Nov 2, 2024

Program: Ragamala Dance Company: Children of Dharma

By Aparna, Ranee, and Ashwini Ramaswamy
Ranee Ramaswamy in three different poses against an illustrated mural background

Photos courtesy of the artist.

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Program Duration: 75 minutes with no intermission

 

Children of Dharma

Creators/Directors/Choreographers: Aparna Ramaswamy, Ranee Ramaswamy, and Ashwini Ramaswamy

Lighting and Scenic Design: Willy Cessa

Dramaturg: Ranee Ramaswamy.

The characters of Draupati and Gandari were developed in consultation with Dr. Saskia Kersenboom.

Original Compositions: Prema Ramamurthy, Ranee Ramaswamy, and S. Sakthivel Muruganantham

Development of Score: Ranee Ramaswamy and Aparna Ramaswamy, with the musical ensemble 

Dancers: Aparna Ramaswamy, Ranee Ramaswamy, Ashwini Ramaswamy, Jessica Fiala, Jothika Gurur, Tamara Nadel, Garrett Sour

Musicians: Asha Ramesh (Lead Vocalist), Rohith Jayaraman (vocals), Preethy Mahesh (vocals), S. Sakthivel Muruganantham (mridangam), C.K. Vasudevan (nattuvangam, vocal percussion, and cymbals), K.P. Nandini (violin), Sruthi Sagar (flute)

Additional Music: Legend Written by Mikhail Alperin, performed by The Bulgarian Voices Angelite and Huun-Huur-Tu

Voiceover: Leon Conrad

Narration Text: Ramaswamys, Karthika Nair, Zaraawar Mistry, Leon Conrad, and Siddaarth Shanmugam

Projected Images: Images by Keshav and Dr. Vasudha Narayanan

Costumes: D.S. Aiyellu

Production Manager/Lighting Supervisor: Mat Terwilliger

Audio Engineer/Technical Director: Maury Jensen

Video Director: Rob Simmer

Sound Recording, Editing, and Mixing: Zachary Rose

Recording Engineer (Chennai, India): Baba Prasad

Company Manager: Garvin Jellison

Commissioners:

  • Northrop
  • The Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University 
  • The Joyce Theater Foundation's Stephen and Cathy Weinroth Fund for New Work
  • Original Music Commissioned by the Charles and Joan Gross Family Foundation

Developed in part in residence at:
Northrop at the University of Minnesota, The Bogliasco Foundation in Genoa, Italy, The Camargo Foundation in Cassis, France

Exclusive Representation by:
Laura Colby, president, Elsie Management
Anna Amadei, vice president, Elsie Management

 

From the Creators

In India, we believe the natural world and human life are cyclical.

The Mahabharata is a story that has been told, retold, and told again–its relevance lies in the openness of these retellings.

In the brief time between birth and death, every human desires to achieve fulfillment; this fulfillment is either in harmony or in disharmony with others. Children of Dharma is our response to this ever-present tension. Our three central characters – Krishna, Draupati, and Gandari – ignite, experience, and dwell in the dilemmas and consequences exacted on and outside the ‘battlefield.’ This is the war within The Mahabharata and the self.

Through this work, we invite you to contemplate our relationship with nature, with each other, and the enduring power of ancient wisdom to navigate contemporary questions of conscience.

Our sincere thanks to Keerthik Sasidharan, Saskia Kersenboom, Karthika Naïr, Siddhaarth Shanmugam, the commissioners and supporters of this project, and our dear friend, Kristen Brogdon, and the incredible team at Northrop.

–Aparna, Ranee, and Ashwini Ramaswamy

Scene 1: Dharma Forest

Krishna, as the embodiment of nature, underscores the balance between the natural world, the spiritual world, and ourselves.

Dharma – the basis for life – forever sprouting, transforming, dissolving, and renewing.
Listen ... do you recognize the silence?

The silence from which we all emerged.
The silence in which all things begin and end.

Between the beginning and ending of all things, I exist as a symbol –
Maybe we all do –

Repeating errors and stories …
Dwelling in the past … in the future … in the here and now …

I am Krishna, the 8th avatar of Vishnu.
Through all of the bloodshed and conflict that was and is to come, I am present as protector, I am present in all nature, preserving it while being one with it.
It is I, time and again, who has intervened in the events in our story.

 

Scene 2: Dharma in the Court

Draupati is an incarnation of Devi, the supreme goddess of the three worlds. A manifestation of Mother Earth, Draupati is charged with maintaining balance between the five elements.
Greed for land, wealth, and power echoes across time, and humanity suffers the consequences.

The night is damp with unspilled blood, the sky hangs low, clouds of unshed tears drag it closer to earth.

In the long conflict between the Pandavas and their cousins, the Kauravas, the Pandavas seek my guidance, while the Kauravas are driven by their egos. They trick the Pandavas into playing a rigged game of dice, and the Pandava Brothers lose their land, their status, and their honor.

In that game of dice, Draupati, their wife, is gambled and lost. Draupati is an incarnation of Devi, the supreme Goddess of the three worlds. A manifestation of Mother Earth, Draupati is charged with maintaining balance between the five elements.

Humiliated in the court by the Kauravas, Draupati unties her hair and vows to bathe it in the blood of the Kauravas.

These are the actions that spark the Kurukshetra war.

 

Scene 3: Dharma of the Battlefield

Gandari is the mother of the Kauravas; she withdraws from the sensory world, and neglects her one hundred children who grow up to be greedy, selfish, egotistical, and jealous.

Memory, slow yet luminescent, opens like light from an ancient sun.
The Kurukshetra war is over.

And Gandari, mother of the 100 Kaurava brothers, learns of her sons’ deaths. 
As a young bride, resenting her orchestrated marriage to an elderly blind king, she chose to blindfold herself. Gandari withdrew behind a veil of selfishness and darkness. Finally, she removes the blindfold. She sees her sons, lying lifeless and desolate like ashes from dead fires.
And over that desolate silence of death, the wailing of women mingles with the roar of hungry beasts. And I hear the roar of Gandari's thoughts.

Full of contempt, Gandari is unable to accept that her complicity caused the destruction of her sons. And she blames me for her fate.

 

Epilogue

And now, a new silence descends.
The Kauravas have died.
Gandari has died.
I, too, have died and have left the mortal world.

Draupati is appeased as Dharma Rani. As Mother Earth, she renews humanity’s purpose during their brief time between birth and death.

Listen ... do you recognize the silence?
The silence in which I began.
The silence from which we all emerged.
The silence in which all things begin and end.

Dharma – the basis for life – forever sprouting, transforming, dissolving, and renewing.

