Austin College soprano Aardhra Venkatachalam will present her Senior Voice Recital on Saturday, May 6, at 3 p.m. in the Recital Hall of Craig Hall. She is the daughter of Saraswathi and Venkat Radhakrishnan of Flower Mound, Texas.
Completing a major in music and minors in neuroscience and Spanish, Venkatachalam says music and medicine have always been her passions. She hopes to become a performing arts physician and integrate her experiences as a musician to better serve her patients. “Austin College has given me the opportunity to combine my knowledge from my premed preparation with my knowledge from music to do an honors thesis on “Injuries in Musicians.” The College has supported me and nurtured me to be a better student and a better musician.”
At her recital, she will perform pieces by Henry Purcell, Brahms, and Mozart, as well as Broadway numbers.
Venkatachalam has been involved in singing for 16 years, beginning her vocal training at 5 years old. She performed her debut recital for Carnatic Indian classical music in 2013. At Austin College she performs with the A Cappella Choir and Camerata, a Madrigal ensemble. She trains in bel canto, Italian singing, under Sylvia Rivers, Austin College adjunct instructor in music .
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 40 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of approximately 1,275 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.