Artist Profiles
This is Amrith Narayan, a student of Neyveli Santhanagopalan sir. I am an upcoming Carnatic vocal musician from Chennai. I did my engineering with BITS Pilani, MBA from IIM Kozhikode and worked with Deloitte as a consultant until recently.
I have performed in more than 125 concerts in many sabhas in multiple places in India and have won many prizes, recent ones being my
1. 'Best vocalist-Junior' award from Vani Mahal, Chennai,
2 First prize for Pallavi Darbar's Global Pallavi Contest- Performed for Pallavi Darbar recently too
3. Induction into the Hall of Fame by Live4You,
4. Runner up award in Times Thyagaraja competition and in Sankara Super Singer-4 and more
My Shruthi is C sharp
Darsh Shekar is a disciple of Dr. Patri Satish Kumar. Darsh has been performing in the USA since 2018. Darsh is currently a 10th grader at Sammamish High School, Bellevue. Some of Darsh’s more recent performances include
- Prerana USA , 2022
- Jai Hanuman Temple, Bellevue USA 2022
- Parthasarathy Swami Sabha - Yuva Sangeet Utsav 2021
- ShankaraNarayanan Academy, Mumbai, 2021
- S R Fine Arts, California (solo) 2021
- S R Fine Arts, California (Accompaniment) 2021
- Northwest Folklife festival, Seattle, USA 2020
- Marakatha Navaratri festival , Bellevue USA 2020
- VEDA Temple. Redmond USA, 2018
Brief Profile of Delhi Sisters: Madhavi Sitaraman and Vaishnavi Sitaraman together are called 'Delhi Sisters' and both of them are an erudite academic aficionados mingled with the soul of Carnatic Vocals. Delhi Sisters have been performing at all the prestigious dias, organizations and at various prosceniums and even featured at some of the popular music festivals, some of them are featured at prominent television channels. Both these duo sisters have been performing concerts all over the country under this banner and are the recipients of numerous awards and have also won prizes at various music competitions and at concert competitions some of them notably here are 'Asthana Vidushis' at Anugraha Vinayakar Temple Samithi, Rohini New Delhi, 'Isai Sahodarihal' from Delhi Tamil Sangam and Rasikapriya, Delhi, Champa Narayanan Award & Prathibhakankshi Award from Sree Ramaseva Mandali Bangalore and won at their concert competition and also Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar's award given by Gayathri Fine Arts Delhi.
Some of their noteworthy performances highlights here at Sree Ramaseva Mandali (Bangalore), Bangalore Gayana Samaja (Bangalore), Shanmukhananda Sangeetha Sabha (New Delhi), India International Centre (New Delhi), IGNCA (New Delhi), Delhi Tamil Sangam (New Delhi), Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha (Chennai), Indian Fine Arts Society (Chennai), Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha (Chennai), Bhadrachala Ramadasu (Bhadrachalam), to name a few here.
They have been an active part of the Annamayya Padayagnam musical project a few years back and got certificate from them. Also alongside, Vaishnavi learned Hindustani semi-classical vocals and she participated from her school and bagged numerous prizes at the zonal and district competitions by the Directorate of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi.
Shruti (Vocal) - G (5)
Hari Iyer is an aspiring mridangam player. He was under the tutelage of Sangeetha Kala Acharya Sri. T. H. Subash Chandran, and is currently training with Sri. Akshay Ananthapadmanabhan.
Hari has been playing in the Chennai Marghazhi music season for several years and has accompanied senior Vidwans such as Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. S. Sowmya, Sri. Pattabhiraman Pandit, Sri. Vittal Ramamurthy, Sri. V.V.S Murari, Sri. O S Thyagarajan, Sri V.L. Kumar, and Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya. He has also shared the stage with his guru Sri. T.H. Subash Chandran in a percussion ensemble.
Hari also plays the saxophone and is the recipient of the nationally recognized John Philip Sousa award. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Music and Technology from the University of Oregon and plans to pursue music technology as his career.
Nandini Muralidharan, 17 year old, is a young Carnatic vocalist from Boston, USA. She is a high school senior at Hopkinton High School. Nandini has been learning Carnatic music under her guru Smt. Tara Bangalore of Boston since the age of 5. She learns padams and javelis from Vid. Thiruvarur Girish. Nandini is also being guided and mentored by Vid. Shri Akshay Padmanabhan for the past 3 years. She had received laya training from Vid. Shri Jayachandra Rao. She has won prizes in the senior categories from the esteemed Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana festival. She has been performing regularly in several US venues, for the past 5 years. She recently gave a concert at the Mahaperiyava Manimandapam, New Jersey, as a part of the kumbhabishekam celebrations.
Nandini’s Shruti is G# (G Sharp)
Kedhar Vignesh is a disciple of the renowned violinist Vid. Vittal Rangan. He began his musical journey at the age of 8, learning the violin under the guidance of his father, V. Shankar, and later receiving training from the esteemed Smt. Anusha Sreeram.
Sumukha was initiated into the world of Carnatic percussion at the tender age of 5 under Arun Kumar of Bangalore. Sumukha then continued his training under the tutelage of Sri R.Suthanthiraraj of Sydney for the next 11 years, where he explored the initial stages of his musical journey. For the past 10 years, Sumukha has been mentored by Vid. Melakaveri K. Balaji of Chennai. He has been a regular performer in Sydney’s music festivals and has performed in both classical and semi-classical concerts, collaborating with cross-genre musicians. Sumukha has been privileged to accompany many local and international musicians both in Australia and India.
Uma was initiated into music at the tender age of five. Since then, Carnatic music has been an integral part of her life and routine, despite other professional commitments. She also holds credit for having been trained under the guidance of experts such as Dr. Radha Venkatachalam, Dr. K. Vageesh and Vidushi Rajarajeshwary Bhat. Presently, she is blossoming as a solo vocalist under Vidushi Smt.Gayathri Venkataraghavan, eminent Carnatic vocalist and teacher, and undergoing intense training on Layam under the wings of Vidwan Shri.Erode Nagaraj, renowned Mridangam performer and Teacher. Uma has performed at The British Parliament: House of Commons in April 2012, Nehru Centre (London), India Habitat Centre (New Delhi), Rasika Ranjani Sabha (Chennai), Chembai Sangeetholsavam (Guruvayur) to name a few. Her passion for composing music has led her to be the music Director for dance productions ‘Radhe Radhe..Story of love for the supreme’, ‘Bhakti Sugandham-Fragrance of devotion’, ‘Ramanuja- a historic Drama’, to name a few. She has also been teaching music for the past decade and has worked with the NGO-Music Basti in New Delhi, to help children in mental healing through music. Uma’s prolonged interest lies in exploring the therapeutic value of music through research and implicating their findings in rehabilitation and healing of the mentally ill. She is a certified music therapist. Besides music, Uma has also been trained in Bharatanatyam for 16 years, under the able tutelage of Smt. Jayalakshmi Eshwar, New Delhi. She has a Masters in Human Resource Management from London School of Economics and Political Science, and is currently working as a Strategy Manager in the Energy industry.
Shruti (Vocal): G# -10
Laya is an upcoming multi-faceted artist from Cleveland, Ohio. She is a disciple of Sangitha Kalanidhi Vidushi. Smt. Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, torch bearer of the legendary Lalgudi bani from whom Laya pursues advanced training in the art of Classical Carnatic music. In addition to winning top prizes for over a decade in various competitions held by organizations such as the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana and Chicago Thyagaraja Utsavam, Laya has performed vocal & violin solo concerts and violin accompaniments across prestigious platforms. Laya has been on the orchestra as a violinist and vocalist for many Indian classical dance productions and arangetrams. Also, a passionate Bharathanatyam dancer, Laya trains under Nrithya Seva Mani Guru Smt. Sujatha Srinivasan. Laya regularly performs Western Classical Violin Concerts as part of reputed orchestras, quartets, and ensembles in US.
Seyoon began learning the mridangam under the tutelage of “Sandor” Sri. R. Suthanthiraraj, an esteemed guru of both mridangam and flute and the founder of Ghanalayam Music Academy in Sydney. He has also been undertaking advanced mentoring under Vidwan “Nadha Oli” Melakaveri Sri. K. Balaji, an A-grade artist of All India Radio. He regularly performs at a variety of sabhas and temples in Sydney, Chennai, and the USA, and has shared the stage with senior artistes such as Smt. Hemalatha Ganesan, Sri. T.V. Ramprasadh, Melakaveri Sri. K. Thiagarajan, Sri. G. Sridhar, and Pudukottai Sri. Ramachandran. While completing his undergraduate degree in mathematics at Princeton University, Seyoon also served as president of Princeton Swara, the university’s Indian classical music group. In this role, he organised concerts by renowned artists from India and conducted workshops to introduce other students to Carnatic music. Seyoon is currently pursuing a PhD in computer science at MIT.