The Listen refrain, ascribed in Children of Dharma to Krishna, is borrowed from the voice of Satyavati in Until the Lions: Echoes from the Mahabharata by Karthika Naïr (Archipelago Books USA, 2019); The following lines are also excerpted from Until the Lions: Echoes from the Mahabharata, although they are ascribed to other characters in the book: “The night is damp with unspilled blood, the sky hangs low, clouds of unshed tears drag it closer to earth.” [XI. Fault Lines] “Memory, slow yet luminescent, opens like light from an ancient sun.” [VIII. Fault Lines]

Company stands in a line facing the audience on dimly lit stage

Ragamala Dance Company. Courtesy of the artists.

Kari Schloner

Welcome to Northrop for what promises to be an extraordinary season of dance and music! We are thrilled to have you join us as we embark on a series of performances that celebrate the beauty and vitality of these dynamic art forms. Each show you experience this season has been selected to showcase a depth and breadth of artists across the country who are creating innovative new work, bringing masterpieces to life, and reflecting our commitment to presenting performances that both inspire and entertain.  We are especially excited to welcome Greg Zelek as the newly appointed Northrop Organist and know that you will enjoy his enthusiasm and virtuosity!

The performances that you see onstage are just one facet of each artist’s engagement with Northrop. In support of our mission to cultivate intersections between arts and education, there are a plethora of opportunities to dive more deeply into the artists and their work. Community roundtables, performance previews, workshops, classes, Q&A’s, and more offer insight into artists’ histories and processes, and give context surrounding the works you will see. Make sure to visit the “Learn More” section on each company’s event page on Northrop’s website to find interdisciplinary thematic connections, discover resources that provide more information on the performers, artforms, and artistic processes, and explore questions that will help engage you in conversations and reflections. Each of these elements are intended to complement and add new depth and dimension to the way you see the performances. I encourage you to visit the website now and often, as new engagements and resources are added throughout the year. While you’re there, explore the many other events happening at Northrop including concerts, lectures, comedy, and more!

We extend our deepest gratitude to our generous donors, subscribers, and supporters. Your unwavering commitment plays a crucial role in our ability to present a diverse range of performances and support the talented artists who grace our stage. As we dive into this vibrant season, we invite you to consider further involvement. Whether through a financial donation, becoming a subscriber, or simply sharing your enthusiasm with others, your support is instrumental in helping to ensure that we can continue bringing the best in dance and music to the Twin Cities community. 

Thank you for being an essential part of Northrop. We look forward to sharing this season of dance and music with you and hope to see you often throughout the year.
 

Gratefully,
Kari Schloner
Executive Director

Jeff Bieganek

Greetings and welcome to Northrop,

We are thrilled, honored, and grateful that you are joining us for this performance. Northrop presents some of the greatest dance and music performers from all around the world and has been doing so for almost 100 years!  We are happy that you are a part of our community who supports this amazing work and helps us achieve our belief that the arts are essential to the human experience.  We are committed to cultivating intersections between performing arts and education for the benefit of all participants now and for generations to come.  

Northrop has been an integral center for the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota arts community for close to a century and we need your help to continue to do so.  We hope you can be a champion and advocate for Northrop by sharing your experiences at Northrop with your friends, family and community at large as well as supporting our work financially when you can.  You can learn more about how to support Northrop here.

As Chair of the Northop Advisory Board, we are delighted to share that we are growing in our work to increase the impact of Northrop on the stage, in the schools, and in the community. If you are interested in learning more about being part of the Northrop Advisory Board, learn more here or contact Cynthia Betz, Director of Development, at betzx011@umn.edu.

Thanks again for joining us and don’t forget to say “Hi” and introduce yourself when you are attending a performance. I can’t wait to meet you!

 

Jeff Bieganek
Northrop Advisory Board Chair

Dancer in white reaches toward a dancer in yellow garb. Other performers run stage right.

Ragamala Dance Company at New York City Center Dance Showcase. Photo courtesy of the artist.

About Ragamala Dance Company

“Ragamala shows how Indian forms can be some of the most transcendent experiences that dance has to offer.”—The New York Times

Driven by the artistic vision of mother-daughters Ranee Ramaswamy (founder, artistic director), Aparna Ramaswamy (executive artistic director), and Ashwini Ramaswamy (choreographic associate), Ragamala Dance Company is committed to the idea that while history is time bound, the stories we share are timeless. Rooted in the South Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam, Ragamala’s work is expansive—extending beyond the stage to embody their immigrant experiences and show a kindred relationship between ancient and contemporary within today’s world.

Ragamala has toured extensively throughout the U.S., India, and abroad, highlighted by the Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), Joyce Theater (NY), Lincoln Center (NY), Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival (MA), Walker Art Center (Minneapolis), American Dance Festival (Durham, NC), Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, International Festival of Arts & Ideas (New Haven, CT), Cal Performances (Berkeley, CA), Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi (U.A.E.), Korzo Festival (The Hague, Netherlands), Assembly @Dance Base (Edinburgh, U.K.), Bali Arts Festival (Indonesia), Sri Krishna Gana Sabha (Chennai, India), and National Centre for Performing Arts (Mumbai, India), among others.

 

For upcoming tour dates or to subscribe to Ragamala’s e-newsletter, please visit, www.ragamaladance.org  
Or contact us at, info@ragamaladance.org • 612-824-1968 

Facebook: @ragamala
Instagram: @ragamala_dance     
YouTube: youtube.com/c/RagamalaDanceCompany

 

For booking information, please contact, Laura Colby, President, Elsie Management www.elsieman.orginfo@elsieman.org • 718-797-4577

Aparna Ramaswamy

Photo by Ed Bock.

Aparna Ramaswamy (Co-Creator / Choreographer / Principal Dancer)

 

 

Described by The New York Times as “thrillingly three-dimensional … rapturous and profound,” Aparna Ramaswamy (co-creator/choreographer/principal dancer) is a dancemaker and performer whose work reveres the artistic, philosophical, and intellectual depths of her artistic lineage, evolving ancestral and cultural knowledge in the diaspora as a catalyst for contemporary human thought. She is the lifelong disciple of legendary dancer/choreographer Padmabhushan Smt. Alarmél Valli, one of India’s greatest living masters.

As executive artistic director of Ragamala Dance Company, Aparna has catalyzed a bold new vision for Bharatanatyam in the diaspora, charting new paths for South Asian dance in the U.S. Her work has been commissioned and presented by major festivals and cultural institutions—including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Joyce Theater, Harris Theater, Northrop, American Dance Festival, Silk Road Ensemble, Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, and many others—and supported by the National Dance Project, MAP Fund, Wallace Foundation, Joyce Foundation, and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, among others. Aparna’s Fires of Varanasi: Dance of the Eternal Pilgrim (created in collaboration with Ranee Ramaswamy) was commissioned to open the Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary celebration with an outdoor, site-specific performance.

