Vocal Focal: Beautifying Melodies in Indian Classical Singing

Lavanya Balachandran completed her Diploma in Carnatic Vocal and obtained the title of Sangeetha Visharad from the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS) in 1999. She has had over a decade of training with eminent vocalist Smt Mangalam Shankar in the nuanced methods of veteran Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri. T M Thiragaran. Lavanya has performed widely as a soloist and an accompanying vocalist for dance recitals in Singapore and abroad. Notable events include Esplanade’s Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts 2016 as a vocalist for the dance production Stree Shakti, Pitamaha and Kaatriniley as part of Esplanade’s Raga series in May 2017 and July 2021 and femiNINE a solo dance production as part of Apsaras’ Darshana Series in October 2018. Lavanya has more recently embarked on music composition and has set the tune for several dance pieces as part of arangetrams and SIFAS alumni initiatives. She was also the music composer for the children’s theatre production Might Warrior Prince Bheema staged at Esplanade’s Kalaa Utsavam 2021. Lavanya has a Diploma in bharatanatyam and obtained the Natya Visharad title award from SIFAS in 2001. She has a PhD in Sociology and is currently a lecturer with the College of Alice & Peter Tan, National University of Singapore.