Bhargavi has been learning Carnatic Music since age 4 from Smt. Rajarajeshwary Bhat (Founder & Director of Krishna Gana Sabha Music Academy, Houston, TX) and Smt. Kruthi Bhat. In the year 2019, Bhargavi gave her solo debut concert at age 9. Since then she has been giving concerts at various venues in Chennai, Tirunelveli and greater Houston/Dallas area. Bhargavi spent summer (June & July) of 2023 taking advanced lessons from Smt Suguna Varadachary. She has participated and won competitions conducted by – Guruguhaamrta (Tambura prize), Vid VVS Murari’s SaMaa Arts (Grand prizes in many categories), MYICMF 2022 (1st prize in Manodharmam, Krithi, Varnam, Thillana, and 2nd prize in Divine Classics), Cleveland Aradhana, The Artiste, SAPTAMI-Dallas, Namadwaar-Houston
Vignesh Ravi is mridangam player who is a student of Sri Sridhar Chari - a prime disciple of Padma Vibhushan Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr Umayalpuram K Sivaraman. Vignesh has been teaching a number of students mridangam along with his guru Sri Sridhar Chari. He performed his arangetram in 2013 where he accompanied Sri Saketharaman and Sri Nagai Sriram. He has played in a number of programs across Australia across Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Perth and Adelaide. From 2017, he also played at various sabhas during the Margazhi season including Narada Gana Sabha, Karthik Fine Arts, Rajalakshmi Fine Arts (Comibatore), Hamsadhwani and Nada Sudha. He is also a chartered accountant by profession.
Shankar Ramani has been performing concerts for over 25 years across the globe. After spending his initial years learning and accompanying Vidwan O.S.Thiyagarajan in Chennai, he moved to the US in 2003 and has since been a regular performer at Hamsadhwani's NRI festivals alongside all other major Sabhas in Chennai during the December music season. His singing style is characterized by sruthi suddham and profienciency in laya.
Surup Sowmithri Thathachar was initiated into the Carnatic Violin at a young age of 5 years and has blossomed into a fine Violinist par excellence under the able tutelage of Sri Nellai N Ravindran at SIFAS – Singapore. He is currently being mentored by Kalaimamani Sri Sriram Parasuram, Chennai.
Born into a family of Carnatic musicians, Surup started to perform full length Carnatic concerts from the age of 10. He is recognized for his depth of skill, creative imagination, brilliant clarity and accuracy.
This proficiency and versatility won him several laurels such as the Mandolin U Shrinivass International Award 2019 from Shrinivas Institute Of World Musique (SIOWM), India and Arte Compass, Singapore.
The other prestigious awards include Vadya Visharad Title (2017) and Best Student Title (2014) from SIFAS. He received “Rising Star” award for young upcoming talents from Trinity Arts Festival of India in 2018. Surup was the recipient of Top Prizes for Open, Intermediate and Junior categories in NAC’s Indian Music competitions which was all achieved by the age of 15 years which is an added credit.
Surup performs regularly at Chennai Margazhi Utsavam in major sabhas and for charity and has accompanied Legend like Maharajapuram Sri S Ramachandran and many other senior artistes from India and abroad.
Surup is currently pursuing Medicine at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) , Sydney, Australia. He is very delighted to be chosen as Music Director for the UNSW Lo-Fi Society consisting of 1600 members which is a recent feather added to his cap & he wishes to combine Music & Medicine to heal the world in the future.
Rohit Ashok is a disciple of his grandfather Sri KS Kalidas, a direct disciple of the mridanga maha vidwan Pazhani Sri Subramania Pillai. He has performed in several concerts in both India and the US since his arangetram in 2014, including at the Music Academy Madras, Hamsadhwani, Indian Fine Arts, Krishna Gana Sabha, Kartik Fine Arts, and other prestigious venues. He has received prizes in numerous mridangam competitions in Chennai. Originally from Chennai, Rohit is currently based in Austin, USA, pursuing a graduate degree in Operations Research at The University of Texas at Austin.
Kavyapranati Pratapa has been learning carnatic music for the last 16 years. She received her initial training from Smt. Vijayalakshmi Janakiraman, a disciple of several doyens of carnatic music and completed her vocal arangetram in 2017. She is currently pursuing her advanced training under the guidance of noted musician ‘Isai Peroli’ Vidushi S Mahathi and has also learnt from Smt. Suma Venkatesh. Kavyapranati has performed at various festivals including iCarnatic’s Margazhi in Detroit festival and the prestigious December music season in Chennai in 2022. She was also an IndianRaga Fellow in 2020 and has won prizes in online competitions conducted by noted sabhas.
Vignesh Srinivasan is a disciple of Padma Vibushan
Umayalpuram Dr. K. Sivaraman and has been under his tutelage since 2006. He had his arangetram in August 2014 where he accompanied Vid. Ramakrishnan Murthy (Vocal), Vid. MA Sundereswaran (Violin) and Vid. Madipakkam Murali (Ghatam). Since then he has been an active mrudangam artist ,regularly performing in temples and sabhas throughout the year, especially in the December season. Some of his major performances include participation in the Music Academy’s Spirit of Youth Festival (2017), HCLConcert series (2018) and Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts & Sangeetha Sabha’s Talent Promotion Series (2018).[Kindly refer following page for the year wise list of performances] He is a fellow of the online classical arts platform ‘Indian Raga’ and has been part of collaborations since 2017. He is a member of Global Carnatic Musicians Association from 2022 onwards. On the academic and professional front, he’s a Chartered Accountant and a B.Com graduate from RKM Vivekananda College, Mylapore after completing schooling from Vidya Mandir, Mylapore.
I am Venkatasundaram S, a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Computer Science & Engineering at SASTRA University. Over the past nine years, I have dedicated myself to learning the violin, receiving six years of initial training from Vidwan Sri Chittoor Anand. Currently, I am under the guidance of Vidwan Sri Vittal Rangan. My musical journey has encompassed performances in numerous concerts in and around Chennai. Additionally, I can play the keyboard and am currently delving into the intricacies of Western classical piano.
Sreeram Venkat has been learning Carnatic Music since the age of 5. He started learning from Smt. Shyamala Krishna in Kansas and later was under the tutelage of Smt. Geetha Ganesh in Cary, Sri Malladi Suribabu, and Smt. Malladi Vasavi in India. Since 2017, he is learning from Sri. Madurai R. Sundar in Detroit. Sreeram graduated from NC State with degrees in Physics and Applied Mathematics. He is now doing his PhD at UT Austin in Computational Science, Engineering, and Mathematics. 2. Shruti (Vocal) - Shruti is B
- Harish is Pursuing his training in Vocal Carnatic music Under Kalaimamani Dr. Rukmini Ramani.
- He is also learning Mrindagam under Guru, Shri Poovalur Sriji. He has accompanied over 40
concerts In The Dallas Texas U.S.A.His Notable One is Playing for a Group of Students In Front Of Padma Bhushan K.J.Yesudas. - Harish is Pursuing his training in Vocal Carnatic music Under Kalaimamani Dr. Rukmini Ramani.
- He is also learning Mrindagam under Guru, Shri Poovalur Sriji. He has accompanied over 40 concerts In The Dallas Texas U.S.A.His Notable One is Playing for a Group of Students In Front Of Padma Bhushan K.J.Yesudas.
- Harish completed his Vocal Arangetram Last Year In August.
- He has won prizes at the Fetna National Competition, Sapthami Nationals, Global Spring Nectar Foundation, Papanasam Competition, Dallas Star Kalakkar, and other competitions In the DFW Metroplex.
- Harish won many prizes in Chess and is also a 3rd-degree black belt In Taekwondo and won State, Nationals, U. S. Open, Grand Slam, and Pan Am championships.
- Harish also participated in the 2022 International Waves Conference and wrote a paper and did a presentation on the topic, “How to Become a Hindu.”
List of His Notable Vocal Concerts:
- 2021 Mani Krishnaswamy Academy- Online Concert
- Suswara Whatsapp- Online Concert
- Sai Murugan Trust Hall, Chennai, India.
- 2022 Sapthami Foundation- Online concert
- Vocal Arangetram Dallas Texas
- Hamsadwani Sabha, Chennai, India.
- 2023 Anusham Arts Academy RR Sabha-Chennai,
- India.
- IFAA-Dallas Texas
- Papanasam Sivan Festival- Dallas Texas
- Mahaperiyava Vocal Concert -New Jersey
- Nadopasana- DFW Temple Dallas Texas
Anjali got initiated into music at an early age by her parents and trained under Guru D Vardhani. She is pursuing advanced training with senior artists Vid. Sriranjani Santhanagopalan, Vid. Vishnudev Namboodri and Vid. Amrutha Venkatesh.
Anjali is an All India Radio graded artist. She holds a Diploma in Carnatic music and is currently pursuing her Masters in Carnatic Classical Music at the University of SiliconAndhra, USA. She has performed extensively at various Sabhas in USA and India, including the prestigious Chennai December season and various online Sabhas.
She is an IndianRaga Ambassador. She has recorded music for many Classical and Devotional albums, short and feature films, and dance productions, both Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. She teaches vocal music under the Amritavarshini academy banner in USA . Anjali is a Software Engineer and is currently working for a large financial firm in Dallas.
