Sri Annamacharya Project of North America (SAPNA)
Introduction:

Saint Annamacharya was the first known Saint-Composer from Andhra Pradesh, who has composed about 32.000 devotional songs in praise of the “kali yuga daivam” Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) of the Tirupathi Temple.

In 1989 during the national tour of Prof. K. Uma Ramarao of Lasyapriya school of Dance, Alekhya and Sonty Sisters, performed a number of annamcharya’s compositions, leading to the conception of International Saint Annamacharya project in U.S.A. Sonty Renaissance International (SRI) Foundation of Flossmoor, Illinois started to promote the spiritual philosophy and bhakhti tathwam by initiating the Saint Annamacharya Project USA in August 1990 in association with the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple, Aurora, Illinois. In 1993 this was formally inaugurated by Padmavibhshan Dr. Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna in the presence of Consul General of India Honorable K.R. Sinha as the Sri Annamacharya Project of North America (SAPNA) at the College of Du Page Performing Arts Center with a classical music concert of Dr. Balamuralikrishna and Dance recitals by the “Sonty Sisters” and Kumari Priya Sundaresan.
The Accomplishments & Presentations

1989 (May-July)
1. National Dance Tour {in cooperation with the Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple, Aurora, Illinois} of Lasyapriya School of Dance, Hyderabad, India with Prof. K. Uma Ramarao, Alekhya, Siri & Sita Sonty, Lakshmi Subrahmaniam, Dwaram Manorama, & K. Nageswararao. Presentations at Chicago, Houston TANA, New York, New Jersey, Portland Oregon,, San Francisco, New Hampshire.

1990 (August)
2. Dance Recital: “Nrityanjali” - Annamacharya Songs in Kuchipudi by the “Sonty Sisters”.
3. Music Concert - Annamacharya Songs. Padmini Rao, Lakshmi & Sreekant Venkatraman and Krishna Balakrishnan.

1990 (October)
4. Inauguration - Saint Annamacharya Project USA by Mrs. Rathna Kumar
5. Lecture - Saint Annamacharya. Prof. Velcheru Narayana Rao.
6. Music Concert - Saint Annamacharya Keerthanas - Rajyalakshmi Ramachandran, Prasad
Ramachandran and Krishna Balakrishnan.
7. Dance Recital - Saint Annamacharya Songs - Sridevi Rao.

1991 (April)
8. Grand Carnatic Music Concert - Srikalapurna Nedunri Krishnamurthy & Music Group.
10. Lecture on Saint Annamacharya by Sri Medasani Mohan, TTD

1992 (April)
11. Grand Music Concert with Indian Classical Music Society, Chicago by Hyderabad Bro. and party.

1992 (November)
12. Dance Dramas - “Annamayya Katha” & “Siva Ganga” with Tristate Telugu Association, Chicago, by Annamacharya Trust, Hyderabad and Sowmitri School of Dance.

1993 (July)
13. “Saint Composers of Andhra Origin” - Exh. by SAPNA at IXth TANA Con., New York.
14. “Saint Composers of Telugu Origin” - symposium at IXth TANA Convention, New York.

1993 (August)
15. “Annamayya Bhavana Vahini” - Vocal concert by Shoba Raju & Group.
16. “Annamayya Natya Ravali” by Sumathi Kaushal.

1993 (September)
17. Inauguration: Sri Annamacharya Project of North America by Padmavibhushan
Dr. Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna. Guest of Honor: Honorable Consul General
Sri. K.R. Sinha, Dr. E. Vedavyasa, Prof. K. Uma Ramarao, Mr. B.A.V. Sandilya,
Ms. Dorothy Neudert, Mr. K.M.D. Henry and Kum. Uma Maheswari.
18. “Amurthavarshini” - Dance Presentation by Kum. Priya Sundaresan &
Smt. Saraswathi Sundaresan & group.
19. “Annamayya Nritya Ravali” by Sonty Sisters, Kum Sreepadmapriya Sonty,
Kum Sreelakshmi Seetha Sonty, Prof. K. Uma Ramarao & Group.
20. “Amruthavarshini” - Music Audio cassettes rendered by Dr. Mangalampalli
lamuralikrishna on Saint Thygaraja, Bhakta Ramadas, Saint Jayadeva, Ramana Maharshi, Saradadevi & Temples in Andhra.
21. Grand Carnatic Music Concert by Sri Annamacharytavidvanmani Padmavibhushan
Dr. Mangalampallli Balamuralikrishna. Compositions of Saint Annamcharya,
Saint Tyagaraja and others.

