Draft:Sai Symphony Orchestra

Sai Symphony Orchestra

The Sai Symphony Orchestra is India's Largest Homegrown Symphony Orchestra with over 100 instruments from across the world.

India's largest homegrown symphony orchestra, the Sai Symphony Orchestra, is a remarkable ensemble consisting of children from Grade 8 to University level, from the most humble, rural backgrounds.

This orchestra began on the 24^st of February 2020, under the divine guidance and inspiration of Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai.

Founder and Inspiration

Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai

Sri Madhusudan Sai has embarked on a global mission to teach the concept of oneness to humanity – the ultimate truth that the supreme Consciousness pervades the entire creation, animate and inanimate — sarvaṁ brahma, experienced through the individual, who is also, verily that same supreme Consciousness — aham brahma. The mission involves service through the form of Nutrition, Education, and Healthcare, free of cost to anyone who needs it at their doorstep.

Grandmaster Dr. Dimitris Lambrianos

Dr. Dimitris Lambrianos is a well accomplished Greek American musician who can play over 30 instruments. He has played in many prestigious venues such as the Albert Hall in London, La Scala in Milan and Carnegie Hall in Manhattan. He has taught music in the Europe and the United States. He was also a professor at the New York University. On the command of Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, he had come to India to be associated with the orchestra since its inception in the year 2015 when it started as a brass band and had single-handedly taught all of the instruments to the students to make them young and passionate music lovers to grow into individuals to spread goodness around the world with inspiration and gratitude.

Albums and Singles by Dimitris Lambrianos

S.I No	Name of the album/single	Members
1.	Tannah Sarvah Prachodayaat	Dr. Dimitris Lambrianos, Sumeet Tappoo
2.	Prayers of Piano	Dr. Dimitris Lambrianos
3.	Naada Brahma: Musical Melodies	Dr. Dimitris Lambrianos, U Rajesh, Praveen Narayan

Chief Instructors

• Spencer Lewinson

Conductors

1. Sai Harikesh (First Violin, Flute, Harp).
2. Harish G Shirur (Trumpet, First Violin).
3. Sai Vasist (First Violin).

Sections of the Sai Symphony Orchestra

The Sai Symphony Orchestra comprises of various sections as follows:

The Strings Section

• First Violins
• Second Violins
• Violas
• Cellos
• Double Bass (Contrabass)
• Harp
• Guitar (Electric and Acoustic)

The Woodwinds Section

• Flute
• Piccolo
• Oboe
• Clarinet
• Bassoon
• Alto Saxophone
• Tenor Saxophone
• Soprano Saxophone

The Brass Section

• Trumpet
• Cornet
• French Horn (In F and E♭).
• Trombones
• Euphoniums
• Tuba

The Percussion Section

• Timpani
• Snare Drum
• Bass Drum
• Cymbals
• Triangle
• Tambourine
• Xylophone
• Marimba
• Glockenspiel
• Vibraphone
• Bar Chimes
• Tubular Bells
• Conga
• Bongo Drum

The Keyboard Section

• Grand Piano
• Piano
• Accordion

The Orchestra also has a section comprising of various instruments from around the world.

1. Bouzouki
2. Armenian Duduk
3. Chinese Flutes
4. Castanets
5. Bağlama
6. Gong
7. Glass Harp
8. Glass Harmonica
9. Verrophone
10. Greek Santur
11. Darabuka
12. Bendir
13. Temple Blocks
14. Koto
15. Ocarina
16. Pan Flute

History

The Sai Symphony Orchestra initially started as a brass band with boys with the name Sai Angels in the year 2015 under the watchful guidance of its founder Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai in the outskirts of Bengaluru called Muddenahalli. The instruments were first donated by the faithful devotees (of Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai) from Singapore who supported the cause of this brass band by shipping in the musical instruments from China, Europe, The USA, etc,. This small band played simple music pieces, theme songs, albums and carols for Christmas. The golden era of the Sai Angels brass lasted from 2017 to till early 2020 with the COVID 19 pandemic. Also the objectives changed as the Sai Symphony Orchestra took the centre stage of focus merging all the brass bands under its banner.

In the year 2018, the Sai Angels brass band had displayed a very high calibre that the band had learnt and were ready to feature 24 songs of different genres in a matter of few months on the stage. In the subsequent year, the Sai Angels brass band performed the the prestigious Singapore Chinese Orchestra Hall. With the other divisions of the brass band catching up with equal pace, the quality and quantity of the group was growing manyfold. This observation led to the decision to start India's Largest Homegrown Orchestra; the Sai Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra had begun its development during the challenging times of the pandemic and its waves. By the year 2022, the orchestra was ready to hit the stage with quality sound and with a variety of songs.

With a concert abroad in Singapore in the presence of the president Mdm. Halimah Yacob, the orchestra had begun to become an international sensation.

One World One Family Concert

A major milestone was on the 25^th of July 2024 when the Sai Symphony Orchestra performed with musicians from 16 countries, presenting 25 songs of different cultures in a record time of just 1${\textstyle {\frac {1}{2}}}$ months.

