#OmanPride: Young expatriate drummer does Oman proud

More sports Saturday 07/May/2016 22:16 PM
By: Times News Service
#OmanPride: Young expatriate drummer does Oman proud

Muscat: Santrupth G R Vedanthi, who can act as a role model for many in society, is being featured in the Times of Oman’s (TOO’s) #Omanpride campaign today.
Vedanthi, a young percussionist donates half of all his earnings to cancer patients in Oman.
“Helping others comes naturally to me and I will try to help others in every possible way within my limit,” Vedanthi, class 10 student at the Indian School Muscat told TOO.
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The young and talented drummer is all set for his maiden visit to the prestigious Berklee College of Music; in Boston, Massachusetts on a scholarship.
The United States-based college is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. It is also widely known as the world’s foremost institute for the study of jazz and modern American music.
Speaking about how he was selected by the Berklee College of Music, Vedanthi said, “There was a selection process where I had to provide my credentials and also had to upload videos of my stage performance and then the panel decided to offer scholarship or not.”
He has also made his parents proud by passing level eight at the Trinity College of London’s music exams. According to his parents, he is the youngest to achieve this.
“We have supported him since he developed his love for drumming at the age of three. We will always support him in pursuing his dreams,” his father G.V. Ramkrishna, who works as the Group Head—Sales and Expat Services in Bank Muscat, said.
“We feel honoured when his teachers and mentors appreciate him. We feel blessed to have Santrupth as our son,” he added.
“I have reached this level because of my parents support and more importantly the audience, who likes my style of drumming and there encouragement has brought me till here,” Vedanthi said.
He also thanked his school and the teachers for their support.
“My second home Oman, has always lent big support to me and my Band Red Khanjar and the other highly talented young Omanis band members,” Vedanthi said.
He also plans to enrol for a diploma course in drumming.
Speaking about his experience of sharing a stage with renowned Indian music director A.R. Rahman he said, “It was a dream come true and it was a big stage and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Vedanthi has also had an opportunity to play drums with famous Indian drummer Shivamani, whom he believes as a genius in percussion.
He also wants to build a career in engineering and his ambition is to take his music to the needy.
“I want to bring happiness in their life through my drumming,” he explained.