Shruti (Vocal). G#
Kapil Ramanarayanan has been learning mridangam for more than 15 years. He is under the tutelage of mridangam maestro Bangalore Shri Arjun Kumar. Kapil has been accompanying for concerts in the USA, Canada, and India. He has won several prizes from prestigious music organizations in the US and India. Recently, he was selected to perform at the 2023 Spirit of the Youth festival conducted by the Music Academy in Chennai. Kapil is also a western violinist and played in Symphony and Charanga orchestras in high school and college. He also arranged music and performed as a bass singer and vocal percussionist with the award-winning a Cappella group, Tarpeggios at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He Kapil graduated from there with dual degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Music. He is currently working at BASF in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Mathangi and Sambavi, from London (UK), initiated their violin training under the guidance of Bangalore Shri Balu Raguraman and are currently disciples of Padmashri A Kanyakumari. They have performed many violin duet concerts and accompaniment concerts in the UK and Chennai.
They are also vocalists, initiating their training with Late Smt Saraswathy Packiarasa, and currently with Kalaimamani Sri Sikkil Gurucharan. Mathangi and Sambavi also learn Pannisai (Thevaram, Thirupugazh) from Othuvar Sami Dhandapani.
Mathangi won the Asian Music Circuit scholarship award and Sambavi was the first prize Tambura winner of the Guruguhaamrta competitions.
2. Shruthi: D#
Srikrishna Prasannan is a budding ghatam artist. He is a 12th grader in High School in Portland, Oregon. He started learning mridangam from Sri Shankar Viswanathan in Portland. He later switched to ghatam under the tutelage of Sangeetha Kala Acharya and Kalaimamani late Sri T.H Subhash Chandran and had his arangetram in 2019. He is now continuing his training from Kanjira Vidwan Sri Ganesh Kumar of Chennai and also receives guidance from Sri Muralikrishna and Smt Sreevidhya Chandramouli in Portland, OR USA.
Krishna has performed at various events as part of the local Sankara Drumming Group and has had opportunities to play Ghatam and Kanjira for several programs in the Pacific Northwest, the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana and the Chennai music season. He is also an Indian Raga Fellow for ghatam.
Rishabh Kaushik is from Los Angeles, California. He is a vocal disciple of Vid KN Shashikiran and Carnatic keyboard disciple of Smt Srivaralaxmi Maya. Rishabh comes from a family with significant musical lineage traced back to the eminent mridangist Vid. Thanjavur Vaidyanatha Iyer and Palghat Ghatam Sundaram to Mullaivasal Chandramouli, and Rohan Krishnamurthy from the current generations. His maiden performance was at age 9 during Chennai’s Marghazhi season and since has performed in over 60
plus online and live venues including several prestigious venues in India such as Brahma Gana Sabha, Chembur Fine Arts, Hamsadhwani, Global Carnatic Music Association, Rasika Ranjani Sabha, Madhuradhwani, Carnatica and Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Tamil Nadu Govt Music College, Mani Krishnaswami to name a few. In the USA he has performed at the prestigious Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana (Ohio), Pallavi Darbar, Carnatica Global-Silicon Andhra University (San Fransisco), Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, Bharat Sangeet Natya Kala Utsav (San Jose), Nadotsavam at SV temple (Minneapolis), Mahaperiva Manimandapam (NJ) etc and also at the Sugam International Carnatic Music festival in Malaysia. He is the youngest inductee for Carnatic keyboard in the Live4You Hall of Fame award 2022 received from Shri N. Murali of Music Academy and a Gold Medal winner in advanced contemporary piano. He is also a recipient of several prizes in Carnatic Vocal and Keyboard from the Cleveland Aradhana and won over 13 prizes in the Sugam Culture and Heritage Foundation international music contest. He has been recognised by the Conejo Valley School Board of Directors, Thousand Oaks for leveraging his musical talent to bring awareness of inclusion in the performing arts. Rishabh has been accompanied by stalwart musicians in India and USA and his performance reviews and social initiative “Service Through Music” has been published in over 10 international newspapers and magazines such as The Hindu, Times of India, Mylapore Times and other city papers in India, Conejo Valley lifestyle, Simi Valley Acorn and Dos Vientos living in USA.
Shruthi: B
Swathi Sri Krishna: Introduction and Early Training:
Swathi Sri Krishna is a Carnatic Classical Vocalist born in a family of musicians and patrons of arts. Her maternal grandparents famously known as the Challas who dedicated their life for the service of art and artists. Young Swathi was introduced to music through her family lineage and started learning from her maternal aunt and family Guru Acharya N.Ch Krishnamacharyulu who was an scholar in music, harikatha and Sanskrit. Swathi was awarded “age exemption” by the All India Radio to perform in AIR at the age of 12. Simultaneously Swathi had the rare opportunity to learn from many scholars and legendary musicians like Vidwan Sri. Voleti Venkateswarulu, Vidwan Sri. Nedunuri Krishnamurthy and Vidwan Sri. Lalgudi G Jayaraman also. Advanced Training in Chennai:
After Sri Nedunuri advised her to migrate to Chennai, Swathi came under the tutelage of Padma Bhushan, Vidwan Sri PS NARAYANASWAMY. She received junior and senior government aided scholarship to learn under Sri PSN. Her senior scholarship got extended also for 2 more years after seeing her inclination and progress in music
She is a graded artist of All India Radio and has performed in all major sabhas all across India.
Awards and Recognition:
She was awarded the Best Sub-Senior Vocalist Voleti Venkateswarulu Award from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha Chennai during the 1999 Gokulashtami festival.
Awarded the Kalasagaram Tambura Award for the best adjudged the best vocalist in the year 1994
Swathi had the rare privilege to sing in an art film titled Shringaram in which the music was directed by Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman. The film received a national award for the best music direction.
Swathi teaches many students in India and abroad. She is a regular performer during the Margazhi season in Chennai during the month of December
Shruti – 5
Diya Godavarti has been learning Carnatic vocal music from Guru Smt. Tara Bangalore in the Greater Boston area from the tender age of 6. Under her guidance, Diya developed a deep love for music, learned the importance of hard work and dedication, and inherited key values of respect, humility, and passion. Diya has performed extensively in the Greater Boston area as well as in Chennai during the Marghazhi Utsavam Festival. Diya has also won numerous prizes at the Cleveland Aradhana competitions and participated in the Sustaining Sampradaya group at Cleveland two years in a row. During the pandemic, Diya raised funds for Sankara Netralaya USA Trust by performing multiple virtual concerts between 2020-2021. She gave a 4 hour concert for her vocal Arangetram performance in August 2017. In addition to performing, Diya has participated in several workshops conducted by renowned musicians and gurus. In 2018, Diya and her Guru received a grant from the Massachusetts State Cultural Council to support Diya’s further advanced training in Carnatic music. Diya is currently a sophomore at Georgia Institute of Technology majoring in Chemical and Bimolecular Engineering.
Vishal Sowmyan has been learning violin since the age of 4 and is under the tutelage of legendary violinist Padmashri Sangeetha kalanidhi Guru A Kanyakumari. Vishal has won several awards and regularly performs concerts and tours around the country at centers including the renowned Carnegie Hall in New York, and the Cleveland Aradhana festival. He is the recipient of the junior musician of the year award for winning the advanced category instituted by the Carnatic Music Association of North America (CMANA).Vishal has played in prestigious sabhas in India during the December Music Festival including Narada Gana Sabha and Vani Mahal. He regularly accompanies visiting artists from India like KS Vishnudev and Ashwath Narayanan. He is currently studying at Emory University.
Vineeth Godavarti has been learning mridangam since the young age of 5 under Vidwan Kulur Jayachandra Rao who is a star in the world of Indian rhythm today. Sri Jayachandra Rao hails from a musical family and trained under mridangam maestros Trichur Sri E. P. Narayan Pisharady and Palakkad Sri T. R. Rajamani, son of the legendary Padma Bhushan Palakkad Mani Iyer.
Vineeth performed his Arangetram in Aug, 2023 where he shared the stage with world- renowned musicians, Vidwan Sri. Pattabhirama Pandit and Vidwan Sri. Giridhar Udupa. Vineeth is also pursuing vocal training with Guru Smt. Tara Bangalore, and has accompanied many students at Anubhava School of Music. Vineeth has accompanied for Arangetram in the Greater Boston area and performed at local temple programs. Vineeth is currently a freshman at Westford Academy. Apart from learning mridangam, Vineeth is passionate about math, and has placed in local and national competitions. In his free time, Vineeth loves to play piano, basketball and chess, and hang out with his friends and his sister.
