“Swadesh Symphony” is a cross-cultural musical ensemble that combines the richness of Indian music with the grandeur of Western symphony, offering a fresh perspective on both genres.
Experience the beauty of Indian classical ragas blending seamlessly with modern harmonies, resulting in a truly unforgettable musical journey.
Get the detailed guide of the program here of the event:
Founder of SSM
Mahalakshmi Krishnan is a Houston based singer, composer, recording artist, actress and performer. Trained extensively in Indian Classical music, she is the Founder and CEO of ShreeKrithi School of Music – a music training, production and recording center. She has composed and sung for several AD films, documentaries, short films, dance productions and musicals. Mahalakshmi is a renowned teacher of Thiruppugazh – a 15th century anthology of Tamil poetry. She also runs a non-profit organization called Varasiddhi that strives to make a difference through music by organizing fundraising events. Her recent collaborations with Shankar Mahadevan Academy raised funds for lesser privileged and struggling musicians. She has a Masters in Economics and an MBA from Chicago. Mahalakshmi is a rooted Indian musician with a big heart for philanthropy and social work.
Tonbak Instrumentalist
Rambod, born and raised in Esfahan, Iran, in a family where music coursed through its veins, Rambod’s fascination with the tonbak was ignited at a young age by the mesmerizing rhythms played by his older brother. His connection to this ancient Persian goblet drum deepened during his undergraduate years in Tehran, where he encountered a talented group of students who had formed an ensemble known as Barbad. Drawn to the talent of their percussionist, Rambod began mimicking various techniques and honing his tonbak skills, which ultimately granted him a transformative opportunity to join Barbad as the tonbak player in 2008, marking his first professional appearance on stage. Since that pivotal moment, Rambod has collaborated with several Persian music bands, including Triolet, MiSaaz, Taak, and Dorian, and has performed at prestigious venues across the United States, such as New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall, Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, Fort Mason’s Cowell Theater, and The Getty Villa. He has had the honor of sharing the stage with renowned musicians like Jamey Haddad, Balla Kouyaté, Kala Ramnath, and Fared Shafinury. A versatile percussionist, Rambod’s talents span a variety of instruments, including the cajon, djembe, darbuka, udu drum, and bendir. However, his unparalleled passion remains with the tonbak, reflecting his profound bond with this delicate and intricate instrument.
Indian Classical/Jazz Fusion performer
Vishnu R is an award-winning Indian Classical & Jazz Fusion performer, composer, inventor and patent-holder of NAVTAR®, a unique 9-string instrument that highlights micro-nuances of Carnatic melody & Western harmony by combining distinct Fretless, Fretted & 12-string Harp elements. His superlative command over Indian Classical, Western Classical and Jazz music have gained him international acclaim, with over 600+ performances and workshops across India, Europe and USA.
Vishnu is a Fellow of the US Govt. Bureau of Education and Cultural affairs 'OneBeat' program, Mentor of the British Council's India-UK Exchange programand is the recipient of prestigious awards such as 'WINNER' of the Beyond Music International Project, Grade 8 distinction from the Trinity College of London & Karnataka Rajyotsava award to name a few.
Vishnu has performed in leading platforms, composed & played for numerous Films, given talks for Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) & India Innovation Summit 2020, and has collaborated with world renowned artists like 5-time GRAMMY winners Michael League & Bill Laurance (Snarky Puppy), Umayalapuram Sivaraman, Vijay Prakash, Singer Srinivas, Shankar Tucker, Guitar Prasanna, BC Manjunath, Ghatam Giridhar Udupa, Denis Stern (Russia), Steve Zerlin (USA), Ueli and Lukas Gasser (Switzerland) and Ayman Boujlida (Tunisia).
Classical Pianist
Matthew Calderon is a Houston based classical pianist. A recitalist and collaborator, he has performed in concerts in the United States, Spain, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines and has appeared as soloist with the Lynn Philharmonia, the Manila Symphony Orchestra, and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. Born and raised in Los Baños, Philippines, he received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the Lynn University Conservatory of Music in Florida, a Master of Music in Piano Performance at the Brigham Young University in Utah, and a Doctor of Music in Piano Performance from Florida State University. Matthew is currently pursuing a second Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Collaborative Piano with a minor in Applied Voice at University of Houston. A prize winner in competitions, he is an avid chamber musician and a vocal coach. Matthew has been a dedicated piano teacher since 2012 and currently teaches across the Greater Houston area.