Aparna Ramaswamy’s choreographic work ranges from intimate solo presentations performed with live music, to large-scale, multidisciplinary theatrical works. Her honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship, Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, Bogliasco Foundation Residential Fellowship (Italy), Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Research Fellowship (Italy), Joyce Award, four McKnight Fellowships for Dance and Choreography, a Bush Fellowship, and a Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from Carleton College, among others.

Ranee Ramaswamy

Photo courtesy of the artist.

Ranee Ramaswamy (Co-Creator / Choreographer/ Principal Dancer)

Hailed by The New York Times as “a master of abhinaya … her careful art glimmers with the strangeness of the divine,” Ranee Ramaswamy (co-creator/choreographer/principal dancer) is founding artistic director of Ragamala Dance Company. As a dancemaker, performer, and culture bearer, Ramaswamy’s creative vision is driven by a profound commitment to the artistic lineage imparted to her through four decades of training under legendary Bharatanatyam dancer/choreographer Padmabhushan Smt. Alarmél Valli. She intertwines her training with a pioneering spirit of innovation and collaboration across culture and discipline.

Since immigrating to the U.S. in 1978, Ramaswamy has been a trailblazer, working tirelessly to create a place for her culturally rooted choreographic work on the major stages of the U.S. dance landscape. Her work has been commissioned and presented by the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Joyce Theater, Northrop, Walker Art Center, American Dance Festival, International Festival of Arts & Ideas, and Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, among many others. Her work has been supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, National Dance Project, MAP Fund, Wallace Foundation, and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Ramaswamy’s Fires of Varanasi: Dance of the Eternal Pilgrim (created in collaboration with Aparna Ramaswamy) was commissioned to open the Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary celebration with an outdoor, site-specific performance.

Ramaswamy serves on the National Council on the Arts, appointed by President Barack Obama. Her honors include a Guggenheim Fellowship, Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, Bogliasco Foundation Fellowship (Italy), Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Research Fellowship (Italy), United States Artists Fellowship, McKnight Distinguished Artist Award, Bush Choreography Fellowship, and 14 McKnight Fellowships for Choreography and Interdisciplinary Art, among many others. (www.raneeramaswamy.com)

Ashwini Ramaswamy

Photo by Ed Bock.

Ashwini Ramaswamy (Choreographic Associate / Dancer)

Ashwini Ramaswamy has spent over 30 years studying Bharatanatyam from award-winning artists Ranee Ramaswamy and Aparna Ramaswamy (her mother and sister), and since 2011, their guru, the legendary Padma Bhushan Smt. Alarmél Valli of Chennai, India. Her choreography has been heralded as a Critic's Pick by The New York Times for “creating space, not just for more generations but more ways of thinking” and listed among the “Best of the Year” in The Washington Post. Ramaswamy is committed to maintaining the rigor, physicality, humanity, and authenticity embedded in her Bharatanatyam lineage while forming a personal vision for collaborative, multidisciplinary performance experiences. 

As a founding member of Ragamala Dance Company, she has toured extensively, performing throughout the U.S. and internationally, including The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, American Dance Festival, and the Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi. Her choreographic work has been presented by the Baryshnikov Arts Center (New York, NY), Broadstage (Santa Monica, CA), The Yard (Martha's Vineyard, MA), Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts (Scottsdale, AZ), and The Just Festival (Edinburgh, U.K.), among others.

Ashwini Ramaswamy has received commissions from the Liquid Music Series, Great Northern Festival, Santa Monica College, Northrop, Perelman Center, and Bates Dance Festival; residencies at the Baryshnikov Arts Center, UNC Chapel Hill, Kohler Arts Center, the National Center for Choreography, the Bogliasco Foundation (Bogliasco, Italy) and Camargo Foundation (Cassis, France); support from the National Dance Project, MAP Fund, USArtists International, National Performance Network, Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, South Asian Arts Resiliency Fund, a Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship, and McKnight Foundation Artist Fellowships for Dance and Choreography. (www.ashwiniramaswamy.com

Smt. Prema Ramamurthy (Composer)

Smt. Prema Ramamurthy has been an outstanding vocalist and composer for more than four decades. She received intensive training under the great Maestro ‘Padmavibhushan’ Dr. Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna, specialized in the art of ‘Pallavi singing’ from Vidwan Sri T. V. Gopalakrishnan, and learned the art of singing ‘Padams & Javalis’ from the veteran musician, Mrs. T. Muktha. An A-TOP Grade Artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan TV, she has won critical acclaim as a composer, and has performed in many of the top venues and festivals of India, the U.S., Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Australia, Mexico, and South Africa.

 

Willy Cessa (Lighting Design)

Willy Cessa  has worked as a director, light director, and light and set designer since 2001. In 2007, he met Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui in Paris for the project La Zon-Mai at the Cité Nationale de l’Histoire de l’Immigration. Since that time, they have collaborated on 13 projects for Cherkaoui’s Antwerp-based company Eastman. Additionally, he has worked with multiple renowned artists and institutions, including Yabin Wang, Aakash Odedra, Wang & Ramirez, Damien Jalet, Fanny de Chaillé, Herman Diephuis, Esther Aumatell, Le Centre Dramatique Régional des Pays de la Loire, Cie Les Aphoristes, Cie KLP, Danse l’Afrique Danse!, and Franck II Louise.

 

Jessica Fiala

Photo by Alex Zoltai.

Jessica Fiala (Dancer)

Jessica Fiala began training with Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy in 2006 and has performed with Ragamala throughout the U.S. and in India, the U.K., and the U.A.E. She holds an interdisciplinary master’s degree in museum studies and cultural studies from the University of Minnesota and her research has been published in the anthology The Ruined Archive; the journals Diálogos com a arte, Public Art Journal, and the Journal of Somaesthetics; and the online publication Immerse. Fiala is also a research associate at the consulting firm 8 Bridges Workshop.

Jothika Gorur

Photo courtesy of the artist.

Jothika Gorur (Dancer)

Jothika Gorur received her initial training in Bharatanatyam from Smt. Shobhitha Ravi. As of 2024, she is under the direction of Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy. She has won prizes at various U.S. cultural events, including 1st place at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana. Jothika has performed across the U.S., and international platforms in Bangalore (India), and Athens (Greece). In college, she captained Nrityamala, Pittsburgh's classical dance team. In 2023, she was selected as a YUVA residency artist and co-created Avikathitha, a production that highlighted the stories of seven women in Indian mythology. Her segment, Kaikeyi Atma Sambhashan, received praise from Vaishnavi Patel, author of Kaikeyi. Jothika has taught workshops for various institutions such as Desi Dance Convention, AATMA Performing Arts, and Origins Championship, among others.