Sriranjani Haran, started learning vocal Carnatic Music at the age of two from her mother. She continued her music education under Guru Smt. Radhika Pattabhiraman at the age of eight. She has been learning for past four years from Guru Smt. Sumithra Vasudev. She also learns the Veena from her aunt Guru Meena Swaminathan and Violin from Guru Sri Kovai S Chandran. Sriranjani has performed many solo concerts. Notable concerts are at Hamsadhwani Chennai in December 2019, Shrutilaya and Nadavinodam at New York, USA. In addition she has also given performances at Shrivari temple in New Jersey, Mahavallabha Ganapathi Temple, Shri Shirdi Saibaba Temple in New York, and in Varasiddhi Vinayaka Temple in Bangalore. She was featured in The Hindu newspaper, in the column “Chennai Marghazhi Young Artiste of the Day”. She has also won many awards in competitions conducted by several organizations.
Sriranjani is a freshman at Macaulay Honors program at Queens College. She is majoring in Computer Science. In addition she also plays Tennis in her spare time and was the captain of her school tennis team.
Shruthi ---- 5 or G
- Sruthi Venkataraman is currently pursuing her advanced training in Bharatanatyam under her Guru Madurai R Muralidharan and takes Masterclasses from Various Gurus.
- Sruthi is also currently learning Carnatic music. She has been a part of the Cleveland Thygaraja Aradhana for the past few years Under the Tutelage of Sri Ashok Ramani.
- Sruthi completed her Arangetram In Bharatanatyam 2 years back.
- She took on the '50 Jathi challenge' and Tamil Annai Varnam initiated by Shri Madhurai Muralidharan and entered the Guinness, Asia, and India Book of Records.
- She has won prizes at prominent competitive platforms like Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival, Fetna, Global Spring Nectar Foundation, Saptami Nationals, Papanasam competitions, Star Quest, NATS, Radha Krishna Sanskruthi, and numerous other competitions.
- Sruthi also won First prize and received an Award From Actress and Dancer Meenakshi Seshadri In Dallas Star Kalakkar.
- She is also a Finalist In Shravya Season 4 conducted By Smt, Sudha Raghunathan.
- Sruthi is also a 3rd-degree black belt in Taekwondo and has won Gold in Major Taekwondo Competitions like the U.S. Open, Grand Slam, National Championships, Grand Prix Final, and Puerto Rico Open. She represented Team USA In the Costa Rica Pan Am Championships won Gold and Came up to the quarter-final in Sofia, Bulgaria in the World Championships. She also won Bronze at The Dracula Open Championships In Romania, Europe. She is Currently An AAU A Team member and Represents the U.S.A. In the world.
- She has also been a part of Broadway-style productions such as ThinkIndia Foundation, Classic Bollywood, East meets West Production with Live Orchestra, Thirukural Dance Production By FETNA By Padmashree Narthaki Nataraj, New York, Dallas, and Chennai, Sanga Tamizh production By Sir Madurai R Muralidharan.
- She Performs Actively In The Temple Nadopasanas In The DFW Texas Area. Her Notable performance was at the Opening of The Manimandapm In New Jersey.
- Sruthi has also performed in many dance events to help raise funds for charity Organisations Like Dance for Cure, and various other organizations.
- She also participated in the 2022 International Waves Conference, and wrote and presented on the topic, “How to Become a Hindu.
Awards Received:
Natya Mayuri and Kala Prathibha From Rotary Club of Tiruvallur, Margzhi Utsav -2- Dec 25, 2022.
Outstanding Athlete Award From Texas State Taekwondo Association Dec 10, 2022.
Proclamation from the Mayor, City of Frisco, TX- Mar 1, 2022,
AAU Varsity Award
Principal and Presidents award in 8th grade
Concerts In Chennai:
RR Sabha- Anusham Arts Academy- Jan 2, 2023
Hamsadhwani Sabha - Dec 29, 2022
Vocal-Sai Murugan Trust Hall Concert Dec 8, 2021
Prameela Mandayam is a highly accomplished musician, teacher, and performer based in the greater Seattle area. Her musical journey began at the tender age of five under the guidance of her grandmother, Smt. Janaki Ammal, a renowned musician herself. Since then,
Prameela has dedicated herself to the pursuit of musical excellence.
Currently, Prameela is honing her skills under the tutelage of two distinguished mentors, Mrs. Anahita Ravindran and Sangeeth Samrat Sri Chitravina N Ravikiran Sir. Their guidance and expertise have further enriched her musical abilities, shaping her into the artist she is today.
Prameela holds deep gratitude for her former gurus, Smt. Prathima Shashidar, Smt. Padmavathi Tyagaraju, and Smt. Meera Krishna, who played a pivotal role in her musical education. Their guidance and mentorship laid a strong foundation for her musical journey.
As a respected teacher in the greater Seattle area, Prameela has made a significant impact on the local music community. Her teaching endeavors have nurtured numerous aspiring musicians, who have gone on to participate in prestigious events such as the Melharmony Festival, Cleveland Aradhana, Tyagaraja Aradhana, Purandara Aradhana, and Annamarcharya Jayanti celebrations, among others.
Prameela's diverse background in both Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dance forms has provided her with a deep appreciation for the connection between music and movement. She thoroughly enjoys singing for dance performances, infusing her renditions with emotive expressions and rhythm.
With her unwavering passion, extensive training, and commitment to her art, Prameela Mandayam continues to captivate audiences with her soulful and enchanting performances. Her dedication to preserving and promoting the rich heritage of Indian classical music is truly commendable.
Madhusudhan Vadlamani had his initial training in Carnatic vocal from his aunt Smt. Sujana Parupalli at the age of 6. He later switched to pursuing Carnatic Violin and is learning under the tutelage of Smt. Seetha Ramakrishnan and Vidushi Ranjani Ramakrishnan for the past 13 years. Madhu has won several first prizes in the Manodharmam aspects of Alapana, Swara Kalpana, Neraval, and Pallavi in both junior and senior categories in addition to winning second prize in the concert competition at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Music Festival. Madhu has given several solo concerts and has provided accompaniment to several leading artists such as Kalaimamani VIdwan R. Suryaprakash, Vidushi Smt. Vrinda Acharya, Chitraveena Ganesh to name a few.
Vaidehi Subramanyan is an Australian bharatanatyam dancer, performing regularly and teaching in Canberra, Australia. She is a disciple of gurus Smt K.P. Yesodha and Smt Ambika Buch, both alumni of Kalakshetra.
The granddaughter of Kalakshetra alumnus and teacher the late Thangamani Nagarajan, Vaidehi was drawn to bharatanatyam from a young age. Since presenting her first solo performance in 2019, Vaidehi has pursued the art form seriously and performs solo regularly in Canberra, including amongst a number of art exhibitions at the Drill Hall Gallery. Currently, Vaidehi is an “in house artist” at Gorman Arts Centre, one of the oldest arts institutions in Canberra, and an active member of Ausdance ACT, the peak dance body in Australia, for whom she has performed and conducted workshops. She also teaches a class of young adults using the traditional methodology imparted to her by her grandmother and gurus.
Vaidehi studies Carnatic vocal under S. Bagyalakshmi of Kalakshetra. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University and currently works as a legislative drafter with the Australian government
Lavanya Karthikeyan is a dancer, vocalist, and violinist from Bridgewater, NJ, USA. Lavanya began her artistic journey at a young age, introduced to dance by her mother, Smt. Radhamani Varadhachary, and starting violin lessons at five with Smt. Sandhya Anand. She currently trains in Bharathanatyam under Sri. Shankar Kandasamy, in Carnatic vocal under Vid. Abilash Giriprasad, and in Carnatic violin from Vid. Rajeev Mukundan.
Lavanya has graced stages in the USA, India and Malaysia, showcasing her talents in South Indian Classical art forms. She has given noteworthy performances, including in Chennai and at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, and topped the Indian Raga Championship board for both violin and dance in 2017, underscoring her nationwide artistic impact.
Recently, Lavanya was named a YoungArts Winner with Distinction in Dance World Dance/Indian for the 2024 YoungArts national competition ( The National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists )and is invited to Miami to collaborate with other Young arts winners with Distinction in Various disciplines. Motivated by her passions, Lavanya aspires to pursue higher education in Musical Theater. She aims to leave an enduring mark in dance and music as she continues to evolve as an artist.
Laya Venkatesan is a passionate dancer who has been pursuing the Kalakshetra style of Bharata Natyam since the age of five. She completed her arangetram in 2015 in New Jersey under the guidance of Guru Smt. Selvi Chandranathan and her mother Geetha Ranganathan. Laya has participated in numerous concerts across the tri-state area throughout her school days and was also actively involved in her classical dance club at Carnegie Mellon University. She loves attending dance concerts and cultural events and has attended dance classes at Guru Kalaimamani Smt. Roja Kannan's Bharatha Natyalaya in Chennai.
- A third year Computer Engineering Student, an aspiring singer and keen student of Carnatic music.
- Born on Feb 13, 2004, in Chennai, started my initial music lessons under Ms. Bhavani Srinivasan
(disciple of Ms. Kalyani Sharma, Disciple of Sri Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer) and then joined the
Shanmukhananda Sangeetha Vidyalaya in Mumbai.
- Continued learning from Sri P Venkataraman (TSK School), after moving to Toronto, from 2013.