1993 (September)
22. Lecture - Seminar “Saint Composers of India” by Prof. William Jackson, Prof. Velcheru Narayana Rao & Mrs. Saradapurna Sonty at the First Centennial meetng of Council for a Parliament of World’s Religions, Chicago.

1994 (April)
23. Classical Music Concert by Sri P. Surya Rao & Muic Group.

1994 (June)
24. Saint Annamacharya Utsavam at Balaji Temple (Aurora)

1994 (July)
25. Sri. Annamacharya Project of North America (SAPNA) Exhibit at American Telugu
Association (ATA), San Jose Convention.
26. “Samavedam - Samaganam” - Lecture by Mrs. Saradapurna Sonty at American Telugu Association.
1994 (October)
27. Grand Carnatic Classical Veena Concert by “Sri Kala Purna” Dr. C. Chittibabu & music group.
28. Saint Composers of India - Exhibition Inauguration by US Congressman Henry Hyde.

1995 (February)
29. Sri Annamacharya & other Saint Composers - Indian Classical Music Exhibit by SAPNA at The 10th Asian Coalition - Chicago.
1995 (April)
30. Grand Classical Carnatic Music Concert by Hyderabad Brothers and group -
Saint Annamacharya compositions.

1995 (July)
31. Sri Annamcharya Project of North America (SAPNA) exhibition & information booth at Xth TANA Convention, Chicago.
32. “Alimelu Manga Narthanam” - Dance recital by Sonty Sisters & Prof. Uma Ramarao at the Xth TANA Convention.
33. “Samavedam” - Lecture by Mrs. Saradapurna Sonty at the Vedic Forum at the Xth TANA Convention, Chicago.
34. “Nrityanjali & Annamayya Natya Ravali” bySonty Sisters, Palaparthi Raja & Vijay and Prof. K. Uma Rama Rao at Balaji Temple.
35. “Nrityanjali” by Sonty Sisters at Jagannada Ratha Yatra by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
36. “Annamayya Natyaravali” by Sreepadma Priya Sonty at the Aswamedha Yagam by Gayatri Pariwar.

1995 (September)
37. “Annamayya Ganamritham” by Sangeethakalanidhi Nedumuri Krishnamurthy and group at Triton College, River Grove.
38. Saint Composers of India - Unveiling of Portraits by Dr.Dharmapuri Vidyasagar.
39. “Annamayya Dravida Vedam” - Lecture by Kadambi Sreenath, HTGC.
40. “Annamayya Pada Ganamritham” - Casette by Sri Nedunuri Krishnamurthy.

1996 (May)
41. Saint Annamacharya Gana Ravali” Lecture by Ramavarapu Sarat Babu, Professor of Theater Arts, Andhra University, Vishakapatnam, India
42. “Annamayya Gana Ravali” by Dwaram Lakshmi & Dwaram Mangatayaru.
43. “Annamayya Nritya Ravali” by Vanaja Uday.
44. “Mridanga Vinyasam” - Solo Percussion by Prof. Yella Venkateswara Rao, Hyderabad.