 

Tamara Nadel

Photo by Alex Zoltai.

Tamara Nadel (Dancer)

Tamara Nadel is a disciple of Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy and a founding member of Ragamala, having performed with the company throughout the U.S., India, Russia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan, and the U.K. Nadel has received grants and fellowships from the McKnight Foundation, Jerome Foundation, Minnesota State Arts Board, Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and the Brin Fund for Jewish Arts, among others. In 2022, she was selected by the Conney Conference on Jewish Arts at UW-Madison to perform Haven’t I Hidden Your Name?, a solo choreographed for her by Ranee Ramaswamy, illuminating the synergies between Hindu and Jewish mystical traditions. Nadel is Ragamala’s director of operations and vice president of the board of directors of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts.

Garrett Sour

Photo courtesy of the artist.

Garrett Sour (Dancer)

Garrett Sour is a classical Cambodian dancer under the master teacher, Yousedy Peov and is a principal dancer and assistant instructor with Wattanak Dance Troupe. Sour has also trained in different dance styles, competing in many competitions across the nation and has performed in South Korea representing the U.S. in the 13th Gangneung International Junior Art Festival. When Sour is not dancing, he is working towards his undergraduate degree at the University of Saint Thomas.

Saskia Kersenboom

Saskia Kersenboom (Consulting Scholar) earned her Ph.D. Nityasumangali (1984) through academic and artistic immersion in the world of devadasi performing arts in temples and royal courts of Tamil Nadu, South India. Her academic journey ran parallel with training in Bharatanatyam with Smut. Nandini Ramani (Smt.I.Balasaraswati Bani), Karnatik vocal and instrumental music, and classical ballet. This background took various shapes: associate professor in Cultural Anthropology, Music and Theatre Studies at University of Amsterdam, Bharatanatyam performing artist, teacher and choreographer, and guest curator.

Her fascination with dance as a total expression of human culture drove her to question academic literacy in contrast to the scope of oral traditions. From printed and multimedia publications to visiting faculty at conservatories in The Netherlands, Poland, U.S.and India, Kersenboom has worked with the International Danstheater, ICK-Emio Greco/P.C. (Amsterdam Kattai Kuttu Sangam (Kanchipuram), IGNCA (New Delhi), and as guest curator at Museum Rietberg (Zürich). In 1994, she founded Paramparai Arts Performing Arts of South India. Since 2012 Paramparai Foundation has initiated performances, long- and short-term courses in Karnatik Music and Dance—set in the villages of Legend, Hungary, and Tirupugalur, Tamil Nadu, India, certified by the International Dance Council - UNESCO, Paris. (https://cid-world.org).

 

Siddaarth Shanmugam (Poetry)

Siddaarth Shanmugam is a fervent admirer of human languages, particularly their artistic and expressive potential. A poet since the age of 14, he has mastered the intricate, ancient poetic meters born from Tamil landscapes. Drawing on this rich heritage, he has authored a book to guide aspiring poets in crafting their verses according to these time-honored traditions. Shanmugam, a practicing poet himself, actively contributes his own creative voice to the Tamil literary landscape. He believes that human languages are powerful tools for communication, creativity, and understanding, and is grateful for the opportunities he has had to learn about different languages and cultures. He hopes to continue using his skills to promote cross-cultural understanding. Shanmugam lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and two children, and works in the software industry.

 

Asha Ramesh (Lead Vocalist)

Asha Ramesh is from San Jose, CA, and is renowned for her mastery of Carnatic music. A disciple of Sangeeta Kalanidhi Sri. D. K. Jayaraman and Nanganallur V. Ramanathan, Ramesh has earned recognition through numerous awards, including the Rajaji Memorial Tambura Award, the Swaminatha Pillai Memorial Gold Medal, and the Vijayalakshmi Memorial Award for Best Vocalist from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in India. Ramesh is also an accomplished composer, creating music for many dance productions. She composed and performed for her album, Thenum Thinaiyum. In 2020, Ramesh collaborated with Rohith Jayaraman to release Manam, an album that confronts contemporary social issues. She founded Ragamalika School of Music in 1992 and has been a cornerstone of the San Jose Bay Area’s music community for over three decades.

 

Rohith Jayaraman (Vocals)

Born and raised in San Jose, CA, Jayaraman is a vocalist, composer, and educator known for his soulful voice and infectious energy. Trained in Carnatic music under his mother, Asha Ramesh, Jayaraman has gone on to explore music from around the world, collaborating with artists in many diverse genres. Jayaraman has shared the stage with internationally acclaimed artists such as A.R. Rahman, Zakir Hussain, John McLaughlin, Akram Khan, Tigran Hamasyan, Hariharan, Shreya Ghoshal, Shankar Mahadevan, Clinton Cerejo, and Ranjit Barot. He is also a member of the Berklee Indian Ensemble, which received a Grammy® nomination for its 2022 debut album, Shuruaat. His latest release, Yazhiha, was an indie collaboration with Vidya Vox on her EP, Sundari, written by Madhan Karky and produced by Shankar Tucker.

 

Preethy Mahesh (Vocals)

Preethy Mahesh (Vocals) is a Carnatic musician who has been accompanying eminent dancers since 2002. She owes her art to her respected gurus Sri DK Jayaraman and Sri S. Kalyanaraman. A graded artist of All India Radio she has performed extensively as a soloist and has recorded multiple commercially-available albums of dance music. She has performed in some of the world’s best theaters with accomplished artists such as Priyadarsini Govind, Shobana, Padmabhushan Alarmél Valli, Revati Ramachandran, Parvati Ghantasala, The Dhananjayans, and Ragamala. In recognition of her contribution to the art, has been honored with the titles Gana Kokilam, Sangeetagna, and Nritya Sangeeta Varshini.

 

C.K. Vasudevan (Nattuvangam)

C.K. Vasudevan is a student of renowned Carnatic percussion maestro, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. Umayalpuram Sivaraman, and has been trained by Padma Bhushan Smt. Alarmél Valli in the art of nattuvangam. Vasudevan has provided vocal support to several renowned dancers at the major festivals and theaters of India, and in Europe, the U.S., Canada, Japan, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. He has a diploma in mridangam from the Tamil Nadu Government Music College, and is a recipient of multiple honors, including the Vaadhya Kalaimani, Laya Kala Sironmani, and Rukmani Thala Samuthiram awards and the title Laya Vidyadara. 