- In 2016 started more rigorous learning under the mentorship and tutelage of Ms. Sutikshna
Veeravalli, (Performing Carnatic vocalist, Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher) and from noted singer & Guru Kalaimamani Dr R Suryaprakash, of the great Madurai Mani Iyer Bani.
- Part of Masterclasses taught by Sangeeta Kala Acharya Smt. Suguna Varadachari.
- Attended workshops / training sessions conducted by well known musicians and Gurus
Organizations & list of Key Performances
- iCarnatic Chicago Summer Music and Dance Festival – in person Aug 2023
- Susvara foundation – in person and live concert in June 2023
- Mani Krishnaswamy Academy – live concert in June 2023
- Naada Madhuram series 2022, 2021 and 2020
- Online Navaratri series for Acharyanet – October 2022
- NIT Trichy Amritavarshini Series, IMPL, Carnatica 2020 & 2021
- Arts to Save the Hearts foundation during 2020-21
- Navaratri, Rama Navami utsavam, including annual day celebrations of my Guru 2016 to 2019
- Navaratri Utsavam @ SVBF, Karpaga Vinayakar Temple & Siva temple from 2016-19.
- Cleveland Thyagaraja Utsavam 2017: Sustaining Sampradaya & lead singer of the invocation
krithi (Thyagaraja Guru Ashraye) and participated in the Pancharatnam Singing.
- Thyagaraja Aradhana & Dikshitar Day – BKM Toronto, 2015
- Part of various group performances in Toronto and US.
Awards & Recognitions
Second in Guess the Krithi contest by Sudhaarnava Academy of Musical Excellence
Best vocal singer in the annual day celebrations & Shanmukhananda Sangeetha Vidyalaya
Shruti (Vocal) : B
Nitya Sriram is a disciple of Guru Sreeliji Arun at Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS). She graduated from SIFAS in 2017 with a diploma in Bharatanatyam and was conferred the Natya Visharad Title Award. She has performed extensively in Singapore as a solo artiste in various festivals such as SIFAS Festival of the Arts and Bhaskareeyam and is an accomplished ensemble dancer. She has been a company dancer with Apsaras Arts Dance Company since 2021, performing with them in multiple productions over the past 2 years in Singapore, Chennai and France.
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Abishek Chandrasekar is a budding vocalist learning Carnatic music under Sri Chertalai Sivakumar, professor of violin and vocal music at Kalakshetra College of Fine Arts, Chennai. Abishek began his training under Smt.Usha Jagathrakshakan in Bangalore at the tender age of 3, continued under smt. Vijaya Srinivas and has been undeterredly learning vocal music from various gurus practicing different styles over the years which has broadened his outlook on the art form
Akshay Venkatesan, a freshman in University of Washington, Seattle, has been learning mridangam for the past 13 years from Sri Ramesh Srinivasan, a leading disciple of mridangam Maestro Late Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri Vellore G. Ramabhadran. Akshay is also undergoing advanced training under the tutelage of Vidwan Sri. S.V. Ramani.
Akshay is a staff member of SPAC and has been teaching actively in the school. Akshay has also been teaching at a workshop (Gurukulam) in San Diego coordinated by Sri VVS Murari for the past 2 years.
Akshay has been accompanying vocalists and instrumentalists regularly all over US and in many sabhas in the December music season in Chennai since 2013. He has also been providing support for Bharatanatyam and Vocal arangetrams.
In 2016, Akshay received “Yuva Prathiba” award from Sri. V.V. Subramanian mama as part of the V.V.S. Foundation, recognizing his immense contribution and performance in the field of Carnatic music in North America.
For the past two years in the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival, Akshay was blessed with the opportunity to take part in Sri. Karaikudi Mani Sir’s “Laya Sagaram” and “The Dance of Layam” programs.
In addition, Akshay learns vocal Carnatic music and is a student of Sri Paduka Academy. He recently had his vocal debut concert on June 29, 2019. He also plays Alto Saxaphone and continues to pursue this in his college.
Akshay Venkatesan, a freshman in University of Washington, Seattle, has been learning mridangam for the past 13 years from Sri Ramesh Srinivasan, a leading disciple of mridangam Maestro Late Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri Vellore G. Ramabhadran. Akshay is also undergoing advanced training under the tutelage of Vidwan Sri. S.V. Ramani.
Akshay is a staff member of SPAC and has been teaching actively in the school. Akshay has also been teaching at a workshop (Gurukulam) in San Diego coordinated by Sri VVS Murari for the past 2 years.
Akshay has been accompanying vocalists and instrumentalists regularly all over US and in many sabhas in the December music season in Chennai since 2013. He has also been providing support for Bharatanatyam and Vocal arangetrams.
In 2016, Akshay received “Yuva Prathiba” award from Sri. V.V. Subramanian mama as part of the V.V.S. Foundation, recognizing his immense contribution and performance in the field of Carnatic music in North America.
For the past two years in the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival, Akshay was blessed with the opportunity to take part in Sri. Karaikudi Mani Sir’s “Laya Sagaram” and “The Dance of Layam” programs.
In addition, Akshay learns vocal Carnatic music and is a student of Sri Paduka Academy. He recently had his vocal debut concert on June 29, 2019. He also plays Alto Saxaphone and continues to pursue this in his college.
Akshaya Sekharan, has been learning Bharatanatyam from her Guru. Smt. Deepa Mahadevan, artistic director of Tiruchitrambalam in Bay area, California, in Dhandayuthapani pillai style, for the past 15 years. She took part in many dance productions like Sense Beyond, Silapathikaram etc by Guru Madurai R Muralidharan. Akshaya has completed her arangetram in 2013 and has been performing ever since. She has participated in many competitions and won many accolades. She is an undergraduate student at University of Chicago pursuing her pre-med. It is a privilege and honor for her to be performing in Hamsadwani Sabha, Chennai during Margazhi masam.
Ananya Sekharan, has been learning Bharatanatyam from her Guru Shirni Kanth, artistic director of Mythri natyalaya in Baya area, California for the past 11 years. She took part in many thematic recitals choreographed by her Guru Smt Shirni Kanth and also in productions like Karna by Guru Madurai R Muralidharan, Gajananeeyam by Prof Guru Pasumarthy Ramalinga Sastry. Also participated in many local performances and competitions and won many accolades. Ananya has completed her arangetram in 2018 and has been learning from her guru ever since. She is in her 11th grade in Saratoga High school. It is a immense opportunity for her to perform in Hamsadwani sabha, Chennai during Margazhi masam.
Anirudh Raja is a 10th grader at Oak Grove High School, San Jose, CA, USA. He is a vivid learner with great passion to Carnatic Music and began learning his vocal lessons at an age of 6 from Guru Hari Devanath and Guru Vivek Sundararaman, prime disciple of Sri. Neyveli Santhanagopalan at Sri Paduka Academy in San Jose. He has been privileged to learn from Sri Neyveli Santhanagopalan and part of Neyveli Sishyakulam.
Anirudh has won many awards and prizes such as Carnatic Music Idol USA 2014, Global Carnatic Musician 2017, Cleveland Thayagaraja Aradhana, Annamacharya National Winner 2018, Carnatic Music Association for Youth (CMAY) 2019, International Oothukadu Festival 2019. He is a regular participant in Cleveland Sustaining Sampradaya Track. He regularly performs across all venues in US and during the December music season in Chennai
Arjun Subramaniam is a third-year student at Princeton University, and has been learning Carnatic Music for 14 years. He is a disciple of Smt. Sugandha Kalamegham. He has performed regularly in the US and in Chennai, including in top venues in the December Season, and has won several awards. He is also President of Princeton Swara, an on-campus Indian Classical Music organization, and has hosted concerts by prominent Carnatic music artists from India. Arjun is studying Computer Science and plans to pursue graduate school.
Arthavan had his initial training in miruthangam under the guidance of Shri Agaramangudi Anandakrishnan (Madhu) Kailash in Brisbane and continues intensive training under (the Late) Shri Srirangarajapuram Jayaraman, Shri Srirangarajapuram Ganesh and Shri K R Ganesh in Chennai, India. He completed his miruthangam arangetram in 2007. Since then Arthavan has accompanied several musicians in Brisbane and Chennai, including Sikkil Gurucharan (vocal), Maharajapuram Ramachandran (vocal), the Carnatica brothers (vocal & instrumental) and Amrutha Murali (vocal). He has been teaching miruthangam in Brisbane for the past 12 years, and performs annually at the December Music Festival season in prestigious Sabhas, such as Narada Ghana Sabha, Krishna Gana Sabha, Brahma Gana Sabha, Karthik Fine Arts, Bharat Kalachar and Hamsadwani. Recently he has been accompanying Bharathanatyam concerts and arangetrams in Brisbane. He works as a paediatric trainee doctor at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, subspecializing in metabolic genetics.
Arun Mahadevan began his training in Carnatic vocal at the age of six under the guidance of Smt. Ranganayaki Rajan in Bengaluru, followed by guidance from Smt. Lakshmi Suparna of Nadopasana School of Music, Malleswaram, Bengaluru. He later learnt from Vidwan O.S. Thiagarajan and also had the privilege of learning from the late Prof. T. R. Subramaniam and. He is currently taking advanced lessons from Vidwan Delhi P. Sunderrajan.