American Coloratura Soprano
Shreya Bhadriraju is an American Coloratura Soprano based in Houston, Texas. She is a Northwestern University graduate, Fulbright recipient, and Americorps VISTA fellowship recipient. Shreya was a semifinalist for the US Presidential Scholar in the Arts award, a National YoungArts Finalist in Classical Voice, and a first-place winner in the Golden Voices of America International competition. She was a Houston Grand Opera Bauer Family Voice Studio member and a Houston Young Artist’s Ambassador. Shreya has performed at various prestigious venues, including the New World Center in Miami, Carnegie Hall in New York City, UN Houston, the Indian Consulate of Houston, and Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston. She has also regularly performed at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music and Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.
Violin Performer
Mario Zelaya began his violin studies at age 13 in his native Honduras at the National School of Music in Tegucigalpa. By age 15 he had won second prize and by 16 first prize in the National Competition in his hometown. He secured his first professional job as concertmaster of the Honduran Philharmonic shortly after.
Zelaya earned his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Violin Performance from the prestigious Lynn Conservatory, studying with Guillermo Figueroa. During his studies, he competed in the Cremona International String Competition in Italy, winning first prize as well as two special awards for Best Bach and Best Virtuoso Piece.
As a soloist, Zelaya played in a number of master classes for artists including Ilya Kaler, Andres Cardenes, James Buswell, Elmar Oliveira, and Roberto Cani. In addition to a busy career as soloist and chamber musician, Zelaya has played with numerous orchestras, including the Palm Beach Symphony, Florida Grand Opera, South Florida Symphony, Symphony of the Americas, Southwest Symphony, Boca Symphonia, Venice Symphony, San Antonio Opera and Ballet, Fabian Almazan Ensemble, Endless Mountain Music Festival, Richard Brown Orchestra, and Lake Charles Symphony. He has also performed in concerts with Andrea Bocelli and the band Kansas.
Zelaya has been teaching private lessons for over a decade at the Vivace Music Academy and Parkland International Music Academy. In 2023 he moved to Houston where he performs regularly and has his own teaching studio in Sugar Land.
Founder of SSM
Mahalakshmi Krishnan is a Houston based singer, composer, recording artist, actress and performer. Trained extensively in Indian Classical music, she is the Founder and CEO of ShreeKrithi School of Music – a music training, production and recording center. She has composed and sung for several AD films, documentaries, short films, dance productions and musicals. Mahalakshmi is a renowned teacher of Thiruppugazh – a 15th century anthology of Tamil poetry. She also runs a non-profit organization called Varasiddhi that strives to make a difference through music by organizing fundraising events. Her recent collaborations with Shankar Mahadevan Academy raised funds for lesser privileged and struggling musicians. She has a Masters in Economics and an MBA from Chicago. Mahalakshmi is a rooted Indian musician with a big heart for philanthropy and social work.
Indian Classical/Jazz Fusion performer
Vishnu R is an award-winning Indian Classical & Jazz Fusion performer, composer, inventor and patent-holder of NAVTAR®, a unique 9-string instrument that highlights micro-nuances of Carnatic melody & Western harmony by combining distinct Fretless, Fretted & 12-string Harp elements. His superlative command over Indian Classical, Western Classical and Jazz music have gained him international acclaim, with over 600+ performances and workshops across India, Europe and USA.
Vishnu is a Fellow of the US Govt. Bureau of Education and Cultural affairs 'OneBeat' program, Mentor of the British Council's India-UK Exchange programand is the recipient of prestigious awards such as 'WINNER' of the Beyond Music International Project, Grade 8 distinction from the Trinity College of London & Karnataka Rajyotsava award to name a few.
Vishnu has performed in leading platforms, composed & played for numerous Films, given talks for Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) & India Innovation Summit 2020, and has collaborated with world renowned artists like 5-time GRAMMY winners Michael League & Bill Laurance (Snarky Puppy), Umayalapuram Sivaraman, Vijay Prakash, Singer Srinivas, Shankar Tucker, Guitar Prasanna, BC Manjunath, Ghatam Giridhar Udupa, Denis Stern (Russia), Steve Zerlin (USA), Ueli and Lukas Gasser (Switzerland) and Ayman Boujlida (Tunisia).