 

S. Sakthivel Muruganantham (Mridangam)

S. Sakthivel Muruganantham has been a preeminent performer on the mridangam, specializing in the accompaniment of classical dance, for 34 years. He learned traditional Gurukulavasam under the great Guru Shri Mayavaram G. Somasundaram Pillai and later under Guru Shri Bakthavatchalam, and Guru Shri M. Balachander. Muruganantham has accompanied preeminent dancers at leading festivals and theaters in India and worldwide, including Dr. Vyayanthimala Bali, Padmabhushan Alarmél Valli, Shri Leela Samson, and Priyadarshini Govind, and great gurus such as Shri K.J. Sarasa, Shri Udupi Lakshmi Narayan, and Shri Narasimhachari. His titles include Laya Vidhyadhara from Smt. Alarmel Valli’s Deepashika, Natya Sangeetha Kala Bharathi from Bharath Kalachar, Laya Kala Vipanchee from Vipanchee Trust, Laya Kala Ratna, Laya Sironmani, and Mridanga Mamani. 

 

K.P. Nandini (Violin)

K.P. Nandini is internationally renowned as a Carnatic vocalist and violinist. She is a disciple of Smt. Uma Prabhakar, and is pursuing advanced training in vocal under Smt. Ranjani and Smt. Gayatri and in violin under Smt. Lalitha Raghavan. She has toured extensively throughout India, Europe, Asia, and North America, highlighted by performances in Norway, Italy, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Canada, U.S., Singapore, and Malaysia. Nandini has received multiple prestigious awards and accolades, including the Yuva Kala Bharathi from Bharat Kalachar, the M.S. Subbulakshmi Fellowship in Music from the Bombay Shanmukhananda, the prestigious Kalavanta award from the Karnataka Fine Arts Council, and the titles Bala Kala Rathna, Kalaimamani, and Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, among others. 

 

Sruthi Sagar (Flute)

Sruthi Sagar has earned a place for himself in the field of Carnatic Music. A disciple of Kalaimamani Dr. Sunder for more than 15 years, he had his initial training on the flute from Shri B. V. Balasai and his father Shri Sudarsana Rao. Sagar has performed at prestigious venues and festivals throughout India and is a recipient of the Air India Radio first prize and other coveted awards such as Kuzhal Isai Chelvan, Yuva Kala Bharathi, and Yuva Kala Vipanchee. Since 2005, Sagar has been a Central Government scholarship awardee, and recipient of a Young Achiever’s Scholarship conferred by the Government of India. He has performed at the Olympic Games in London as part of the STACCATO Band.

Ragamala Dance Company Acknowledgments

Children of Dharma is commissioned by Northrop at The University of Minnesota, the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University, and The Joyce Theater Foundation's Stephen and Cathy Weinroth Fund for New Work. The creation and premiere of Children of Dharma is supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the MAP Fund, New Music USA’s Organization Fund (with support in part from Fifth House Ensemble and legacy contributions to the New Music USA endowment), the St. Paul and Minnesota Foundations, the City of St. Paul Cultural Sales Tax  Revitalization Program, the Bob and Kathie Goodale Legacy Foundation, The Dr. Dash Foundation, whose mission is to preserve and promote the rich heritage and culture of India, the Fredrikson & Byron Foundation, and the Ramaswamys' residential fellowships at the Bogliasco Foundation in Genoa, Italy and the Camargo Foundation in Cassis, France. The musical score for Children of Dharma is commissioned by the Charles and Joan Gross Family Foundation. 

Additional Support for Ragamala’s work comes from The Wallace Foundation; The McKnight Foundation; the Shubert Foundation; the Marbrook Foundation; the Archie D. and Bertha H. Walker Foundation; RBC Wealth Management; and the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Logos: NEA, MN State Arts Board, Legacy Fund, McKnight Foundation, Wallace Foundation, MAP Fund, New Music USA, St. Paul and MN Foundations, Cultural STAR, Shubert Foundation, Dash Foundation, Marbrook Foundation

Ragamala also thanks our Dharma Circle for their generous support of the creation of "Children of Dharma":

  • Joan and Rick Ahmann
  • Marguerite Ahmann and Carey Jeremiason
  • Andrew and Peggy Baker
  • Bill and Sujata Costello
  • The Daggett/Ziegler Family Charitable Fund
  • Dr. S.K. and Kalpana Dash
  • Brett Egan
  • The J.L. Enquist Family Fund
  • Fay and Steve Finn
  • Ram and Neena Gada
  • Thomas and Cindy Gerst
  • The Bob and Kathie Goodale Legacy Foundation
  • Jeanine and Zach Holden
  • The Kasbohm Family
  • Fred and Kay Lazaro
  • Jai and Jon Maier
  • Emily Maltz and Jean-Michel Artigaud
  • The Mayer Family

 

  • Nithya and Veeresh Mathad
  • David McKay and Ranee Ramaswamy
  • María and Mark Nadel
  • Godan and Savithry Nambudiripad
  • Lisa Norton
  • Venkat and Carla Prakash
  • Louise Robinson and Neal Cuthbert
  • Beth and Matt Spohn
  • Irene Suddard
  • The Riske Family
  • Martin Riske
  • Rakesh Satyal and John Maas
  • Shanti Shah and Stefan Peterson
  • Sheila and Sanjay Terakanambi
  • Rachel Traver
  • Gregory Vilmo
  • James Wilkinson and Karen Covington
  • Sara Daggett and Bryan Zeigler
  • Anonymous

With additional support from:

  • Berit Ahlgren
  • Harvey and Judy Arbit 
  • Laurie Baker
  • Maxine Bedat
  • Mary Benson
  • Linda and Kjell Bergh
  • Ed and Mary Bock
  • Carol Bossman
  • Sarah Brennecke
  • Moriah and Nickolas Brierly
  • Deborah Brimacomb
  • David Ulaszek and Kristen Brogdon
  • Vicki Bunker
  • Matthew Carper
  • Eric Janus and Carolyn Chalmers
  • Babu and Haritha Chimata
  • Julie and Tomkin Coleman
  • Bruce Corrie
  • Prem Deharia
  • Leigh Dillard and John Taylor 
  • Vladamir and Tanya Drits
  • Ronald and Barbara Engle
  • Maria Evglevskikh
  • Jane Eyestone and Stephan Hookano
  • Lauren Falkner
  • Victoria Farley
  • Justine Freitas
  • Karen Friedman
  • Sarah Gerdes
  • Michael and Mimi Glode
  • Marion Goldwasser
  • Jan L Gonder
  • Sohil Goorha

 