Arun gave his first public concert at the age of ten. Since then, he has performed concerts at venues in India and the USA, in addition to providing vocal accompaniment for several Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi recitals. Arun is a B-high graded artist at the Bengaluru station of All India Radio.
Aside from music, Arun received his PhD in bioengineering from Rice University, Houston, Texas, and is currently a post-doctoral scholar at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Born and brought up in New Zealand, Avinash was exposed to the confluence of musical genres that this land has to offer. His innate passion for the arts exposed him to the nuances of Western music and Oriental music.
Avinash’s journey through the classical art form of Mridhangam has been under the tutelage of Sri Suresh Ramachandra (Student of Kalaimamani Guruvayoor Dorai), from whom he has been imbibing the intricacies of Thaala for the past 13 years.
The New Zealand Carnatic Music Society conferred the title “Vadya Visharad” on Avinash in 2017, after successful completion of Diploma in Carnatic Music. Avinash also holds a Diploma in Carnatic Vocal music awarded by the Academy of Fine Arts, London.
In March 2018, Avinash completed his Mridhanga Arangetram in Auckland, accompanying the well-renowned vocalist, Kum. Sriranjani Santhanagopalan and playing alongside other artists such as Vittal Rangan, Trichi Murali and A S Krishnan from India. He was awarded the title of “Layaanjali” from the Temple of Fine Arts, NZ, at the conclusion of this event
Avinash has been regularly accompanies other Artist in Auckland, Wellington New Zealand and Sydney Australia. He also learns Carnatic Vocal Music under Kalaimamani S Rajeswari of Chennai.
Currently Avinash is in his second year at the University of Auckland, pursuing a degree in Health Sciences.
February 21, 2003) hails from a family rich in musical heritage. His late grandfather Shri R Rajagopalan was a Carnatic vocalist, veena exponent, composer, and music director and his cousin Sid Sriram is a well-known Carnatic vocalist and a popular playback singer. Dev began his journey into the world of Indian Classical music at the age of five and was initiated into Carnatic music by his grandfather himself. Dev then came under the tutelage of Sangeet Samrat Chitravina N Ravikiran as well as his senior disciple, Anahita Ravindran. He was presented in a maiden concert on August 18, 2018 at the University of Texas, in Austin. The India Fine Arts of Austin recognized him with the title of Bala Vidwan.
Dev has since been actively been performing in venues such as DESH Festival, Agni Foundation, Akshaya Patra Foundation, Atlanta, Sankara Eye Foundation etc. He has also been a part of the North American Melodic Ensemble in the Cleveland Tyagaraja Festival.
Dev is proficient in Western violin too and a member of the Advanced/Chamber Orchestra at the University of Texas and also at the Cedar Ridge High School Symphonic Orchestra.
Kumari Kyra Kishore (14 years) a disciple of Guru. Smt. Akila Subramanyam started her dance lessons at a young age of five. Over the years, Kyra developed a passion and appreciation for this art form and loves communicating through dance. She is fortunate to have inherited her Guru’s traditional aesthetic style of dancing along with its core values.
- Performed at the Cleveland Aradhana festival in a group production “Prathatyaksha Deivame” – composed by Dr. Rukmini Ramani - April 2019
- Solo performance for the Kerala Flood relief fundraiser. – September 2018
- Performed and part of the dance production Ramayana – Aaranyagaandam by Sri. Srikanth Natarajan and Smt. Aswathy Nair, a fund raiser for Swami Sri Dayananda Saraswathy’s gurukulam – May 2018
- Performed at the Gopalakrishna Bharathi Festival at Mayiladuthurai sharing the stage with Sri. Srikanth Natarajan and Smt. Aswathy Nair - February 2018.
- Solo dance recital at the Thiruvalangadu Temple in Chennai. - July 2017.
- Part of the dance school’s first fundraiser ““NANDHISWARA NANDHAMUKUNDA” to raise funds for the education of under privileged children in Bangalore. - March 2017.
Kyra will be performing solo dance recital for “Giri Fine Arts” in December 2019. She has been fortunate to attend workshops under the guidance of her Guru with several eminent artists like Smt. Indira Kadambi, Sri. N. Srikanth and Smt. Bragha Bessel.
She has participated and won accolades at various prestigious competitions like Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, Saptami Foundation, Sivan Fine Arts Academy, Annual Indian Music and Dance Competition, Kerala Association of Greater Washington and so forth.
Madhu (Ganesh) Vadlamani has recently graduated (BS in Computer Science) from UNC Chapel Hill (Class of 2019). He had his initial training in vocal from his aunt Smt. Sujana Parupalli at the age of 6. Later he switched to Violin and is currently learning under the tutelage of Smt. Seetha Ramakrishnan and Vidushi Ranjani Ramakrishnan for the past 9 years. Madhu has won many awards both in US and India and regularly gives concerts during the December music season in Chennai.
Manickam Yogeswaran's musical career spans more than four decades. During childhood he was trained in Carnatic music and Tamil Isai from his teachers the late “Sangita Bhushanam” S. Balasingam and the late Sangita Bhushanam” P. Muthukumarasamy. He is a disciple of the world-renowned musician “Padmabhushan”, “Sangita Kalanidhi” Sri T V Gopalakrishnan from South India.
Yogeswaran is the coordinator for South Asian music at the Global Music Academy in Berlin. He also teaches Carnatic vocal, mirdangam and flute at the Academy. Yogeswaran performs in an eclectic range of styles with two of his own ensembles, “Carnatic music ensemble” to his collaboration with European musicians “Carnatic Comfort Zone”.
Yogeswaran was conferred the prestigious 'Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Centenary Celebrations commemorative Award' for his significant services to Karnataka Music on a global level in Mysore in 2018.
Yogeswaran was the first Tamil voice to hit Hollywood after singing on Jocelyn Pook’s haunting soundtrack to Stanley Kubrick's “Eyes Wide Shut”. He performed a song composed by Jocelyn Pook as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee in June 2012. He sang for the musical “Voices across the world” at the Royal Opera House. He played a role as Mahatma Gandhi in a musical celebrating the Bi - centenary of the Norwegian constitution. The musical “Stemmer” was composed by the British composer Orlando Gough and performed with the Bergen National Orchestra in Bergen Norway
Yogeswaran received acclaim for his appearances at festivals such as BBC Proms, Womad, Glastonbury, Montreaux Jazz Festival, Vienna festival, Arts and Ideas Festival USA, Sacred Music Festival-Berlin and at the Bergen International Festival-Norway.
He is a regular feature at the December music festival in Chennai since1994.
Mayuri Srivaths, age 13 years, has been learning carnatic music vocal since age 3 from Vidushi Smt. RajaRajeshwari Bhat and Vidushi Smt. Shyamala Venkateswaran. She completed Level IV CARNATIX theory examination with distinction. She has participated in krithi, manodharmam and RTP competitions and won prizes at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, Dallas Saptami, Carnatic Music Idol USA, Sangeeth Bala Samrat USA, Carnatic Star Competition-Dallas, and Papanasam Sivan festival. She participated in Sustaining Sampradaya 2016-2019, and Carnatic Epic Choir at the Cleveland Aradhana, and Indian Raga Houston labs with Sri. Abhishek Raghuram. She has done concerts in Chennai and the US and has been performing at the Chennai December music festival for the past 3 years.
Nitya Narasimhan is a Bharatanatyam dancer and artistic director of the Prayukti Academy for Indian Arts, California. She is under the tutelage of Guru Rukmini Vijayakumar, Bangalore and is a senior disciple/dancer in the Raadha Kalpa Dance Company. She began her Bharatanatyam training at the age of 4 and spent her formative years learning under Guru Suma Mani, Chennai. Nitya holds a diploma in movement and pedagogy from Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts and Media and is currently pursuing an Art of Teaching program in Iyengar Yoga. She worked as the Programming Director for the Lshva Art Space and the Raadha Kalpa Dance Company gaining experience in working with eminent artists and curating various art events. Nitya is a solo and freelance performer in the Bay Area, California and works with many reputed companies including Set Vidhya Subramanian's Ensemble, Nava Dance Theatre and has been a part of notable productions touring across the US like Ganga to Kaveri by Utsav Music, Life of Pi by Bharati Alliance, Gandhi by Abhinaya Dance Company. She also extensively presents solo work and has been performing for the Chennai Marghazi kutcheris in various sabhas.
Pranavkrishna Ramasubramanian, disciple of Shri Erode Nagarajan, prime sishya of Padmashree, Sangeet Kalanidhi Umayalpuram K Sivaraman, has been learning Mrudangam from the age of 3. Since his maiden concert in accompanying local artists in Omaha to his arangetram in Chennai accompanying Shri Bharat Sundar in July 2018, Pranavkrishna has been accompanying a number of leading artists across US as well as in the December music festival in Chennai. He has accompanied Shri. Sunil Gargyan, Shri. Aditya Prakash, Vids Anahita and Apoorva, Shri. Chitravina Ravikiran, Shri. Ashok Ramani to name a few.