1996 (August)
45. “Saint Annamcharya’s Bhakti Movement” - Lecture presentation by Mrs. Saradapurna Sontyat the symposium “Vedantic Philosopihies”’ University of Miami, Oxford, Ohio.
46. Exhibition: “Annamayya Chitra Ramaneeyam” by Kuchi, Uni. of Miami, Oxford, Ohio

1996 (December)
47. Exhibition - “Saint Annamcharya Chitra Sankeerthanam” by Kuchi.
48. Exhibition - “Saint Tyagaraja Chitra Ramaneeyam” by Kuchi.
49. Exhibition - “Saint Composers of india”, unveiling of new portraints by
Sri D. Hanumanth Reddy, President, American Telugu Association.
50. “Annamayya Gana Ravali” by Jayanthi Adisubramanian, Prasad Ramachandran,
Nagaraja Srivatsan & Uday Patil.

1997 (February)
51. “Annamayya and Tyagaraja Chitra Ramaneeyam” by Kuchi, Meadville - Lombard
Winter Institute, Madison, Wisconsin.

1997 (June)
52. Life of Annamacharya - Ballet by Mythili Kumar & Party, Abhinaya Dance Company, San Jose, California.
53. Lecture presentation on Compositions of Annamacharya by Sri Kamisetty Srinivasulu, Saint Annamacharya Project, Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam, Tirupathi, AP, India

1997 (November)
54. Book Release - “Annamayya Pada Sowrabham” by Sangeetha Kalanidhi Nedunuri Krishna Murthy.
55. Casette Release - “Annamayya Sankeerthana Sarada” by Annamacharya Vidvanmani
G. Bala Krishna Prasad.
56. Exhibition - “Saint Composers of india”, unveiling of new portraits by
Dr. Narayanan Srinivasn, Chennai, India.
57. Music Concert - “Annamacharya Sankeerthana Chandrika” by Sri Annamacharya
Vidvanmani G. Bala Krishna Prasad & Party at Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple, Aurora, IL.

1998 (June)
58. Book release - “Tallapaka Annamacharyuni Sangeeta Nritya Kalabhijnatha” -
Dr. Sarada Purna Sonty by ConsulGeneral Jagdish C.Sharma.

1998 (July)
59. Dance Ballet “Ardhanareeswara” by Padmabhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam and troup in collaboration with Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago, Natyakalalayam Dance
Company, Sanskriti - Center for Indian culture, Telugu Association of Greater Chicago,
Tri State Telugu Association and Sonty Renaissance International (SRI) Foundation.

1998 (November)
60. Book Release - “Annamayya Sankeetanalu” by Sangeetha Kalanidhi
Dr. Sripada Pinakapani.
61. Cassette Release - “Annamayya Sankeertanalu” composition by Sangeetha Kalanidhi Padmabhushan Dr. Sripada Pinakapani, music rendition by Sri Annacharya Vidvanmani Mahamahopadhyaya Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana.
62. Exhibition - Saint Composers of India, unveiling of new portrait by Ramesh Goyal, Anisha Arts.
63. Music Concert - “annamacharya Sankeerthana Manjari” by Sri Annamacharya
Vidvanmani Mahamahopadhyaya Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana at Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji) Temple, Aurora, IL.

1999 (June)
64. Music Concert - Raga Time, Lakshminarayana Global Festival - Dr. L Subramanim, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, K. Kamalakara Rao, Swapan Chandhuri, Shoba Narayan,
Sita Sonty, Tajni Venkateswar, JorgeStrunz, Miya Masaoka, Corky Siegel, Jon Webber with Chinmaya Mission, Chicago Tyagaraja Utsavam, Polo Builders, Goyal Enterprises and Shruti Enterprises.

1999 (July)
65. Music Concert - Arundhati Sarcar T. Padmini.

1999 (November)
66. Annamacharya Aradhana Utsavam - Felicitions to S. Gopala Sastry and Perala Bharata Sarma

2000 (April)
67. Dance Presentation - Siri Sonty and Sita Sonty with Bharat Samaj, Unitarian
Universalist Church - Evanston.

