This Margazhi festival, it is not only accomplished artistes but also children from less privileged backgrounds who are taking to the stage.

Dressed in crisp pavadais and veshtis, 20 students from a Chennai Corporation school in Mylapore sang songs by V.V. Sadagopan and Bharathiyar among others at the TAG Centre on Sunday.

They were among the children who were trained as part of the Music Literacy Project at 16 Chennai Corporation schools.

Anil Srinivasan, founder of Rhapsody – music through education, a music initiative that runs the Music Literacy Project along with NGO NalandaWay Foundation said that TAG Centre extended an invitation to the students to perform.

Nalina Kumari, headmistress, Chennai High School, VP Koil Street, Mylapore, said the students were extremely excited. “It was a very good platform for them, and music helps greatly in a child’s development,” she said.

R.T. Chari, managing director, TAG Group of Companies, said he had heard the students earlier this year, and decided to invite them to perform in December as part of the South India Heritage Lecture programme.

“We are planning to give a chance to students from one Chennai Corporation school every year to perform during the music season,” he said.

“The mission is to take music to everybody and also indirectly build a rasika base,” said Sudha Raja, principal faculty, Rhapsody

Mr. Srinivasan said that around 100 students from both top schools and poor socio-economic backgrounds will be performing on December 28 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Mylapore.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> Margazhi Melodies / by Staff Reporter / Chennai – December 25th, 2013