Pranavkrishna is a senior in Millard North High School. He is a fellow in IndianRaga & has won several prizes in percussion competitions in Cleveland Thayagaraja Ardhana and was placed third in national level Sangeet Saamraat. He is also very involved in Robotics and has been placed in the recent world championship.
Raghuveer and Narayan are current disciples of Vidvan Sri OSThiagarajan. They started their musical journey from childhood. Raghuveer showed interest in singing at the age of 4. Their mother Smt.Vijayashree, a student of Smt Vijaya Nagarajan (disciple of Smt.DKPattammal), was Raghuveer’s first teacher. When the family moved to Melbourne, Raghuveer started learning from Smt Vasumathi Subramanian (disciple of Sri TR Subramanian and Sri VV Sadakopan). Inspired by his brother, Narayan soon started learning from Smt. Vasumathi.
In 2010 the brothers were introduced to Sri OSThiagarajan who took them as his disciples. Considering themselves very blessed to learn from such a revered Vidvan, their passion and commitment for the art form increased many fold.
Soon they started performing as a duo in Melbourne, Sydney and NZ and feature regularly in the Chennai Music Festival from 2011-12 season and never looked back. In their musical journey Raghuveer has nearly 20 years of Carnatic music experience while Narayan has over 15 years.
Their performances in Chennai includes in Sabhas such as Narada Gana Sabha, Mylapore Fine Arts, Kartik Fine Arts, Hamsadhwani (NRI Festival), Bharat Kalachar, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha (Vani Mahal), Rasika Fine Arts to name a few.
They give high importance to all aspects of manodharmam – raga alapanai, neraval, kalpanaswaram & RTP with emphasis on spontaneity and creativity, while strongly rooted in the traditional form of Carnatic music.
Apart from the traditional concert performances, they have provided Carnatic vocal support to Harikatha by Sri Dushyanth Sridhar as well as for dance performances from time to time.
They have a few awards to their credit. Raghuveer was one of the finalists in the MSS Voice of the year 2017 Award and performed at the Music Acadamy in Oct 17. Narayan won the titles Carnatician of Australia and Global Carnatician 2017 in the Senior Category.
They are keen to dedicate their skill for noble causes and perform an annual Charity concert in Melbourne and have raised about A$16000 in their past 4 fundraising concerts.
The brothers attribute their achievements to the tutelage and blessings of their Guru Sri OST, the blessings of their Acharya Andavan Swami and enormous support of their parents both from the Music side and from taking care of all the concert logistics.
Raghuveer is a Chemical Engineer with a Business Management degree from RMIT,Melbourne and Narayan is a Commerce graduate from Monash University.
Rasika Murali Mohan is an accomplished Carnatic vocalist and violinist with an illustrious musical lineage. She commenced vocal training with her mother, Late Smt. Geetha Murali at the age of 5. Rasika initiated violin training under the tutelage of the esteemed Smt. Tara Anand since age seven. Recently, Rasika has been blessed to receive advanced vocal training from the eminent Palghat Dr. R. Ramprasad. Rasika teaches Carnatic vocal and violin music at the Saikripa School of Music in Boston, USA. She completed her masters in Speech Pathology from Boston University and is a practicing speech therapist in Boston, USA. As such, she strongly emphasizes vocal health and proper technique as key tenets of the Saikripa School of Music.
Rhea Rajesh, is a senior disciple of Kalaimamani Sri. K.N. Shashikiran and has been under his advance tutelage and guidance for the past 5 years. Under the guidance of her guru, Rhea has developed a wide repertoire in manodharma singing, mirroring the paddathi and padantharam of her guru’s lineage.
She has been keenly recognized by musical organizations in the U.S. for her classicism. From a competitive perspective, she has also been a finalist in the Carnatic Idol and a runner-up at the Sangeet Saamraat, premiered in Indian television channels.
Rhea is delighted to perform for the Hamsadhwani for the third consecutive year in Dec 2018. Elsewhere, Rhea is a leading participant at the Cleveland Music Festival in the U.S. and has also been performing in the Chennai Margazhi Season regularly, including Brahmagana Sabha, Narada Gana Sabha, Mylapore Fine Arts Club, Nadasudha, Chennai Cultural Academy Trust, Madhuradhwani, Carnatica Global Fest, Panchamukha Aanjaneyar Temple and Cleveland Aradhana Festival of Music & Arts.
Sanika Pande is a budding young vocalist in the field of Carnatic music . She commenced her musical training under the tutelage of Guru Smt. Vasudha Ravi since she was 4 years old . She currently resides in California USA and has given many concerts there in
prestigious organizations like Lotus, SR Fine Arts , Nandalala Mission , Carnatic Chamber of Commerce etc . She also learns Carnatic Veena from Guru Srikanth Chary and Carnatic Key Board from Guru Keyboard Satya Narayanan.
Sanika is a proud recipient of many awards from various prestigious organization and participant in various causes:
a) Won 1st prize multiple times in vocal in Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana from 2015 onwards
b) Won 1st in Sangeeth Samraat USA in Sub Junior Category
c) Won multiple times in Papanasam Sivan competition USA
d) Won multiple times awards in Manodharmam category in Silicon Andhra Association In both regionals and finals
e) Finalist in Carnatic Music Idol USA
f) Regularly sings and accompanies in Veena and Keyboard in all pujas through out the year in Chinmaya Mission and other temples
g) Accompanies for various concerts in Bay Area for schools and other Utsavams
h) Has sung for multiple charitable cause in US specially for special needs kids
Sanjeev Raja is a disciple of Vidwan Sri Melakkaveri Balaji. He has been receiving intense training in mridangam for the past 13 years and has performed in over 100 concerts and festivals throughout the U.S and India. Sanjeev is a sophomore at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he is studying Chemical Engineering and Computer Science.
Sashwat is a student of Sri Paduka Academy under the able guidance of Sri. Hari Devanath & Sri. Vivek Sundararaman. He started his musical journey under the tutelage of Smt. Hema Sista, a disciple of Dr. M.L.Vasanthakumari. Sashwat takes advanced classes under his Paramaguru, Neyveli Sri. Santhanagoplan, immensely benefiting from Sir’s ocean of knowledge. He has participated in several events such as Cleveland Aradhana, Papanasam Sivan, Saptami and won prizes at various levels. He won the Advanced Pallavi and Senior Pallavi competitions at the prestigious Cleveland Aradhana 2018, Sashwat is a 12th grader at Evergreen Valley High School, San Jose, California. Sashwat enjoys writing and pens reviews for CCC (Carnatic Chamber Concerts), a monthly forum for budding musicians.
Sindhuja Bhakthavatsalam is a Carnatic vocalist based in Los Angeles, California. She is a disciple of Vidushi Lalgudi Rajalakshmi. Sindhuja has performed concerts at various venues in India and the US. She was part of Pt. Ravi Shankar's musical ensemble that performed in Hollywood Bowl in 2009. Sindhuja also has an interest in composing and in the theoretical aspects of Carnatic music, and has produced a number of videos and written articles for Sruti magazine. Recently she was also part of several Carnatic video productions for IndianRaga. Sindhuja works as an assistant professor of philosophy of science at California State University, Northridge.
Srikar Chittari was initiated into mridangam by Sri Srinath Balasubramaniam at the age of five. Since then, he has been a disciple of Sri Vijay Ganesh and, more recently, Sri Neyveli Narayanan of Chennai. Srikar has accompanied many full-length concerts over the past eight years, including concerts in the Washington D.C. area, in the East Coast, in the Chennai December Music Season. He has also accompanied several senior AIR graded vidwans. In 2019, Srikar performed in the Madras Music Academy’s “Spirit of Youth” series. Srikar is currently a first-year engineering student at the University of Virginia.
Srinath Hariharan, a budding violinist and a dedicated student of the arts from Minneapolis, began learning under Vidushi Bhargavi Balasubramanian in 2014 and with Sangeet Samraat Chitravina N Ravikiran in 2015. With passionate dedication, he has developed a keenness for Carnatic nuances, its consummate approach to melody and inventive approaches to its rhythm. Srinath has won several first prizes in premiere National and State Level music competitions, including at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival, Sangeet Samraat (Carnatic Premiere League) as well as the Minnesota Carnatic Star.
He performed ahead of his age to win the third place in the prestigious Concert Competition of the Cleveland Festival in 2019. Srinath completed his solo and accompaniment arangetram with renowned Akkarai Sisters in July 2019.
Srinath has also had the opportunity of performing as a soloist and as an accompanist in events such as the Minnesota Tyagaraja Aradhana (2017 - 2019), Melharmony Festivals of Minneapolis and Madison in 2017 and Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival, 2018. Srinath also learns Western Classical and has performed at the MacPhail Center for Music and won prizes at the Minnesota State Fiddle Competitions. Srinath is 9th grader in Woodbury High School, Minnesota.
