Indian Classical Vocalist, composer and educator, Srivani Jade is a captivating performer, and story-teller of the tradition she represents. Her singing is a celebration of her life and journey. Her spirited performances are intelligent, uplifting, and transport you to a place of joy and peace.  

 

BIO:

 

Srivani Jade was introduced to music at the age of four by her father Bhavani Prasad Jade and uncle Raghavendra Tilwalli. She has studied Khayal with Dr. Sharad Gadre in the Gwalior style and with Pandit Parameshwar Hegde in the Kirana style. She identifies deeply with the Bhakti tradition, and enjoys singing light classical music (Thumri-Dadra) and Devotional repertoire (Bhajans, Abhangs, Devaranama). 

 

PERFORMER:

Srivani grew up performing on the stage and radio, and winning competitions around India. She debuted as a Khayal singer in Ragamala's Utsav festival (Seattle, 2008) and Devanandan Ubhayaker Yuva Sangeet Utsav for emerging artists (Bengaluru, 2009). She has performed in venues in North America and India, such as Kalakendra (Portland), Ragamala (Seattle), Chhandayan (New York), Anindo Chatterjee Institute of Tabla (Seattle), Indian Music Society (Houston), Suburban Music Circle (Mumbai), and major music festivals such as the Sawai Gandharv Bhimsen Mahotsav (2014). As a soloist for Seattle-based B'shnorkestra's Global Concerto series (Tagore's Prarthona), her performance received critical acclaim in the 2016 Earshot Jazz Festival.
 

COMPOSER:

​

Srivani is a composer of both classical (bandish, tarana) and devotional/sacred music (bhajans). She is deeply inspired by the poetry of Meera and Kabir, and frequently composes and sings them.

​

Srivani's compositions inspired by Annette Solyst's miniature 'Peacock' paintings was featured as a month-long installation at Jack Straw New Media Gallery (Raag-rang) in 2014. Her work Soul Raga, featuring One-on-One dialogues between Indian Vocals and other World Music Traditions received grant support from 4Culture and Jack Straw Productions. 

She has to her credit a growing number of solo albums of original music. She received an NEA grant for her musical composition work on the existential love poetry of Meera Bai (Astitva, 2011). She has composed and recorded theme vocals for independent films such as Tapasya (2003), Siddhanto (2014) and stage productions such as Indian Ink (Sound Theater Company, 2014).

 

EDUCATOR: 

​

Srivani is a sought after teacher/Guru in the Greater Seattle area. She serves as Visiting Artist with the University of Washington School of Music's Ethnomusicology program. She has also served residencies at UW Bothell, University of Puget Sound, Western Washington University, SMU Dallas, University of British Columbia (Canada), and arts non-profits such as Icicle Creek Center for the Arts and Jack Straw Productions. As a three-times Washington State Master grant recipient, she has worked as a Master Artist and trained apprentices in the traditions of Khayal, Thumri-Dadra, and Bhakti. As a Master Teaching Artist at ArtsWA's Center for Washington Cultural Traditions, she has received two consecutive grants to teach and continue the tradition of Chaiti and Kajri from N/NE India (2021-22), and Marathi Abhangs (2022-23).

​

As cultural bearer and traditional musician, she has coached at Seattle Opera, UW Chorale, KPC Studios etc. She teaches K-12 Music instructors through the Smithsonian Pedagogy Summer Program, and has been invited to offer Indian music workshops in various public school districts around the country. She has authored a Hindustani Music Fundamentals course, complete with textbook, instructional materials and mp3s, to help students through the beginning levels of Indian music curriculum. 

​

COMMUNITY:

Srivani serves as the President of Ragamala, a 501(c)(3) non-profit promoting Indian Classical Music in the Greater Seattle area since 1981. Under her leadership, Ragamala has been revived from dormancy into a thriving organization, presenting two full seasons of concerts each year, several online educational programs, an Annual competition for Youth in Hindustani Music across North America, 'Ragamala in Schools' outreach program in local schools, and "Tarana Summer Festival" in a community partnership with Seattle Asian Art Museum.  

 

She was founding editor of Ragavani Journal of South Asian Music and Dance (2007-08). She has served on the board of Kirkland Performance Center (2010-12), and helped curate the Namaste Kirkland annual performance series focused on the performing arts of India. At her teaching studio Gayaki, she hosts recitals and workshops, where students interact, perform and learn from visiting musicians. She has received a Washington State Arts Commission Fellowship Award for her role in promoting Indian classical music and building community in the Greater Seattle area.

 

​