Aruna Narayan Kalle

Born in Bombay, Aruna Narayan Kalle is the daughter of the renowned Sarangi maestro Pandit Ram Narayan.

The Sarangi, an ancient North Indian bowed instrument is considered one of the most difficult to master. It had therefore remained relatively undeveloped in both its physical and musical aspects. Its traditional role as merely an accompaniment instrument for vocal music kept it further in the background. Aruna"s father however, emerged as its messiah and due to his pioneering efforts, the Sarangi is now in the mainstream of the performing arts.

Amongst his many students, Aruna occupies a special place since she has imbibed her father"s playing technique and has finely developed musical temperament. Her playing is marked for its graceful nuances.

Although Aruna began her music training at the rather late age of eighteen, she made fast progress specializing in solo sarangi playing and has since demonstrated her artistry in numerous concerts in India and several other countries. She now lives in Toronto Canada, where she performs and teaches. Her concert schedule takes her regularly to Europe, and India.

Apart from the distinction of being one of only a handful of solo sarangi players, Aruna is the only woman player of this haunting and difficult instrument.

She has performanced extensively around the world. Some of these performances and accomplishments are:

The festival of Cervantino (Mexico) 1986.
A series of 4 concerts in different cities of Mexico.
A concert tour sponsored by the Arts Council of the U.K. 1986.
Featured performances in London, Birmingham, York, Scheffield, Manchester, Coventry, Northhampton and Derby.
A concert tour of Australia, 1987.
Recitals in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin, Perth, and Hobart (Tasmania).
Concert appearances in Malaysia, 1987.
In Kuala Lumpur, and Penang.
The festival of India in the former USSR, 1987.
Concerts in Moscow, Riga, Tashkent, Frunze, Alma Ata, etc.
The festival of India, Sweden 1987.
Performances in Stockholm, and Malmo.
The Shakti Utsav (Festival), sponsored again by the Arts Council of England, 1990.
Concerts took place in 9 cities including London.
The Womad Festival in Toronto, 1991.
Full feature performance for the Raag Mala Society in Toronto, 1991.
Music Faculty, York University. 1991.
Music Faculty, University of Toronto, 1992.
Special concert presentation for the University of Waterloo, 1992.
The Parampara Festival, West Germany, 1992.
A series of joint concerts, with her teacher, to highlight the traditional "Guru-Shishya," method of learning. Concerts featured, covered several cities including Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Innsbruck (Austria), etc.
A joint performance with her teacher in the "Theatre de la Ville," in Paris France, 1992.
Concert for the Philharmonia Warszawa. Poland, 1992.
The Spicmacay Festival convention, Anne Arbor, Michigan, 1993.
Concert for the rotary club of Toronto.
Joint concert with her teacher in Berne Switzerland, May 1994.
For a benefit event at the special request of Lord Yehudi Menuhin.
Concert tour for the Arts Council of England, 1994.
Played on the soundtrack of Atom Egoyan"s film "Exotica."
Indian Music composed and performed for Leila Sujir"s film, "Dreams of the Night Cleaner"s."
Performed in several prestigious music festivals in India
The Harballabh Festival in Jullundur, the Sangeet Natak Akademi festival among others.

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