On Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. in Capistrano Hall, a concert was held featuring Indian vocalist Amutha Satish. Performing alongside the artist were musicians Vignesh Thyagarajan and Amit Rangathan.

The concert was put together by Sacramento State and co-sponsored by Sacramento Aradhana, a non-profit organization whose goal is to “preserve and promote Carnatic music in the Sacramento region.”

Carnatic music is “learned through compositions” and consists of “many intricate musical details.” Each piece consists of a raga (melody) and tala (underlying rhythm). The pieces are devoted to the deities and gods in Indian culture.

Amutha Satish’s performance is the university’s first event of the year featuring Indian classical music.

Satish has a broad background in music coming from a “musically endowed family” and has received training under various gurus for many years.

Thyagarajan comes from a long line of musicians and began his career as a Carnatic vocalist and violinist at age five.

Ranganathan played a type of drum called mridangam and has won many prizes in mridangam competitions. He has spent almost a decade learning not only the mridangam but Carnatic vocal music as well.

Together the three performed an unforgettable and moving concert introducing audience members to a different genre of world music.

Satish was able to show the audience all the high and low notes her vocals can reach.

The pieces were filled with devoted emotions from all three performers and with an introduction of which deity the next piece is about, the audience was able to feel and understand why Carnatic music is a preserved Indian tradition.

Crystal Capponi, a Sac State student, came to the concert as part of an assignment for her world music class. She had never heard of Amutha Satish but was familiar with the Indian Classical music genre.

“I’m very interested in world music and can’t wait to see what kind of performance they will be giving,” said Capponi.

The show gave her a broader perspective of world music and increased her interest in discovering new music.

Beverly Phan, a new transfer student, came to the concert out of curiosity and her love for different genres of music.

“The show was interesting and I was very impressed by the talents of the musicians on the violin and the drum,” said Phan.

Other audience members include family and friends of the performers and the Sacramento Aradhana.

Shanthi Lyer is a friend of the performer and expressed not only excitement but proudness in attending the concert featuring her culture’s music.

“This is the first event of the year and we’re very happy to be here supporting the Sacramento Aradhana,” said Lyer.

Gita Lyer, the organizer of the event, says the school and the organization do their best to collaborate every year to bring local, world renowned and up-and-coming Carnatic vocalists and musicians to showcase their talent and further the organization’s goal of promoting and preserving Carnatic music.