  • The Guntipally Family
  • Rohit Gupta and Vishu Karnwal
  • Paul Halverson and Catherine Egenberger
  • Chris and Emily Heagle
  • Emily and Nickolas Herman 
  • Lisa Hildebrand
  • Nancy and Joe Holmberg
  • Judith Howard
  • Roger Jackson and Pam Percy 
  • Leah Janus and John McCarthy
  • Susan Jaret McKinstry
  • Martha Johnson and Rick Shiomi
  • Steven Johnson
  • Tim Johnson and Alison Kirwin
  • Dr. Sherica Jones-Lewis
  • Alan and Geraldine Kagan
  • Ekta Kapoor
  • Colleen Kennealy
  • John Kirwin and Kathryn Kmit
  • Scott Kleinheksel
  • Nisha Kurup and Unni Gopinathan
  • Linda Leamer
  • The Lloyd Family
  • Sarah Lutman and Robert Rudolph 
  • Thomas Mahoney
  • Juan Martinez
  • Chad Maslowski
  • Rodger McBride
  • Samir and Shaneeta Mehta
  • Stosh Mintek
  • Niru Misra and Brian Stenquist
  • Mounika Nagapuri
  • Ashvini Naidu
  • Lathika Nair
  • John Palka
  • The Penugonda Family
  • Mary Pickard
  • Laurie and Mark Pitsenbarger
  • Nancy Price 
  • Raj Rajan
  • Ram and Shanthi Ramakrishnan
  • Usha and Mukund Rao
  • Apoorva Rastogi
  • Adele Ray
  • Daniel Rogan
  • Diane Rose
  • John Rosenwald and Ann Arbor
  • Nonoko Sato and Ted Johnson
  • Clare Scott
  • Anindita Sen
  • Rob Simmer
  • Dan Silver
  • Linda Shapiro
  • Maria Skillin and David St. Onge
  • Laura Smart
  • The Soffer Family
  • Mary Speaker and Chris Martin
  • Donna Stephenson
  • The Subrahmanian/Vijayakumar Family
  • Bruce and Judith Tennebaum
  • Raymond Terrill
  • Mary Tomes and Gary Yanagita
  • John Whiting
  • Bill Wilson
  • Anonymous

Northrop Acknowledgments

logo for Minneosta State Arts Board and Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
PNC Bank
Graduate Hotel by Hilton logo

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Sponsored by PNC Bank.

Hospitality Partner Graduate Hotel Minneapolis.

The Northrop Advisory Board

The Northrop Advisory Board is committed to the growth and awareness of Northrop’s mission, vision, and the continued future of presenting world-class dance and music in our community. If you would like more information about the advisory board and its work, please contact Cynthia Betz, Director of Development, at 612-626-7554 or betzx011@umn.edu.

Northrop Advisory Board Members

  • Cynthia Betz
  • Jeff Bieganek, Chair
  • Kristen Brogdon
  • Dr. Robert Bruininks
  • Deb Cran
  • Susan DeNuccio
  • Benjamin Eng
  • Karen Hanson
  • Cari Hatcher
  • Jill Hauwiller

 

  • Holly Kellar
  • Kelly McQueen
  • Bob McMaster
  • Katheryn Menaged
  • Jim Moore
  • Robyne Robinson
  • Toni Pierce-Sands
  • Kari Schloner
  • Kao Lee Vang
  • Donald Williams

 

The Northrop Organ Advisory Board

  • J. Michael Barone
  • Cynthia Betz
  • Dean Billmeyer
  • Kristen Brogdon
  • Dr. Robert Bruininks
  • Dee Ann Crossley
  • Laura Edman

 

  • Nils Halker
  • Cari Hatcher
  • Pamela Neuenfeldt
  • Philip Radtke
  • Emily Roth
  • Kari Schloner
  • Lindsey Siders
  • Greg Zelek

 

Thank you for supporting Northrop!

Making Legendary Performances Possible!

At Northrop, we believe in connecting great artists and ideas with our community and to a new generation of audiences. Your gift helps make memorable arts experiences possible by supporting extraordinary performances and new arts commissions, and helping ensure accessibility to everyone through live-streamed programming, outreach to diverse communities and subsidized student tickets. Our Friends are at the center of Northrop’s biggest ideas and brightest moments on stage.

Become a Friend of Northrop today! 
Donate online at northrop.umn.edu/support-northrop

Ways to Give:

  • Annual Giving, a yearly gift amount of your choice.
  • Monthly Giving, choose a recurring gift amount that works for you.
  • Stock Gifts, Northrop accepts charitable gifts of stock.
  • Planned Giving, consider a legacy gift by including Northrop in your will or trust, or by designating Northrop as a beneficiary of a retirement plan or life insurance policy.
  • Matching Gifts, double your gift through your company’s matching gift program.

To learn more about supporting Northrop please contact:
Cynthia Betz
betzx011@umn.edu or 612-626-7554 

Friends of Northrop

A special thank you to our patrons whose generous support makes Northrop's transformative arts experiences possible. Make your mark on Northrop's future by becoming a Friend today, learn more by visiting northrop.umn.edu/support-northrop.

We gratefully acknowledge the support from the Anna M Heilmaier Foundation, Curtis L Carlson Family Foundation, Minnesota State Arts Board, hospitality partner the Graduate Hotel Minneapolis, and event sponsors PNC Bank and RBC Wealth Management. 

Director's Circle

10,000+

  • Gail and Stuart Hanson
  • Robert Lunieski
  • Jennifer Marrone and David Short

 

5,000+

  • Anonymous
  • Drs. Robert Bruininks and Susan Hagstrum
  • Ellie Crosby, The Longview and Crosswols Foundations
  • Richard Gregory

 

2,500+

  • Jerry Artz
  • Nancy and John Conlin
  • Susan DeNuccio
  • Nancy Gossell
  • Minhchau and Lawrence Harms
  • Gail and Jack Kochie
  • Ron Lotz and Randy Hartten
  • Shawn Monaghan and Greg Plotnikoff
  • Thomas and Conchy Morgan, In Memory of Sylvia and Henry Frisch 
  • Sandra Morris
  • Gary A. Reetz
  • Timothy Sullivan
  • Thomas Von Sternberg and Eve Parker
  • Donald Williams and Pamela Neuenfeldt

Friend's Circle

1,000+

  • Jeanne Andre
  • Frederick and Cynthia Betz
  • Jeff Bieganek
  • Deb Cran and Robert Craven
  • Fran Davis
  • Judith and Bruce Hadler
  • Denise and Cory Holtz
  • Karen Hanson and Dennis Senchuk
  • Sally and Richard Leider
  • Dana and Lori Klimp
  • Bob and Susanna McMaster
  • Kelly McQueen
  • Gwen Myers
  • Tim and Gayle Ober
  • Lance Olson
  • Scarborough Fair Boutique

