorium box office at 910/962-3500 or 800-732-3643.

For more information, contact Shannon Hooker at 910/962-7600 or e-mail hookers@uncwil.edu. A photo of K. Sridhar is available to download from the Web site www.uncwil.edu/news/releases/february02/sridhar.html.