jahnavi vishnubhotla of ladue horton watkins high school

Jahnavi Vishnubhotla has a deep connection to her culture and is committed to sharing traditional Indian art with the world. The Ladue Horton Watkins High School senior practices two forms of traditional Indian dance and also plays the sitar. For the latter, she was chosen as one of the finalists for the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition this year.

How did you start playing the sitar?
I’ve been dancing for as long as I can remember, and my parents thought I might like learning the sitar, too. It’s a beautiful instrument and very dear to my dad. We looked for teachers, and Ustad Imrat Khan came up as living in St. Louis. He’s a world-renowned musician who is featured in my parents’ textbooks, and Google says he’s just down the street! My teacher has been a huge inspiration for me. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2018.
Now, I’m taking lessons with his son, Ustad Shafaat Khan.

What made you decide to compete in the Teen Talent Competition?
I competed last year and made it to the semi-finals. I wasn’t sure I would do it again because I was a junior, and that’s already a really stressful year. My mom convinced me to try. I wanted to do it as a tribute to my late teacher. Not many people know about Indian classical music or even what a sitar is. Whenever I’m carrying mine, I get so many questions. Winning is secondary to getting to share the music I love and show the skills my teacher taught me.

What has been your favorite thing about the experience?
Performing on stage at the Fox is an amazing, surreal experience. During my first lesson with Ustad Imrat Khan, I sat down and played this wonky scale, and he looked at my dad and said he was going to get me ready for the stage. Now, I’m on this big stage, and I feel more connected with my teacher than ever. It’s what he always wanted for me, and I’m thankful for the opportunity.

Do you plan to continue performing?
Absolutely. Being a performer has always been a part of my life; it’s like second nature to me. Performing is a completely immersive and emotional experience, and it’s taught me a lot of important life skills. I love sharing my music, my dance and my culture with others, whether it’s at the Fox or my school auditorium. It’s always going to be a big part of who I am.

What are some of your other interests? 
I’m a big language geek. I was born in India and moved here when I was young, so I grew up with Hindi and Telugu along with English,  and I chose German as an elective at school. Making films and videos is another thing I love. Recently, I got second place in an international, German short film competition. Last year, I took music theory at school, and ever since, I’ve really enjoyed making melodies and small compositions.

As part of its sponsorship, Sport Court has made a donation to Soorya Performing Arts on behalf of Jahnavi.

Photo: ProPhotoSTL