Aneesh Vidyashankar, 18, is a violin player and student of architecture based in JP Nagar VI phase. He gave his first violin solo concert (classical carnatic style), when he was just eight.

Aneesh Vidyashankar. Pic: Ramesh.

He has given solo violin concerts at ISKCON, Chowdiah Memorial Hall., The Bangalore Club., Bangalore Gayana Samaja., The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Indian Institute of World Culture, and many more concerts.

Vidyashankar has won several prizes in competitions held by various sabhas like The Gayana Samaja and Academy of Music, and the first prize at Prestigious national level Classical Music Competition-Instrumental Violin 2009 held by Prasara Bharti Broadcasting Corporation (AIR).

His album Pure Expressions has been released by Kosmic and Sangeeta Music Recording Companies. An eight week episode ‘Divine Melodies’, an exclusive programme by Aneesh Vidyashankar, airs on Sri Sankara TV channel, every Sunday starting at 11.30 AM.

Quizzing champion

Self-assured and articulate 16-year-old Karthik Bharadwaj has participated in many quiz competitions and olympiads. Bharadwaj is studying in 11th standard at St Paul’s School in JP Nagar.

Karthik Bharadwaj (Third from left) with quizmaster Derek O’ Brien at the Bangalore finals of the Limca Quiz. Pic courtesy: derek.co.in.

The teenager along with team-mate Pavan Kumar finished third at the Limca Book of Records Quiz held on December 16th 2009 at New Delhi. He says that just reaching the finals was exciting and he even got to meet tennis star, Mahesh Bhupathi, who was the chief guest.

His first poem has been published in Poetry International (a internet forum for poetry) and he also enjoys writing songs. An avid reader, he is looking forward to a future in animation. ⊕