Toronto: Small World Music, the Toronto-based charitable organization whose primary mission and mandate is to promote cultural diversity in Toronto by featuring world music artists of the highest caliber from around the world, has teamed up renowned classical Indian violinist from Mewati Gharana, Kala Ramnath, and Mississauga-based vocalist Vandana Vishwas (see photo) to perform at their 12th Annual Small World Music Series featuring other famous Indian artists such as Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan and Ustad Zakir Husain also.

The concert will take place at Sringeri Vidya Bharati Foundation hall, 84 Brydon Drive, Toronto, on May 17 at 6:30 p.m. The event details are at www.smallworldmusic.com.

Mewati Gharana maestro Kala Ramnath belongs to a violin dynasty from India – a unique musical lineage of seven generations which straddles both classical systems of the subcontinent. Her exceptional playing has taken her to a worldwide audience, winning praise from both Indian classical music aficionados and world music fans alike. (www.kalaramnath.com)

Mississauga’s own Vandana Vishwas has been lauded by music legends such as ghazal maestro brothers Ustad Ahmed and Mohammed Husain and renowned music composer Sohail Rana as well as leading mainstream north American critics and music reviewers of media such as Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, Milwaukee Express, Mississauga News, and Mybindi. Her two self-composed, produced and sung music albums ‘Meera The Lover’ and ‘Monologues’ have landed Vandana with leading honours such as the US Indies Vox-Pop Award 2011, Marty Award 2012 and TEM’s Toronto Best World CD Award 2010 and nominations in Canadian Indies 2010, TIMA 2010 and K.M. Hunter award for music by Ontario Arts Council in 2010. Both of these albums were picked up by a leading label and released in India, ‘Monologues’ being launched in Mumbai by none other than the famous playback singer Suresh Wadkar.

www.vandanavishwas.com