2000 (July)
68. Raga Time - Dance Presentation - Padma Sri K. lakshmanan, Sudha Srinivasan, Sita Sonty, K.
Gopinath, Nagamani Srinivasa Rao, Manjula Rao, Sriram B. Nath and Siri Sonty.

2000 (August)
69. Book Release - “Sita” by Sri Viswanatha Achyutadeva Rayalu.
Speakers: K. Malaya Vasini, Sarada Purna Sonty, Damaraju Lakshmi and B. Kamala.
70. Second America Telugu Sahiti Sadassu - invited guest from India - Prof. K. Malaya Vasini.

2000 (October)
71. Annamacharya Aradhana Utsavam.

2001 (January)
72. Annamacharya Compositions - Kamiseti Srinivasulu Setti - Lecture Demonstration.
2001 (June)
73. Music Concert - Malladi Brothers - M. Sree Rama Prasad, M. Ravikumar,
B.V. Raghavendra Rao, Neyveli Venkatesh, Gaurav Venkateswar and Rajni Venkateswar.
74. Felicitations to Ramavarapu Ganeswara Rao, T.V. Gopala Sastri.

2001 (July)
75. Literary Symposium by Sri Garikapati Narasimha Rao, Dr. Prasada Raya Kulapathi and Sri Yeluripati Anantaramiah
76. Annamacharya Dance Ballet by Padma Vibhushan M. Balamuralikrishna, Kalaimamani Saraswati Sundaresan and troupe.

2001 (August)
77. South Indian Instrumental Veena Concert by Sri Ayyagari Syamasundar, and Rajasekhar Atmakuri.

2001 (September)
78. XIth Annamacharya Aradhana Utsavam - 65 participants.
79. Invited Guest Lecture by and felicitations to Prof. N. Gopi, Vice Chancellor, Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad.

2002 (July)
80. Felicitations to and invited guest lecture by Prof. Rama Rao S.S. Pappu.
81. South Indian Instrumental Veena Concert by Rama Gurupalli accompanied by Ravi Shankar Subramanyan.

2002 (September)
82. ‘Annamacharya Sankeertana’ by Arundhati Sarcar.
83. Raga Pushpam by Arundhati Sarcar accompanied by Ravi Shankar Subramanyan and
Ravi Shankar Thyagarajan.

2002 (October)
84. XIIth Annamacharya Aradhana Utsavam - 120 participants.
85. South Indian Classical Violin Concert by Jayasri Malladi, Srikant M., Pavani accompanied by Ravi Shankar Subramanyan.
86. Felicitations to Dr. R.A. Padmanabha Rao, Door Darshan, New Delhi.

2002 (November)
87. Invited Guest Lecture by Dr. Madugula Nagapani Sarma-
“Pothana Bhagavatham & Avadhana Prakriya”
88. Invited Guest Lectures by Swami Tathwavidananda & Acharya Vedala Srinivas -
“Role of Upanayanam & Vivaham in Hindu Life”.

2003 (January)
89. Felicitations & Invited Lecture by Viswanadha Pavani Sastri “Viswanadha Sahityam” .

2003 (June)
90. Felicitation and Invited Lecture by Kondepudi Subbarao.

2003 (July)
91. Felicitation and Invited Lecture by Medasani Mohan - “Annamayya Ramayanam”.

2003 (August)
92. Prof. Nemani Krishnamurthi - “Chemistry of painting”.

2003 (September)
93. Carnatic Music Concert by Nedunuri Krishnamurthy -
“Annamayya and Ramadasu Kirtanas”.
94. Book Release - “Sri Venkatasailanatha Satakam” by Dr. Srinivas A. Vedala.

2003 (October)
95. XIVth Annamacharya Aradhana Utsavam Festival of Music and Dance.
96. Invited Musicians: Sridevi Josyula & Rama Gurupalli, Dancer: Uma Vyjayanthi Kallakuri.
97. Cassette Release - “Annamayya Sobagulu” by Arundhati Sarcar.

2003 (December)
98. Felicitations & Invited Lecture by J.V. Lakshmana Rao, India Tribune.

