Date:25/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/25/stories/2006012520540200.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Week-long music, dance festival from today

Staff Reporter

AMA aims at making youth feel proud of Andhra Pradesh's rich cultural heritage

Awards to be conferred on Pandit Jasraj, Vidwan Sastry
Demonstration lectures by experts for benefit of students

Exhibition on historical aspects from 3rd century to be held

HYDERABAD: Connoisseurs of the classical music and dance can look forward to a week-long recitals of eminent musicians and dance exponents from all over the country at the

Andhra Music Academy (AMA)'s Sixth Annual Music and Dance Festival at Hari Hara Kala Bhavan from Wednesday.

The festival will feature students of music and dance, upcoming musicians and performers to give them an opportunity to observe maestros at close quarters.

Demonstration lectures by experts would benefit students and enthusiasts, academy president and retired DGP R. Prabhakar Rao said at a press conference here on Tuesday.

The academy would confer the titles of `Sangeetha Vidyanidhi' on Hindustani classical musician Pandit Jasraj and Carnatic music Vidwan Sri Purushottama Sastry.

Academy joint secretary G. Prabhakar said the objective of annual festival in city and mini music festival `Sarada Sangeetotsavam' held in different towns was aimed at reviving Andhra's cultural heritage and making the youth feel proud of it.

An exhibition on `Culture of Andhra and spirit of India' tracing the cultural and historical aspects right from the third century would be an added attraction at the festival.

The exhibits have been collected painstakingly to provide a glimpse into the culture and heritage of Andhra.

The festival would have morning and evening sessions except on January 26 when only evening programme would be held.