For immediate Release April 24, 2006 Please include in all calendar listings. High resolution images available at http://www.shantichoir.org May 20, 2006 • 7:00 PM • Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University - Bethlehem PA More than 150 local performers will come together in the spirit of joy and harmony as Lehigh University India Club in collaboration with The Shanti Choir, presents Shanti: A Journey of Peace on Saturday, May  20, 7 PM at the Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem PA.   Shanti: A Journey of Peace is an expansive, collaborative community performance that explores the meanings and message of peace, joy and the interconnectedness of us all through the dance, music and images of India. This acclaimed multi-media production – in its own unique genre of performing arts is an epic presentation of 5000 years of the cultural history of India. It premiered to packed houses at the University of Cincinnati in May 2004 and was performed to a 2500 strong audience at the prestigious Aronoff Center for the Arts, Cincinnati. The music of Shanti is best described as a choral symphony of Indian ragas; it is  a musical score that cuts across cultures, integrating choral and orchestral harmony with the ancient raga traditions of India; multi-genre Indian classical and folk dances; and spectacular imagery. According to Shanti’s creator, Kanniks Kannikeswaran, “Shanti is a presentation of ideas that shaped a 5,000-year-old civilization on the other hemisphere of the earth, and a look at ancient ideas of diversity, peaceful existence, tolerance, and celebrating the joy of existence – ideas that are ever so relevant in today’s world. Shanti also represents the coming together of a diverse group of individuals in the Lehigh area  to share this joy of existence.” Shanti brought together a choir of about 90 singers of Indian origin in the Cincinnati area, speaking a range of over 12 languages, to rehearse and perform a complex music score for a period of several weeks; it also brought these singers in a close working relationship with singers from the Martin Luther King Coalition Choir and other choirs with dynamic music conductor Catherine Roma as the conductor. This community experience culminated in a grand performance of Shanti in March 2006, in an event that was literally the talk of the town. The magic of Shanti is being re-created in the Lehigh valley, with over 80 singers of Indian origin converging at Lehigh University to rehearse the music of Shanti. These singers come in from as far as Edison NJ. Joining these singers in performance on May 20th will be a group of singers from local choirs in the Lehigh Valley along with guest performers from the Martin Luther King Coalition Choir, Cincinnati and an orchestra of western instrumentalists and an ensemble of Indian instruments. Shanti is created and directed by Cincinnati based visionary musician, composer and music educator Kanniks Kannikeswaran.  All of Kanniks' projects are consistent with his vision of building community through the celebration of threads of commonality between diverse peoples and cultures. Kanniks has collaborated with leading artists such as Mallika Sarabhai (one of India's foremost exponents of classical and modern dance) and Lakshmi Shankar (singer featured in the Academy Award-winning film, Gandhi). His work “The Snake Concerto” was performed by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and his 1996 production “The Blue Jewel” earned critical acclaim from the Cincinnati community. Kanniks has lectured extensively on Indian culture and has offered music workshops and diversity training at several educational institutions, corporations and cultural organizations nationwide.  Kanniks is the force behind the Greater Cincinnati Indian community choir (Shanti Choir), which he founded to explore polyphonic avenues in raga-based music. He is the recipient of the Individual Artist Fellowship from the Ohio Arts Council and several other grants that helped create his musical productions. An engineer by education and a Business Intelligence Consultant by profession, Kanniks is a passionate educator, and he teaches Indian Music at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. CALENDAR INFORMATION WHAT:           Shanti: A Journey of Peace WHERE:         Zoellner  Arts Center - Lehigh University, Bethlehem PA WHEN:           Saturday, May 20, 2006, 7 PM CONTACT:     Radha Ganesan: 315 415 5840: Shankar Nataraj – 610-481-4312 PRICES:         $10 - $25 TICKETS:       Visit www.shantichoir.org or call (610) 769-7751 INFO:             Shanti: A Journey of Peace is an expansive, collaborative community musical theater production that explores the meanings and message of peace, joy and the interconnectedness of life through the music, dances and imagery of India..  This original, acclaimed multi-media experience will awaken your senses with a  symphonic music score based  on the raaga traditions of India, 100 -member choir, a western chamber orchestra, an Indian instrumental ensemble, multi-genre Indian classical and folk dances, and beautiful imagery. The time has never been better to come together in harmony and take a journey of peace with Shanti! (www.templenet.com/shanti_media.htm) TICKET INFORMATION www.shantichoir.org [high resolution images available at www.shantichoir.org]