2004 (April)
99. Felicitations and SAPNA lifetime achievement Award to Sangeethakalanidhi Padmabhushan Dr. Sripada Pinakapani in collaboration with Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, India, on April 1, 2004.
100. South Indian Classical Music Concert of Saint Annamacharya’s Compositions by Malladi Brothers.

2004 (July)
101. VIIIth ATA Convention Vamsee ATA Awards to 25 Luminiaries in Finearts & Community Service from USA.
102. Book Release - “Viswanadha Navala Sahityam”. Collectible Library Bound Editions by Darsakaratna Dr. Dasari Narayana Rao, Minister of State for Coal & Mines, Government of India. A SAPNA collaboration.

2004 (October)
103. XVth Annamacharya Aradhana Utsavam. Invited artists: Aparn Sundar, Murali Raghavan, Sushmita Arun Kumar and Sarada Purna Sonty.
104. Invited Lecture by Prof. T. Gowri Shankar - “Annamayya Sankeerthana Sourabham” and recognition - Siromani Vamsee Ramaraju. “Annamayya Sankeertana Sobagulu” by Aundhati Sarcar - music concert.

2004 (December)
105. Invited lecture by Peri Ravikumar - Viswanadha Sahityam.
106. Felicitations to Mr. Nagaraju - Delhi Telugu Academy.
107. International Seminar on Indian Performing Arts and Philosophical Dimensions - with Potti Sreeramulu Telugu Univiersity, India and Center for Telugu Studies (CTS), U.S.A.

2005 (January)
108. Co-sponsored Fifteenth International Congress of Vedanta, Dance Ballet - Sri Rama
Pattabhisheka Vaibhavam.

2005 (July)
109. Raganidhi - Carnatic Music V.C.D. / workshop by Dr. Prasada Rao Gandlur.

2005 (October)
110. XVIth Annamacharya Aradhana Utsavam. Invited artists: Rama Gurupalli,
Saraswati Ranganathan, R. Vinod Kumar and Vanitha Veeravalli.
111. Invited Guest Letures: Dr. Ratna Kumar, Prof. Appajosyula Satyanarayana,
Prof. Kolavennu Malayavasini and Dr. Madugula Nagaphani Sarma.

2006. (May)
112. Music Concert: Mohana Krishna and Kalyan Raman.
113. Invited Guest Lecture: Prof. Pappu Venugopala Rao - Saint Annamacharya.
114. Music Concert: Manda Sudharani - Saint Annamacharya compositions.

2006 (June)
115. Invited Guest Lecture: Prof. Paturi Nagaraj: Siva - Image and Imagination.

2006 (July)
116. Music Concert: K. Seshu Latha - Saint Annamcharya Compositions on Lord Sri Rama.

2006 (October)
117. XVIIth Annamacharya Aradhana Utsavam - Invited artists: Jayanthi Adisubramanian,
Pavitra Ramachandran, Shoba Natarajan, Smitha Madhav and Ayyagari Syama Sundaram.
118. Felicitations to Dr. Vanguri Chitten Raju.
119. Recognition Award - Sri Sripada Nagendar.

2007 (June)
120. Falicitations to Prof. L. Venugopala Reddy, Vice Chancellor, Andhra University, India.
Music by Rama Gurupalli

2007 (August)
121. Sri Kala Purna award to Dr. Medasani Mohan, Director, Annamacharya Project, Titupathi, A.P., India.
122. Invited guest lecture - Saint Annamacharya Philosophy - relavence to present
by Dr. Medasani Mohan.
123. Sri Annamacharya Project of North America (SAPNA) - A new phenomena in cultural arts - a power point presentation by Srram Sonty, President SAPNA.
124. “Strings” - by Rama Gurupalli - CD release by Prof. Shelly Kumar, India Classical Music Society, Chicago.
125. Saint Annamacharya Music concert by Rama Gurupalli.