500+

  • Margaret Albrecht
  • Kurt Bjorklund
  • R. and J. Cameron
  • Rob Carlson and Gregg Larson
  • Will Craig
  • Stephen Davis and L. Murray Thomas
  • Jo DeBruycker
  • Patricia Gaarder
  • Kathy Gremillion
  • Lara Kluge
  • Stephanie Laitala
  • Voigt Lenmark and Family, In Loving Memory of Mary Jean Lenmark
  • Glenn Lindsey
  • Holly MacDonald and John Orbison
  • Candice and Gerald Matykowski
  • David and Leni Moore
  • Mark and Cecilia Morrow
  • Susan Porter
  • John Reay and Karen Hanson
  • Marianne Remedios and John Wald
  • Richard Taylor
  • John Van Bogart

 

250+

  • Anonymous
  • Elissa Adams and Michael Margulies
  • Paul Aslanian
  • Niki Bohne
  • Kristen Brogdon and David Ulaszek
  • Kate Christianson
  • George Ehrenberg
  • Cari and Matthew Hatcher
  • Holly Kellar
  • Kari Larson
  • Sheryl and Jeffrey Louie
  • David Musolf
  • Gordon Rouse and Sylvia Beach
  • Darlene Sholtis and Heino Beckmann

 

100+

  • Kimberly Broderick and Richard Hruby
  • David Burton
  • Peter Carlyle
  • Stephen and Mary Chicoine
  • Michelle Connor and Greg Froehle
  • Sandra Daly
  • William Durfee and Devorah Goldstein
  • Annalee Gray
  • Richard Gwynne
  • Colleen Herrmann
  • Kimberly Hutchens
  • Ann Jaede
  • Barry and Karen Johnson
  • Michael and Judy Jones
  • Randy Kish
  • Joseph Kuznik
  • James and Sharon Lewis
  • Peter Lund

 

 

100+ (continued)

  • Cynthia Marsh and CW Vandersluis
  • George and Orla McClure
  • Mary Ann McKenna
  • Toni McNaron
  • Stephen Nelson and Joan Bren
  • William and Jennifer Neujahr
  • Denis O’Pray
  • Barbara Owens
  • David and Mary Parker
  • Elizabeth Parker
  • Kari Schloner
  • Renate Sharp and Donald Notvik
  • John Shreves
  • Karen Owen Tuzcu and Ertugrul Tuzcu
  • Michael Weinbeck
  • Michael and Barbara Wigley
  • Roger Worm

Up to $99

  • Anonymous
  • Aruna Ahluwalia
  • Olive Albanese
  • Toyin Alowonle
  • Barbara Allan
  • Monica Allen
  • Magdalena Alonso
  • Dakota Andersen
  • Janet Anderson
  • Linda Andrews
  • Verna Arcedo
  • Andres Arevalo
  • Mary Athorp
  • Michael and Jessica Austin
  • Courtney Barancin
  • Burton Barnard
  • Daniel Baumgartner
  • Steven Bergerson
  • Juliane Bingener
  • Jon Bjorlie
  • Lucas Botz
  • Lauren Brand
  • Heather Bray
  • Willie Bridges
  • Nancy Brown
  • Odell Brown
  • Richard Brown and Dori Henderson
  • Jeanne Brownell
  • Kimberly and Michael Byrd
  • Daryl Carlson
  • Cynthia Cespedes-Livieri
  • Oscar Chamberlain
  • Karen Charles
  • Louis and Alissa Clark
  • David and Nancy Claussen
  • Zach Clifton
  • Lori Collier
  • Janet Conn
  • James Cook
  • Ryna Coopergard
  • Troy Couillard
  • Stephen Coyle
  • Catherine Cragg
  • Sandra Dahlstrom
  • Alisa Dalton
  • Suzanne Darnell
  • Beth Davies
  • Gretchen Davis
  • Jaquelyn Dimmen
  • Karen Dorn
  • Shannon Doty
  • Ann Draeger
  • Alix Dvorak
  • Stephanie and Tom Easthouse
  • Kathleen and Christopher Eilers
  • Amanda Eldridge
  • Kristin Elizondo
  • Susan Engel
  • Karn Engelsgjerd
  • Sheryl Fairbanks
  • Fergus Falls School of Dance
  • Judith Franklin
  • Leslie Gerstman
  • Laura Gilbert
  • Jesse Grantz
  • Peteris Grotans and Eva Tone
  • Jodi Gusso
  • Harriet Guthertz and Laura Mathews
  • Philip Hage and Kathleen Franzen
  • Indra Halversone
  • Peter Hanson
  • Paul and Charlotte Hardt
  • L.T. Harris
  • Catherine Hart and Andres Gonzalez Leon
  • Joyce and Eugene Haselmann
  • Nancy and Richard Haskin

 

Up to $99 (continued)

  • Elizabeth Hazen
  • Heather Heefner
  • Paul Hellickson
  • Craig Hennen
  • Christina Herzog
  • Robin Hickman-Winfield
  • Therese Hovard
  • Ramona Jacobs and Charles Christianson
  • Robert Johns and Linda Hennum
  • Benjamin Johnson
  • Craig and Jeanne Johnson
  • Matthew and Brittany Keefe
  • Mary and Karl Keel
  • Mary Kenning and Thomas Furey
  • Julie Kiffmeyer
  • Kimberly King
  • Robin Knight
  • Cindy and Jon Koebele
  • Jason and Amy Kraus
  • Sonja Kroell
  • Dorian Kvale
  • Shirlynn Lachapelle
  • Janine Laird
  • Jeffrey Land
  • Laura Landy
  • Audrey Lane-Getaz
  • Molly Larsen
  • William Larson and Richard Space
  • Amy Laude
  • Pamela Layton and Paul Giguere
  • Brenda Leach
  • Kathryn LeFevere
  • Barbara Lind and Craig Poeschel
  • Elizabeth Lindeke
  • Omar Lopez-Vazquez
  • Xiang Luo
  • Kimberley MacLennan
  • Carrie Madison
  • Avis Mandel
  • Kristen Mandt
  • Holly Manning
  • Jennifer Martin
  • Anise Mazone
  • Elizabeth and Carleton McCambridge
  • Anne and Michael McInerney
  • Dan McMahill
  • Arike Mercer
  • Alli Mertins
  • Janice Meyer and Roger Jorgenson
  • Mary and Timothy Miley
  • Phil and Michele Miller
  • Jessica Miller
  • David Milne
  • Christine Moore
  • Karen and Bill Musolf
  • Janet and Richard Myers
  • Lori and Thor Nelson
  • Theresa Nelson
  • Zachary Nelson
  • Pamela Ngunjiri
  • Nina Norum and Ronald Hays
  • Kim Okamura
  • Sandra Olson
  • Annette Olson
  • Field and Cynthia Olson
  • Sandra Olson
  • Pat and John Owens
  • David Palm
  • Marcia Palma
  • Gary Pang
  • Anne Parks
  • Maureen and Gerald Pearo
  • Patricia Pearson
  • Lisa and Gary Pederson
  • Christina Peterson
  • James Peterson
  • Tamara Pickens
  • Leah Piersol
  • Marcy and Jerry Podkopacz

