An exceptional evening with Carnatic maestro Sikkil C. Gurucharan and Irish cellist Patrick Dexter at Newman University Church, Dublin.

An Evening of Indian & Irish Musical Traditions

Saturday, 19 September 2026

5:30 PM

Newman University Church, Dublin

St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2

An exceptional evening of Indian and Irish music comes to the historic Newman University Church in the heart of Dublin, bringing together two distinctive musical voices: internationally acclaimed Carnatic vocalist Kalaimamani Sikkil C. Gurucharan and celebrated Irish cellist Patrick Dexter.

At the heart of the evening is a full Carnatic classical recital by Sikkil C. Gurucharan, one of the leading vocalists of his generation, accompanied by Sruthi Ravali on violin and Sri Somasundara Desigar on mridangam.

The programme will also feature a special performance by Patrick Dexter, whose deeply expressive cello playing draws together classical influences, Irish melody, the landscapes of the west of Ireland and his own contemporary musical voice.

Set within the remarkable and intimate surroundings of Newman University Church, the concert offers audiences an opportunity to experience two great musical traditions within a single evening — each retaining its own identity, depth and artistic language.

Featured Artists

Kalaimamani Sikkil C. Gurucharan — Carnatic Vocal

Principal Headliner

Sikkil C. Gurucharan is one of today's foremost exponents of Indian Classical Carnatic music, admired for his rich, resonant voice, musical sensitivity and an approach that combines deep respect for tradition with an openness to creative exploration.

His musical foundation was shaped under Vaigal Sri S. Gnanaskandan and subsequently through the guidance of Sri B. Krishnamurthy. He has attained the prestigious TOP Grade recognition from All India Radio, the highest artist grading awarded by the broadcaster.

Gurucharan has received some of India's distinguished honours for the performing arts, including the Kalaimamani, conferred by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2020, and the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar of the Sangeet Natak Akademi. He has also received honours including Isai Peroli and Shanmukha Sironmani and was recognised by India Today among its 35 Game Changers Under 35.

His artistic career extends far beyond the traditional concert stage. As a recipient of the Nehru-Fulbright Excellence Award, he was an artist in residence at the University of California, Davis, and has been associated with academic and cultural programmes in the United States, including Florida International University.

A committed collaborator, Gurucharan has developed acclaimed projects with pianist Anil Srinivasan, exploring the meeting point between Carnatic voice and the piano. He was also part of the landmark collaborative album Miles from India, featuring artists including John McLaughlin, U. Srinivas and Louis Banks, which received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.

His work encompasses traditional Carnatic concerts, recordings, interdisciplinary projects, education and cinema, including appearances in Rajiv Menon's Sarvam Thaala Mayam and the anthology Putham Pudhu Kaalai.

Through all these explorations, Gurucharan remains firmly rooted in the grammar, improvisational depth and expressive beauty of Carnatic music.

Patrick Dexter — Cello

Featured Artist

Irish cellist Patrick Dexter has captivated audiences in Ireland and around the world with an intensely personal musical language in which classical cello, Irish traditional melody, contemporary influences and the natural landscape meet.

Originally from Dublin, Patrick began learning the cello at the age of seven and later made his home in the west of Ireland. His performances from outside his stone cottage in County Mayo reached an international audience of millions, introducing listeners around the world to the remarkable emotional range of the cello.

Rather than confining the instrument to a single genre, Patrick explores territory between classical music and Irish folk traditions, alongside his own compositions and arrangements. His performances are characterised by intimacy and storytelling, with the landscapes and sounds of Ireland forming an important part of his artistic world.

His concert work has developed from those celebrated outdoor performances into an acclaimed live musical experience, exploring themes of home, nature, memory, joy and melancholy through the resonant voice of the cello.

Sruthi Ravali — Violin

Accompanying Sikkil C. Gurucharan

Indian classical musician Sruthi Ravali accompanies Sikkil C. Gurucharan on Carnatic violin.

Born into a family of musicians in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, Sruthi began her musical training at the age of three under her mother, Smt. Manda Sudharani. Alongside her vocal training, she studied Carnatic violin for more than a decade under the late Sri Ivaturi Vijayeswara Rao, establishing a strong foundation in the instrumental tradition.

She has cont

Description supplied by the event organiser.