Dear donors, friends and patrons,

I take pleasure in wishing you a very happy New Year 2025! Positivity is my keyword into this New Year and I am sure you echo similarly.

BSS has been at the forefront of promoting and educating Indian Classical Art in greater Montreal since 1979. Sustaining is only possible with constant encouragement of children, inter-generational adults, engagement of active and advanced students and collaborating with newer communities in Greater Montreal. 

BSS acknowledges the untold efforts of our donor Gurus towards sustaining this wonderful community. BSS runs on the firm axes of our Gurus and our Praṇām to them.

The Team

I am excited for the events of the year 2025, thanks to the high-energy team that members have put in place at the AGM,. Allow me to introduce the Directors:

• Gayathri Murthy – Director 
• Mayuura Rajendram – Director
• Medha Srinivasan – Secretary
• Mukund Rajamony – President
• Radhika Govindarajan – Treasurer
• Saraswathi Sainath – Director 
• Sivakumar Narayanswamy – Director 
• Swathi Buddhiraju – Vice-President
• Vidhya Murthy – Director

Finances

Since 2020, the board has kept a tight ship on budget as well as received new grants to sail through difficult times. At the same time, operating costs have risen. Rising inflation as well as the weakening loonie are a few causes. BSS has been resilient and it is time now to make small changes. The minimum recommended donation on Season’s passes are as below:

• Single Adult Donor Pass 2025 – CAD 110
• Family Donor Pass 2025 – CAD 220
• Student Donor Pass 2025 – CAD 50 – (as is)

Season’s pass donations come with the benefits as below:

• Access to all premium concerts for free.
• Participation in all community events for free.
• Special access to other programs by sister organizations like SICA Ottawa.
• Member’s rights as prescribed in the Bye Laws.

A season’s pass is practical and highly recommended. BSS appreciates your kind cooperation in early receipts of your donations. You can lend BSS a hand by transferring early in the year in the following ways.

• E-transfer to bssmontrealtran@gmail.com with a simple passcode (bssmtl for example)
• Donate online using our Canada Helps partner at www.bssmontreal.org/donate 
• Mail a check to our address on our website.
• Talk to one of our directors.

The participation fee for community events is otherwise 20 CAD per event. 

BSS follows a policy of no-one left behind. If you are interested, but facing financial difficulties, please have a conversation with me.

Events

Budgets aside, the spirit of BSS lies in relevant engagement through youth encouragement programs as well as concerts and community events. Last year, we had success in engaging youth owing to a generous grant. We intend to keep the momentum going this year. 

The tentative schedule for Winter and Spring 2025 is as below, please save the dates for now. Changes will be duly communicated.

• Saturday January 25th 2025 – Dasa Sahitya Dina, featuring an Ottawa Group recital, a special dance recital by Aishwarya Venkatraman among others.
• Sunday March 23rd 2025 – Abhang recital by Uma Kumar and Party.
• Saturday April 5th 2025 – Instrumental concert Violin and Mridangam Duo by Nagai Muralidharan, Dr Badrinarayan, Vijay Ganesh and Sankaranarayan
• Saturday May 10 – Inter-Art interpretation of Carnatic music via Ramakrishnan Murthy, Kamalakiran Vinjamuri and Delhi Sairam
• Saturday May 24 – Thyagaraja Day

Budget permitting, BSS is also likely to add a few youth encouragement and educational programs this year.

Contact

To stay up to date, please follow us on facebook, instagram as well as our whatsapp announcement group. https://chat.whatsapp.com/JEGNIY1xKgG4MKQoCZlSnM

Constant feedback in a positive harmonious environment helps everyone. To  make sure your voice is heard, kindly email bssmontreal.org@gmail.com . If extremely urgent, please contact me.

BSS is a proud adherent of mutual respect towards artists, audience and organizers. Our zero-tolerance policy is posted here. https://www.bssmontreal.org/about-us/privacy-policy/ 

How can you help

“Engage and Sustain” is our collective motto for 2025. You can help with your timely donations as well as volunteering at events. Come speak with our directors for more.

Once again, I welcome one and all to this beautiful BSS Family and look forward to an exciting year 2025!

Mukund Rajamony