The "One World, One Family" concert stands as a landmark event, bringing together musicians from various parts of the globe. Organized by the Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission on the occasion of the birthday of Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, the founder, this concert beautifully embodied the philosophy of "One World, One Family." Its primary purpose was to demonstrate to the world that we are not different but united, and that through collaboration, we can create something as extraordinary as this magnificent musical celebration.

The concert’s main theme was to celebrate unity in diversity through the concept of one global family. It inspired not only the audience but also the musicians themselves, serving as a testament to the idea that humanity transcends boundaries.

The "One World, One Family" concert was a testimony to cultural unity and global collaboration. The event brought together 200 musicians from 16 different countries, performing alongside the Sai Symphony Orchestra. This unparalleled achievement was possible with chief instructor of the Sai Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Dimitris Lambrianos and the Orchestra as a team. This efforts ensured that the students of the orchestra were exposed to a wide variety of global musical traditions, providing them with a unique and invaluable learning experience.

The experience was equally enriching for the visiting musicians, who were enthralled and inspired by the remarkable talent and enthusiasm of the orchestra’s students. They left the event with a sense of pride, having been part of something so extraordinary. The concert not only served as a platform for musical exchange but also fostered a sense of unity and mutual respect among participants from diverse backgrounds.The greatest achievement of this concert was its unprecedented scale and impact. Bringing together musicians from 16 countries to perform on one stage was a monumental feat that had never been accomplished before. It was a proud moment for the Sai Symphony Orchestra, as they showcased their ability to collaborate on a global scale and create something truly magnificent. The students benefited immensely from this experience, gaining hands-on learning opportunities and forming connections with world-class musicians.The "One World, One Family" concert was more than just a musical event; it was a celebration of unity, diversity, and the power of collaboration. This achievement would not have been possible without the grace and blessings of Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai. The concert’s success has set a new benchmark for the Sai Symphony Orchestra, proving that music has the power to unite the world as one family. This event will forever be remembered as a shining example of what humanity can achieve when it comes together in harmony.

The musicians/ troops involved in the One World One Family Concert were:

Musicians and Music Troops

Country	Musicians	Songs
Japan	Mr. Motonori Miura Mr. Junpei Ohtsuka Mr. Azumi Yamano Mr. Takuya Koketsu Mr. Ryota Kawano Mrs. Marina Hirata Mr. Shogo Yoshii Mr. Hikaru Ishii	Etenraku
Romania	Mr. Damian Drăghici Mr. Daniel-Andrei Rotariu Mr. Lucian Constantin	Hora Staccato Ciocârlia
Bulgaria	Mr. Theodosii Spassov Mr. Ivan Simeonov Georgiev Mr. Hristiyan Tsvetanov Tsvyatkov Mr. Genadiy Savov Rashkov Mr. Peyo Trendafilov Peev Mr. Athanasios Stavridis	Gypsy Dance
Argentina	Mr. Ricardo Cavalli Mr. Sebastián Cordon Mr. Pablo Mainetti Mr. Serdar Geldymuradov Mr. Claudio Gutierrez	Libertango
Peru	Mr. Laudio Gutierrez Mr. Luis Alberto Cifuentes Mr. Pedro Gutierrez	El Condor Pasa
Spain	Mr. Jose Dominguez Orgaz Mr. Guillem Aguilar Nolis Mr. Pedro Javier Gonzalez Garcia Mr. Oscar Gonzalez Rubio Mr. Juan Manuel Regalado Anaya	Entre dos Aguas
Mexico	Mr. Moisés Guillermo Pérez Hernández Mrs. Aída Elisa Ayala Quezada Mr. Fabián Eduardo Martínez Gutiérrez Mr. Alan Daniel Portillo Ramírez Mr. Adán Sánchez Romero Mr. Jesús Contreras Juárez Mr. Joaquín Manuel Regalado Estrada Mr. Sergio Ornelas	La Bamba
Africa Continent	Mr. Jali Fily Cissokho Mr. Moussa Dembele Mr. Abdoulaye Sanfo Mr. Mouhamed Gueye Mr. Seneke Sillah	Natogounakoi
The USA (Bluegrass Group)	Mr. George Alistair Cloughley Jackson Mrs. Rachel Darby Baiman Mr. Elias Kane Broxham Mrs. Erinn Mae Peet-Lukes Mr. Karl Smakula	Amazing Grace
Italy	Mr. Savino Pantone Mr. Viktor Mickovski Mrs. Francesca Romana Tiddi	La Traviata Brindisi
Armenia	Mr. Arsen Petrosyan Mrs. Astghik Snetsunts Mr. Avetis Keoseyan Mr. Vladimir Papikyan	Nazani Broyi
Turkey	Mrs. Aslihan Parlak Mrs. Nilgun Lu Mr. Batuhan Parlak Mr. Selcuk Gurez Mrs. Banu Buyukkasap Mrs. Ani Sazakarsu Mr. Alper Akaryildiz Mrs. Dilek Cipli Mr. Ahmet Caglar Arsu	Sinnanay
Greece	Mr. Evangelos Vistakis Mr. Nikolaos Balaskas Mrs. Agni Papageorgiou Mr. Fotios Apostolaras Mrs. Angeliki Pardali Mr. Panagiotis Stathakis Mr. Pavols Mouratidis Mr. Georgios Theodoridis Mr. Konstantinos Karamesios Mr. Georgios Ouzounis	Let the Dance Begin Kotsari I love you because you are beautiful Zorba the Greek
China	Mr Kung Ka Ho Ms Yip Hei Man Ms Yip Pui Ching Mr Kong Kin Pan Ms Ng Ka Yiu Minnie Mr Chan Yi Lik Ms Chan Tin Chi	Jasmine Flower
Russia	Mr Yuri Ivanov Mr Yuri Dremanovich Mr Pavel Zemlyansky Mr Sergey Zobov Mr Konstantin Gneushev Mr Igor Gornostaev Ms Daria Dushina	Kalinka Katyusha
Australia		My Island Home
World	All Participants	We Are The World Happy Birthday

