91Èȱ¬

Veena player Hari Sivanesan has been announced as 91Èȱ¬ Radio 3's new World Routes Academy mentee with Aruna Sairam, widely regarded as the leading South Indian female vocalist of her generation, as his mentor.

The announcement was made simultaneously on Saturday's edition of Radio 3's flagship world music programme World Routes and at WOMEX, the World Music Expo in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Hari is 28 years old, born in London to parents from Sri Lanka, but already with something of a career behind him.

As a young teenager, he was invited to perform on tour with Ravi Shankar and he played and sang on the Chants Of India album, produced by George Harrison, the late Beatle who held a lifelong fascination with Indian music.

The veena is one of India's oldest instruments, dating back 3,000 years and is said to be the predecessor of the sitar.

Hari says: "To be selected as the mentee this year, and to have the opportunity to work with absolutely inspirational artists like Smt Aruna Sairam, is definitely an incredible opportunity for me.

"It's time for Carnatic Music – India's music of the south – to shine in the West and I'm looking forward to diving into the roots of our music further! It's an exciting year ahead!"

Lucy Duran, presenter, World Routes, says: "Hari is a prodigious and soulful talent on the veena, South India's classical string instrument that sounds as beautiful as it looks.

"An impressive follow-up to last year's brilliant protégé, Khyam Allami, Hari promises to take the World Routes Academy on an exciting journey through the little-known musical treasures of South India and we look forward to participating in this opportunity to nurture his musicianship, which was first spotted when he was only 13, by Pandit Ravi Shankar."

Roger Short, producer, World Routes, says: "We decided to focus on South India because, although it has an ancient and rich musical tradition and a lively contemporary musical scene, in recent decades it has been eclipsed by the better-known music and musicians of North India."

Radio 3 launched its own world music mentoring scheme in 2010. Radio 3 World Routes Academy aims to support and inspire young world music artists by bringing them together with an internationally renowned artist in the same field.

The scheme targets forms of music and musical skills that are under threat to help preserve them.

The Radio 3 World Routes Academy scheme 2010 featured London-based oud player Khyam Allami as mentee and the celebrated singer songwriter Ilham al-Madfai as mentor.

As well as collaborating with musicians in Beirut, Damascus and Amman, Khyam was involved in a variety of performances and events, including World Routes Academy at the Celebrating Sanctuary festival on London's Southbank, WOMAD and celebrated the end of the scheme with a performance at the 91Èȱ¬ Proms with Ilham Al Madfai.

Listeners can follow the new partnership over the nine months of the scheme through regular interviews, documentary material, recordings and performances in Radio 3's weekly programme World Routes (Saturdays, 3pm).

Notes to Editors

Radio 3 broadcasts classical music, jazz, world music, arts programmes and drama. Last year, Radio 3 broadcast over 600 complete concerts and operas from venues and festivals across the UK and beyond.

Radio 3 is the home of the 91Èȱ¬ Proms and broadcasts every concert live. The station supports composers, writers and new young performers and last year broadcast over 40 new drama productions.

DP