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World On Your Street: The Global Music Challenge
Sri M Yogeswaran
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Describe the atmosphere and live music at a local pub, restaurant, festival, church or temple, club night.... inspire other people to check it out!


Musician: Manickam Yogeswaran

Location: Lewisham, London

Instruments: voice

Music: Indian / Karnatic

HOW I CAME TO THIS MUSICÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýWHERE I PLAYÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýA FAVOURITE SONG Click here for Hande Domac's storyClick here for Mosi Conde's storyClick here for Rachel McLeod's story


, the information website for the UK Asian community.

ListenÌýÌýListen (7'11) to an audio feature recorded at the London Shivan Temple in Lewisham, presented by Susheela Raman (broadcast on Radio 3: 20/4/02)

ListenÌýÌýListen (5'15) to 'The Raga Kalyani', performed by Manickam Yogeswaran - vocals, Sri Baluraghuraman - violin, Karaikkudi Krishnamoorthy - mirdangam, Bangalore RR Pratap - ghatam, A. Srinivasan - morsing, Uthayakumar - tampura

WatchÌýÌýWatch (4'05) a video of Tamil New Year in Lewisham, south London, featuring Manickam Yogeswaran


'It's always been a fire burning inside of me to enjoy singing and life to the full'

Manickam Yogeswaran will be performing on the World on your Street stage at WOMAD 2005

How I came to this music:

I was born in Jaffan, a city in the North of Sri Lanka. Though I didn't actually come from a musical family, I was always interested in singing. In fact I'd say it's always been a dream of mine, a fire burning inside of me to enjoy music and life to the full.

As a child I used to follow behind the Nadaswaram players when ever they performed at local weddings or festivals. 'Nadaswaram' is a classical Indian instrument like a clarinet but much longer. I would run behind the pipers and copy their songs. If I heard a song on the radio, I'd listen and repeat it so I was always singing.

drummerIn school I was blessed with excellent teachers who encouraged me musically once they saw that I had a natural gift. I actually used to sing the opening prayer in assembly. By 'A' Level's they'd recorded my voice to play out across the school. After that I started singing in a local temple and soon people asked me to perform. Then I went to England to study accountancy but returned immediately to spend time in India. There I found my guru and I've been singing professionally ever since.

Since 1984, I've been based here in the South East of England. Even though I'd had the business training, I always wanted to sing so I set up The Asian School of Arts. I also used to organise music festivals for the London Education Authority. Since 1996, I've been a visiting tutor at Goldsmiths University in Lewisham. As well as teaching vocal technique, I also train community workers in World and Indian music. These practitioners work in prisons, hospices and schools and need an understanding in the different styles of music that is enjoyed within our increasingly diverse communities.

With music there's always something new to be learned. Even if you know a song really well, every time you sing it, there's always room for improvement.

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