Important Milestones

1. 23^rd November 2015, First Concert by Sai Angels (boys band).
2. 2017, Formation of Sai Symphony (girls band).
3. 2^nd June 2019, Formation of Sai Angels Gulbarga Division (boys band).
4. 26^th August 2019, First international performance by Sai Angels (SCO Hall in Singapore).
5. 16^th January 2020, First performance with all three bands on the same stage.
6. 24^rth February 2020, Formation of Sai Symphony Orchestra (for boys).
7. 19^th November 2020, First performance of Sai Symphony Orchestra.
8. April 2021, Formation of Sai Symphony Orchestra (Mandya Division).
9. 25th December 2021, First Classical Concert.
10. 24^rth July 2022, Concert in the presence of Ambassadors from
    • Mongolia
    • Trinidad and Tobago
    • Rwanda
    • Peru
    • Guyana
    • Suriname
    • Kazakhstan
11. 24^rth September 2023, First international Concert by the Sai Symphony Orchestra in Victoria Concert Hall in the presence of President of Singapore Hon. Mdm. Halimah Yacob.
12. 18^th January 2024, Concert in the presence of legendary Cricketers who played for the "One World One Family Cup" .
13. June 2024, Formation of Sai Symphony Orchestra (for girls).
14. 25^th July 2024, "The One World One Family Concert" with people from 16 countries.

Working Principles of The Sai Symphony Orchestra

The Sai Symphony Orchestra is unique because of the culture of the orchestra has its roots deep in the Vedic injunctions of India.

Concerts and Repertoire

The Sai Symphony Orchestra has an amazing repertoire of songs, albums, classics, etc., from different genres of music.

Linked Organizations

• Each One Educate One Foundation
• Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission
• SAI GLOBAL FEDERATION OF FOUNDATIONS
• Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence
• Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani
• Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna
• Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Gurukulam

Accolades from Prominent Personalities

• President of Singapore, Mdm Halimah Yacob

  "We thank Singapore’s first woman president, Madam Halimah Yacob and the government of Singapore for being part of and encouraging the Sai Symphony Orchestra, which is a symbol of hope and opportunity for underprivileged children, demonstrating that with access to quality education and the chance to explore their innate talents, they can achieve greatness on a global stage. This performance in Singapore was a celebration of these values."

  — Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence

• Ricky Kej, 3x Grammy Award-Winning Composer and Environmentalist

"I had a wonderful experience today uh, you know I experienced the Sai Symphony Orchestra. It's absolutely amazing to see an orchestra of this caliber in India. I've always felt that India really really needed a symphony orchestra and now finally we have one. Of course we've had a few symphony orchestras where people have flown in from different parts of the world and only a small portion of those orchestras are actually Indian people but this is a proper homegrown Orchestra. Children and members from Villages, from rural communities, all of them holding these amazing instruments and actually playing together as one particular unit..." "...these symphony orchestras they just remind me about how the world needs to live; in peace and Harmony. A symphony orchestra has got so many musical instruments that actually Counterpoint each other at times. Soft instruments like the violin and the harp, loud instruments like the timpani, the brass and the horn instruments. And a violin is never trying to become a trumpet or trumpet is never trying to become a timpani. A timpani is never trying to become a harp. Everybody is maintaining their own individuality but yet when all of them play together. They play together in such beautiful Harmony as one. So that's what even in the world also all of us need(s) to learn from that you know and learn from the Sai Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra is of very very high caliber and the music education is absolutely top-notch I've never seen anything like this in India and I believe that this Orchestra will go from strength to strength. It will not only be a musical force to reckon with but it will be a learning force of how to live in peace and Harmony and how to embody Vasudaiva Kutumbakam."

— Ricky Kej

Contact/ Social Media

Instagram

@saisymphonyorchestra_official

References

Category:Music Category:India Category:Spirituality Category:Largest Orchestra in India Category:Advaita