2007 (September)
126. Music Concert by Sri Malladi Suribabu, Director, All India Radio, Vijayawada, A.P., India.

2007 (October)
127. Felictations and Sri Kala Purna award to Prof. Dr. Srinivasacharya Vedala, University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma City.
128. Invited guest lecture - “Tiruppavai - Sree Vratam” by Prof. Srinivasacharya Vedala.
129. Carnatic Vocal Music concert by Vidwan A.S. Murali, Chennai, India - accompanied by Sri Prasod Ramachandran (violin), and Rajasekhar Atmakuri (mridangam).
130. Vocal Music Concert by Dr. Prasanna Rao accompanied by Smt. Manjula Rao (violin), and Madan Mohan Jalla (mridangam).
131. Carnatic Vocal Music Concert by Smt. Jayashree Venkatesh and Sri Venkatesh Padmanabhan accompanied by Smt. Manjula Rao (violin) and Ravi Iyer (mridnagam).
132. Lecture demonstration by Dr. Uma Vyjayanthimala Kallakuri, Natya Yogam.
133. Carnatic instrumental violin concert by Sandeep N. Bharadwaj accompanied Sri Ravi Iyer (mridangam).
134. XVIIIth Annamacharya Aradhana Utsavam - 135 participants.

2008 (May)
135. 600th Sri Annamacharya Birth Anniversary Celebrations and Lord Venkateswara Swami Abhidhekam (HTGC)
136. “Jugalbandi” Concert - Subrata De (Sitar) and Rama Gurupalli (Veena)
Dhanunjay Kunte (Tabla) and Ganapathi Ranganathan (Mridangam)
137. Annamayya Gana Ravali - Carnatica Brothers K.N. Shashikiran and P. Ganesh (Vocal), Jayshankar Balan (Violin) P. Srinivasan (Mridangam)
138. “Jugalbandi” Concert - Tappan Bhattacharyya (Vocal), Saraswathi Ranganathan
(Veena), Dhanunjay Kunte (Tabla), Ganapathi Ranganathan (Mridangam),
Somnath Bhattacharyya (Tanpura)
139. Invited Guest Lecture - Prof. Velcheru N. Rao
140. Annamayya Sahitya Ravali - Dr. Sarada Purna Sonty
141. Invited Guests - Consul General Ashok Kumar Attri, Illinois State Senator Maggie Crotty,
Illinois State Representative Al Riley, Vemuri Subrahmanyam, Dr. N. Sudarsana Rao,
Swami Sharanananda and Acharya Samudrala Narasimhacharya.
142. “Sunadha Sudha” - exhibition Saint Musicians of India

2008 (July)
143. Annamayya Hari Vilasam by Dr. Alekhya Punjla
144. Invited Guest Lecture - Dr. R.A. Padmanabha Rao - S.V.S. Bhakti Channel, T.T.D., India
145. Community award to Jetinder S. Bedi, Indian Reporter and World News

2008 (October)
146. Annamayya Sankeertana Sourabham - vocal concert by Maharajapuram S. Ramachandran, accompanied by Jay Shankar Balan (violin) and Rajashekar Atmakuri (mridangam).
147. Veena Concert by Pariti Rajeshwari, accompanied by K. Vinodh Gopinath
148. Invited Guest Lecture by Dr. Akkiraju Sundara Ramakrishna
149. Annamaya Natya Ravali - Sobha Tammana
150. XIXth Annamacharya Aradhana Utsavam (150+ participants)

2005 (September - October)
IX. Unravelling Rhythms by Siri Sonty, Wendy Clinard and Carlos Basile - 16 perfomances at Acorn Theater, Three Oaks - MI, Old Town School of Music, Trition College / Dhristi Media, World Music Festival, Music Institute of Evanston, Hot House, Links Hall, Prairie Arts Center, Morgan Park Academy and Groton Cultural Center in Illinois. Televised and broadcast on TV Channels: ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, WGN and Comcast community channels and WBZ Radio / NPR.