Up to $99 (continued)

  • Claudia Poser and Ronald Ofstead
  • Colleen Powers
  • Anne and Mark Preston
  • Patricia and Joseph Pulice
  • Holly Radis-McCluskey and Glen McCluskey
  • Tiffany Ravelomanantsoa
  • Jeffrey Reed
  • Debra Reischl
  • Mary Roberts and Edward Kraft
  • Robyne Robinson
  • Sam Rockwell
  • Elizabeth Rogers
  • Judith Rohde
  • Leah Rosch
  • David Rosenbloom and Annie Handford
  • Linda Roszak
  • Tess Roth
  • Jennifer Rubin
  • Tony Rubin
  • Jacquelyn Ruen
  • Nancy Ruhland
  • Catherine Ryan and Michael Muchow
  • Uri Sands and Toni Pierce-Sands
  • Keshav Sapatnekar
  • Tom Schmidt
  • Gary Schrantz
  • Bradley Schultz
  • Thomas Schumacher and Susan Naughton
  • Jessica Schwie
  • Anthony Scott
  • Michele and Chris Shepherd
  • Rebecca and John Shockley
  • Jay Siemieniak
  • Tricia Silpala
  • Carol Skinner
  • Barbara Sletten
  • Holly Slocum and Paul Gunther
  • Alissa Smith
  • Bonnie and Craig Sommerville
  • Kamala Stack
  • Susan and Thorlief Stangebye
  • Sarah Stein and Robert Work
  • Robert Stewart
  • Stephanie Stuart
  • Matthew Suszkiewicz
  • Susan and Kent Swanson
  • Jeremy Swenson
  • Jonathan Tallman
  • The SEAD Project
  • Christina and Kweli Thompson
  • Rodney and Carol Thompson
  • Eliza Tocher
  • Michelle Tolliver
  • Arthur Troedson
  • Elaine Tucker
  • Nancy Tykwinski
  • Lyn Uhl
  • Michael Unger
  • Elizabeth Unze
  • Tatiana Valdberg
  • Sherry Van Fossan
  • Kao Lee Vang
  • Alfonso Velasco
  • Charles Vilina
  • Ann Waltner and Robert Anholt
  • Renee Warmuth
  • Brian and Katherine Weitz
  • Paul Werger
  • Jonathon White
  • Stephen Willging and Katherine Wells
  • Randy Williamson
  • Liza Womeldorf
  • Mark Wright and Elizabeth Walton
  • Julie Young Walser
  • Margaret Zoerhof

This season’s listing is current as of 10/22/24

Please contact Trisha Taylor at taylort@umn.edu if you have any corrections or questions.

Northrop's Aeolian-Skinner Organ

Thank you to the generous donors who continue to support programming for Northrop’s beloved Aeolian-Skinner Organ. It is because of you that this magnificent instrument’s voice will be enjoyed by many for years to come.

Organ Supporters

  • Barbara Allan
  • Monica Allen
  • Ann Allison
  • Timothy Almen
  • Elizabeth Anderson
  • Terry Anderson
  • Briana Baldwin
  • Karen Barale
  • Christopher Barth
  • Matthew Beckler
  • Carol Bessler
  • Dean Billmeyer
  • Cynthia Bleskachek
  • Lauren Boerboom
  • Dian and Timothy Boonstra
  • Dayne Bose
  • Toni Brekke
  • Joyce Brown
  • Drs. Robert Bruininks and Susan Hagstrum
  • Mark Carter
  • Carol Carver
  • Peter Colburn
  • Scott Cragle
  • Dee Ann and Kent Crossley
  • T. John Cunningham
  • Tim Dockter
  • Mollie Dunlap
  • Laura and Tim Edman
  • Chris Fernlund
  • Douglas Feyma
  • Karl Fischer
  • Alexander Ford
  • Nancy Fox
  • Salvatore Franco
  • Reid Froiland
  • Renee Gallup
  • Peter Hanson
  • Jeremy Haug
  • Ruth Hoff
  • Karen Hopps
  • Kenneth and Julie Hoyme
  • Ruth Ann and Charles Hyser
  • Maria Jette
  • Charlie Johnson
  • Jenny Kisner
  • Carla Koepke
  • Joseph Kuznik
  • Carol Leach
  • Randy Lee
  • Tobias Leppert
  • Ronald and Diane Low
  • Glen Lubiens
  • Peter Lund
  • Rosemary Lundell
  • Steven Mathe
  • Sherri Meyers
  • Janell Miersch
  • Arthur Miller
  • Jenna Miller
  • Josh Miller
  • Susan Murray
  • Jennier Nehls
  • Pamela Neuenfeldt and Don Williams
  • Danita Ng
  • Eric Nielsen
  • Steven Oakley
  • Dennis and Betty Jo Olsen
  • Steve Panizza
  • Jon Poling
  • Melissa Powers
  • Chris Rhea
  • Martin Richards
  • Filip Rosseel
  • Thomas Ryan
  • Sarah Schaffer
  • Laura Schlatter
  • Barbara Shaterian
  • Erica Skeate
  • Kumi Smith
  • Kathleen Stanford
  • Amy Stech
  • Lisa Swanson Faleide
  • Chelsea Thein
  • Olivia Tobin
  • Hoa Trinh
  • Jane Weiers
  • John Wells
  • Jeff Wyant

The Heritage Society Members

The Heritage Society honors and celebrates donors who have made estate and other planned gifts for Northrop at the University of Minnesota. 

  • Nancy Allen*
  • Jerry Artz
  • John Follows*
  • Stephen Gordon and Pat Gavan-Gordon
  • Gail and Stuart Hanson
  • Charlie Johnson
  • Peter Lund
  • Darlene M. Sholtis

 

*Deceased

Mobile-friendly digital programs have replaced printed programs in support of fiscal stewardship (focusing funds on the artists appearing on our stage), environmental sustainability (reducing paper consumption and not contributing to supply chain issues), and visual accessibility (allowing you to zoom in on the content). Want to enjoy the program after the event? You can find it linked from the event page on Northrop's website. Thank you for viewing!