American Coloratura Soprano
Shreya Bhadriraju is an American Coloratura Soprano based in Houston, Texas. She is a Northwestern University graduate, Fulbright recipient, and Americorps VISTA fellowship recipient. Shreya was a semifinalist for the US Presidential Scholar in the Arts award, a National YoungArts Finalist in Classical Voice, and a first-place winner in the Golden Voices of America International competition. She was a Houston Grand Opera Bauer Family Voice Studio member and a Houston Young Artist’s Ambassador. Shreya has performed at various prestigious venues, including the New World Center in Miami, Carnegie Hall in New York City, UN Houston, the Indian Consulate of Houston, and Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston. She has also regularly performed at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music and Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.
Tonbak Instrumentalist
Rambod, born and raised in Esfahan, Iran, in a family where music coursed through its veins, Rambod’s fascination with the tonbak was ignited at a young age by the mesmerizing rhythms played by his older brother. His connection to this ancient Persian goblet drum deepened during his undergraduate years in Tehran, where he encountered a talented group of students who had formed an ensemble known as Barbad. Drawn to the talent of their percussionist, Rambod began mimicking various techniques and honing his tonbak skills, which ultimately granted him a transformative opportunity to join Barbad as the tonbak player in 2008, marking his first professional appearance on stage. Since that pivotal moment, Rambod has collaborated with several Persian music bands, including Triolet, MiSaaz, Taak, and Dorian, and has performed at prestigious venues across the United States, such as New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall, Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, Fort Mason’s Cowell Theater, and The Getty Villa. He has had the honor of sharing the stage with renowned musicians like Jamey Haddad, Balla Kouyaté, Kala Ramnath, and Fared Shafinury. A versatile percussionist, Rambod’s talents span a variety of instruments, including the cajon, djembe, darbuka, udu drum, and bendir. However, his unparalleled passion remains with the tonbak, reflecting his profound bond with this delicate and intricate instrument.
Violin Performer
Mario Zelaya began his violin studies at age 13 in his native Honduras at the National School of Music in Tegucigalpa. By age 15 he had won second prize and by 16 first prize in the National Competition in his hometown. He secured his first professional job as concertmaster of the Honduran Philharmonic shortly after.
Zelaya earned his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Violin Performance from the prestigious Lynn Conservatory, studying with Guillermo Figueroa. During his studies, he competed in the Cremona International String Competition in Italy, winning first prize as well as two special awards for Best Bach and Best Virtuoso Piece.
As a soloist, Zelaya played in a number of master classes for artists including Ilya Kaler, Andres Cardenes, James Buswell, Elmar Oliveira, and Roberto Cani. In addition to a busy career as soloist and chamber musician, Zelaya has played with numerous orchestras, including the Palm Beach Symphony, Florida Grand Opera, South Florida Symphony, Symphony of the Americas, Southwest Symphony, Boca Symphonia, Venice Symphony, San Antonio Opera and Ballet, Fabian Almazan Ensemble, Endless Mountain Music Festival, Richard Brown Orchestra, and Lake Charles Symphony. He has also performed in concerts with Andrea Bocelli and the band Kansas.
Zelaya has been teaching private lessons for over a decade at the Vivace Music Academy and Parkland International Music Academy. In 2023 he moved to Houston where he performs regularly and has his own teaching studio in Sugar Land.
Classical Pianist
Matthew Calderon is a Houston based classical pianist. A recitalist and collaborator, he has performed in concerts in the United States, Spain, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines and has appeared as soloist with the Lynn Philharmonia, the Manila Symphony Orchestra, and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra. Born and raised in Los Baños, Philippines, he received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the Lynn University Conservatory of Music in Florida, a Master of Music in Piano Performance at the Brigham Young University in Utah, and a Doctor of Music in Piano Performance from Florida State University. Matthew is currently pursuing a second Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Collaborative Piano with a minor in Applied Voice at University of Houston. A prize winner in competitions, he is an avid chamber musician and a vocal coach. Matthew has been a dedicated piano teacher since 2012 and currently teaches across the Greater Houston area.
Varasiddhi is a nonprofit organization that provides a platform for appreciation and understanding of Indian musical traditions across cultural boundaries through comprehensive musical education, outreach, and exceptional performances. It seeks to create opportunities for young artists to develop, perform, and collaborate to exhibit their musical talents.
