Namaskarams!!
Guruguhaamrta(r) is proud to present the 2024 global competition of muddusvAmi dIkSitar kIrtanams for students of vocal music. Year after year, the competition has gained credibility and interest among the student and musicians’ community for its serious, focussed and academic approach to the works of dIkSitar. The prizes comprise the much coveted ‘Vijayalakshmi Rajasundaram Memorial Tambura Prize’, and the ‘M Seetha Memorial Cash Prize’.
• The competition focuses on kIrtanam rendition only, and no Alapana/Neraval/Svaram singing is required.
• The competition is open to all students of music between 8 and 25 (age completed as of 1st August 2024).
• The competition is divided into 3 categories: Sub-Junior (8-10), Junior (11-14), and Senior (15-25). Previous-year winners (Tambura/Cash) are not eligible to participate in the same age category this year.
• For Sub-junior, 3 dIkSitar kIrtanams are expected, for Junior 5 dIkSitar kIrtanams while for Senior 10 dIkSitar kIrtanams are expected.
• Any dIkSitar kIrtanam is allowed EXCEPT FOR ‘nottu svarams’.
• The competition would have 2 levels – Prelims and Finals. Participants selected for the finals may be asked to learn new kIrtanams (for Junior and Senior categories) – the exact kIrtanams would be announced when the finalists are announced
• All the above levels would be held on Zoom Video/Audio conferencing - the details of which would be shared prior to the event
• We request you to consider making a minimum donation of INR 350/- (for students participating from WITHIN India) and USD 18 (for students participating from OUTSIDE India). This donation helps in keeping the competition sustainable. Contestants with financial challenges, can write to us at dikshitar.competition@gmail.com with details, to obtain full-waiver from any donation requirements.
• There are two categories of contestants – those participating from WITHIN India and those from OUTSIDE. The Prizes (Tambura and Cash prizes) also would be in these respective categories.
• Please ensure you register in the correct category - Guruguhaamrta would be unable to refund or cancel a registration if done against the wrong category
• The prelims would be held on Aug 24th, 25th, 31st (India) and on Sep 8th, Sep 9th for global participants.
• The finals would be held on October 19th (India) and 20th (Global)
• The prize distribution function is on November 10th at Chennai
• It is recommended that the contestants know the musical and lyrical aspects of the songs that they chose, to the best extent possible.
• The list of kIrtanams is NOT required at the time of registration but only at the time of the competition. A list of dIkSitar kIrtanams as listed in the sangIta sampradAya pradarSini, is available here https://tinyurl.com/sspdIkSitar While It is NOT mandatory for you to pick only compositions listed above, it should help as one confirmed source, for your reference.
• Guruguhaamrta, would NOT be able to provide any individual feedback about participants, after or during the competitions.
• We understand that there may be students who may need help building a repertoire of dIkSitar kIrtanams - Guruguhaamrta would be happy to conduct (paid) teaching sessions through our network of teachers. Please email us for further details.
• There are dedicated WhatsApp groups created for any clarifications – pls use the relevant links below to join the groups:
o PARTICIPANTS from WITHIN India: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HJYV8t7r8xwBLknFyp3ETR
o PARTICIPANTS from OUTSIDE India: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DudRvJ0SFN40eAPu8gVnsX