Strung Together: Harmony between the Veena and Cello

Kamban has been playing the veena for 12 years, learning under Mrs Banumathy Raghuraman in Alapana Arts, Singapore. While the veena has been his primary instrument, he has also been playing the keyboard at a casual level for several years. This developed an appreciation for both Western and Carnatic music. Kamban joined the NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble (IIE) in 2023 to deepen his engagement with Indian music. He has performed extensively with Alapana Arts and taken part in several IIE performances as well.

Isaac began learning the cello at the age of six, and has been part of several Western classical ensembles, including the Singapore National Youth Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Music Makers. Beyond Western classical music, Isaac also has an interest in Indian classical music, and is currently a member of the NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble.

Through the practice and performance of music rooted deep in Indian culture, the NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble (IIE) provides an open and inclusive environment to stage cultural dialogues with a diverse range of genres across the world. IIE has explored a variety of themes that form the basis of traditional Indian music ranging from the evolution of music in the Indian subcontinent to religion and socio-political dialogues in the South Asian region. By exploring fusion music and blending both Eastern and Western influences, IIE hopes to reflect the vibrant identity of contemporary Asian youth. Ultimately, IIE seeks to nurture driven musicians who champion Indian music in the Singapore arts scene by providing new dimensions to traditional practices.