Karishye Vachanam Tava
(Registration link given at the bottom)
‘Karishye Vachanam Tava’ being the theme for centenary celebrations, the symphony is proposed to be strung around this theme to emphasise and accentuate that the only way to please master and achieve His Divine Lotus Feet is to follow His words, both in letter and in spirit.
Questions - General Rules for participation
Q. Who can participate?
Any member of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations in India, is eligible to participate subject to the selection criteria.
Q. What are the categories in which an eligible candidate may enrol?
Eligible candidates can offer their candidature in the following categories:
- Musicians
- Vocalists
All vocal styles and music genres are accepted.
Q. Is there any age limit for participants?
Yes. The following age limits apply:
- For vocalists - from 18 to 45 years as on November 2025
- For others - from 18 to 60 years as on November 2025
Q. What type of instrumentalists can participate?
Almost all instrumentalists are eligible to participate to give a multidimensional flavour to the symphony.
Instrumentalist may include the following without limiting others that are not mentioned below:
- Percussion: Multi percussionist (who plays number of rhythm instruments), Drummer, Tabla, Mridangam, Khanjira , Dholak, Big Drums, etc.
- Wind Instruments: Bamboo Flute, Saxophone, English Flute, Clarinet, Aerophone, Duduk etc.
- Keyboards, Piano, Accordion
- String Instruments: Sarod, Sitar, Guitar, Mandolin, Violin, Cello, Esraj, Sarangi, Bass guitar, Veena, Santoor etc., any middle eastern instruments such as Tar, Saj etc.
Q. How would the selection happen?
Selection would happen through a two stage audition process as follows:
- State level auditions: These would be organised by the state for all applicants from all over the state.
- National level audition: This shall be the final audition to be conducted by the national team for selecting the final performers from those who have been selected at the state level auditions.
Please note that no candidate shall be eligible for National Level audition unless he/she has qualified at state level audition and his/her name has been forwarded by the selectors at state level to the national team.
Q. What are the dates for auditions?
State Level auditions shall be completed by 25th September 2024. Candidates selected for National Level Auditions shall be informed by 30th September, 2024.
National Level Auditions shall be completed by November 2024. The candates selected for the final symphony shall be notified by 10th December 2024.
Q. What are the steps after the final auditions are completed?
After completion of National Level auditions, various groups shall be formed by the Organiser of the symphony which shall be communicated in due course only to the performers selected for the final presentation.
Q. When would the rehearsals begin?
Briefing and rehearsals will begin from January 2025.
Q. What are the requirements for auditions?
- Participants should offer their candidature in the field in which they are best. If a candidate is both a vocalist and a musician, he/she should offer his/her candidature in either of the categories, in which he/she is best.
- Candidates should not choose works that are more difficult than their current level of proficiency to impress the judges. If they excel at a music genre, they should select one or two pieces from that genre.
- Each participant must be ready to present one or two different types of performance which must be contrasting in mood, character, or tempo.
- If you are singing, lyrics must be memorised. No paper shall be allowed.
- All accompaniments must be live. No recorded tracks or minus one track will be allowed.
- The participants should sing and play live. No recorded version will be accepted.
- Performances must run no less than 1.5 minutes but no more than 4 minutes in total. Participants can take the help of accompanists, which should be live.
Q. What would be the selection criteria?
Candidates will be evaluated primarily on, but not limited to, the following criteria:
- Quality of Tone – clear timbre, focused, not breathy
- Technique – ease of production, breath support, intonation, flexibility, legato, pitch, vibrato.
- Communication/Interpretation/Diction – accurate pronunciation, clear understanding of text and interpreted in a sensitive manner
- Musicianship – dynamics, tempo, rhythm, pitches, phrasing, style and emotion
- Stage Presence – appearance, posture, confident, expressiveness.
- Range of voice
- Singing in pitch and tune
- Maintaining rhythm
- Mood and expression
- Ability to sing harmonies at ease
Please note that the judge’s decision will be final, and no recommendation or requests will be entertained.
Q. How will the auditions be conducted?
State level auditoins shall be conducted physically at a location decided by the state.
National level auditions may be online or physical at zonal centres which will be identified and informed in due course.
Q. Are there any other points that need attention?
All applications must be registered in Sai Connect.
All selected participants must be available for all meetings that may be online or offline and at all rehearsal sessions and the related briefing sessions.
All selected participants should be available during final rehearsals, tech rehearsals and on the day of the performance.
Q. What more should the candidates know?
There will be intricate musical compositions and it is advisable that all participants should have advanced knowledge in music.
The presentation may be in multiple languages, so the participants should be confident in singing multilingual songs.