| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SANDALWOOD Sitar Music Ensemble to perform at MILLENNIUM PARK "Lurie Garden Celebration" July 8 & 9, 2005 |
| June 24, 2005 |
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| Sandalwood Sitar Music Ensemble |
| SANDALWOOD Sitar Music Ensemble will give two performances at Millennium Park, as part of the "Lurie Garden Celebration", organized by the Chicago Cultural Center. SANDALWOOD features a variety of musical instruments from India including Sitar, Tanpura, and Tabla. The ensemble's repertoire consists of light classical Indian ragas and original compostions. Chicago-based Sandalwood Sitar Music Ensemble has been performing for public and private venues across the country since 1998. Founders Clar and GiGi Monaco have appeared as a duo on NPR's KPBX radio in Washington State, as well as WHPK, WVLP and WXRT in the Midwest. The upcoming mini-concerts (45-minutes each) at Millennium Park will be performed in the Lurie Garden setting. Each performance will include pieces that are thematically inspired by the garden and nature in general. Says Monaco, "We've decided to open the performance with a dhol drum and conch shell piece, since traditionally, they are both used outdoors in India to announce the beginning of celebrations of all sorts...we'll also play Raag Hansadwani, which musically depicts the beauty and gracefulness of a swan in its natural surroundings." Clar Monaco (sitar and wife, GiGi Wong-Monaco (swarsangam) will be accompanied by Dharminder Singh (tabla, dhol); Sean Murphy (sitar) and Monica Valluri (sitar). VENUE SPECIFICS SANDALWOOD Sitar Music Ensemble will perform outdoors in Millennium Park's Lurie Garden. Millennium Park is in downtown Chicago. Lurie Garden is located in the southeast corner of the park at Monroe Street and Columbus Drive. Admission is FREE. Performance Dates and Times: Friday July 8 3:30 pm Saturday July 9 2:00 pm Performance may be canceled if severe weather conditions occur. For more information about the Lurie Garden Celebration: Call 312.742.1168 or visit: www.millenniumpark.org Click HERE for Artists Bio. Click HERE for Press Photos. |