Sudarshan Mohan is a student of Vidwan Kalaimamani Sri R. Suryaprakash, the contemporary torch bearer of the Madurai Mani Iyer bANi of Carnatic Music. Sudarshan is a medical student in Virginia, USA.
I am Swathi Lakshmanan, Bharathanatyam Dancer, professionally trained under Guru Shri K Mohanan and his wife Shrimathi Sunitha Mohanan for more than 15 years in Chennai. I currently live in the US and I run a dance school here in the USA. I teach and perform in various parts of the US and in India.
Srividya Sriram started learning violin at the age of 6,initially under Smt Rajeswari Arvind of Kolkata and later moved to Smt Vasantha Kannan of the illustrious Lalgudi Gharana.She started giving full time concerts at the age of 12 under the able guidance of her Guru.Srividya has performed widely both as a soloist and accompanist, at all leading venues in and around Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and India.She has performed alongside leading artistes like Smt Vishaka Hari,Sri Sikkil Gurucharan ,Sri Sriram Parthasarathy, Ustad Shakir Khan and Haridwaramangalam Sri AK Pazhanivel during their concert tours to Singapore and Malaysia..She is also a sought after violinist for many a dance shows and arangetrams in Singapore.Srividya is an accomplished" A "Graded Carnatic vocalist and has trains a number of students for both vocal and violin.
Arjun Ramachandran has been learning Mridangam from the age of 8 from his illustrious Kalaimamani Sri Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan. He also learns vocal music from the renowned artist Sri Madurai Sundar. Arjun annually participates in the Chennai Music Season and Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana. Arjun has performed at Tirupati multiple times for the Nadaneerajanam program and performs annually in the prestigious sabhas of Chennai. Furthermore, he was also able to gain tutelage from Guru Shri Karaikudi Mani during the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana. Moreover, he has accompanied several ‘A’ grade AIR (All India Radio) artists such Veena Balakrishnan, Tirupati Yella Srivani, Smt. Padma Sugavanam to name a few. Arjun is a sophomore at Carnegie Mellon University and he hopes to continue with this passion and become an accomplished musician.
Chetana began her training in Carnatic vocal and violin under Sri.Raman Iyer in the Seattle area at the age of 11 years . Subsequently, she was under the tutelage of Sri.P Govindarajan (senior disciple of Sangeetha Kalanidhi M.Chandrasekharan) after which she was fortunate to come under the direct tutelage of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Kum. A KanyaKumari . Besides being proficient on the violin, Chetana also shows promise as a talented vocalist , under the guidance of eminent flautist Smt. Shantala Subramanyam. In addition, she is also under the guidance of Dr. Sanjay Subramanian (Student of Neyveli Santhanagopalan)
Melbourne-based twin brothers Ramnath Iyer and Gopinath Iyer began their veena training from vidushi Srimathi Rajagopalan before becoming disciples of veena maestros Shri R. Pichumani and Trivandrum Shri R.Venkataraman. Australia’s leading exponents of the veena, the Iyer Brothers have made a name for themselves in Australia and overseas as a unique duo in Carnatic (South Indian) classical music. Their music is both exciting and complex, beautiful and challenging. The brothers are ‘A’ graded artists of All India Radio and Doordharshan.
Ramnath has been a resident of Melbourne since 1986. He has worked with visiting professional musicians from India, including the famous flute maestro Dr. N.Ramani. Ramnath has served as a peer specialist in Indian Music for the Australia Council from 1996. In 2002 Ramnath served as an adjudicator for veena at the third biennial Indian music competition held in Singapore by the National Arts Coucil of Singapore. Before immigrating to Australia in October 1993, Gopinath was a resident of New Zealand where he performed extensively. A few notable performances being Wellington Access Radio, Victoria University of Wellington and the NZ Academy of Bharatanatyam. He has participated with the renowned violin maestro Dr. L Subramaniam in a workshop during the Asia Pacific Festival in Wellington, in 1992.
Since 1994, the brothers have been performing together and have been very well received in various centres around Australia and overseas, including the Four Winds Festival at Bermagui (1995), Australian Institute of Eastern Music in Sydney (1997, 1999), Port Fairy Folk Festival (1999), Womadelaide (2001), The Boite (1999 to 2012), SIFAS, Singapore (1998), ACT National Multicultural Festival in Canberra (1998), Australian National Folk Festival (2004) and their own performance projects which have been funded by Australia Council and Arts Victoria (1994, 1995, 1997) . The brothers have released a number of audiocassettes and CDs with the help of a grant from the Australia Council. Their CDs titled ‘Soulful Strings’ and ‘Sound of Tradition’ were featured in ‘The Planet’ program of Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio National channel.
Since 1994, the brothers are annually featured in the December music festival in Chennai, India and have received rave reviews from the press. They have been featured in all the major sabhas in Chennai: The Music Academy, Sri Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha, The Mylapore Fine Arts Club, The Indian Fine Arts to name a few. The brothers have also performed in Mysore, Bangalore Mumbai and Kerala in recent years. The brothers were adjudged as the best veena artists in the sub-senior category at the Music Academy (Lakshmi Sundaram award for Veena) and senior category at the Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai. In 2010, the brothers were awarded the “Multicultural Award for Excellence 2010 - Contribution to Arts” by the then Premier of the State of Victoria, Australia, Mr John Brumby. The brothers were invited to perform at the 2013 Cleveland Tyagaraja Festival in Cleveland, USA. All India Radio featured them in their prestigious 2013 Series of Sangeet Sammelan concerts in Mumbai.
In 1990 the brothers established the Pichumani School of Carnatic Music in Melbourne and have been teaching the art of veena playing and vocal music through this institution for the last 25 years. The school has grown considerably during this period with a dedicated group of about fifty students. They have also presented eight of their senior students in full length solo veena recitals and two senior students in vocal recitals.
Jahnavi Murali became interested in Carnatic music at a very young age, and she started lessons at the age of six from Smt. Gnanam Subramaniam, disciple of the late Shri T. R. Subramanium. Subsequently, she began lessons with Shri Madurai R. Sundar when she was eight. She has been under his tutelage for the past 14 years. Jahnavi has won prizes at several competitions, and has performed all around United States. Including at Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, Samagaana, and others. Jahnavi has traveled to Chennai to perform in the past four December Music Seasons, giving concerts at Krishna Gana Sabha, Brahma Gana Sabha, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, kartick fine arts, Chennai Cultural Academy, Asthika Samajam and Hamsadhwani among others. She is currently studying chemical engineering at The Ohio State University, and is also an accomplished cellist.
Srimathi Kala Srinivasan, an experienced Jalatharangam artist and Bharatanatyam dancer, reputed for her extra-ordinary talents in music and dance, has been one of the major pillars of Music and Dance performances in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, for almost three decades.
Born in a family of musicians and being the daughter to late Kalaimamani Srimathi Seetha Doraiswamy, a Jalatharangam widhwan, who herself has performed a number of times in Tirupati including the Brahmotsavam organized by Thirupathi Devasthanam, it was only natural for Kala Srinivasan to diversify her talents into various different forms of Carnatic Music. She obtained her Diploma in Music specializing in Vocal music and Veena and was awarded the Sangeetha Sironmani certificate by the Tamil Nadu Government Music College. She started performing the very rare Indian Classical instrument, the Jalatharangam, at a very young age and has been a regular Doordarshan and All India Radio artiste. She hasover hundred performances to her credit in India, Oman and the UAE. She was also selected by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1984 to perform the Jalatharangam in several parts of Tamil Nadu in a move to encourage rare talents and classical instruments. She has conducted and played the Jalatharangam in her own creation of a Vadhya Vrinda, an orchestra consisting of multiple Indian percussion instruments blended together in fine tune, in the presence of the ambassadors to various countries, in Oman, on the occasion of the Indian Independence Day. In 2013, she received the high honor of performing for Shri Jayendra Saraswathi, the 69" Shankaracharya Guru of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.
Kesav Viswanadha has been learning Carnatic vocal music from Sri Ashok Subramaniam since he was 5 years old. Over the past decade, he has given several one-hour long concerts around the Bay Area, including the Silicon Valley LOTUS program, and several temples and cultural organizations. He has participated in the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana and the Papanasam Sivan festival songs competition, where he has won several prizes.
He made his debut in the Chennai music season in 2018, with concerts at “Art on Terrace”, Charu Shree Musik Academy, and the Hamsadhwani NRI festival.
Kesav is a rising junior at the University of California, Berkeley, studying electrical engineering and computer science. He is involved with Laya of Berkeley, an on-campus organization that promotes Indian classical music in Berkeley and the surrounding community. He is also an International Master of chess, representing the US at several international events.
Saaketh Nandakumar is an 10th grader in Evergreen Valley High School. He has been learning Mridangam under the tutelage of Shri Ramesh Srinivasan of Sarvalaghu Percussion Arts Center for over six years.
Saaketh’s Mridangam arangetram was held on June 2018 in Chennai where he accompanied distinguished artist Smt. Vasudha Ravi. He has also accompanied several leading Bay Area artists and schools. He has participated in numerous events in the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, Naadaneeranjanam in Tirupathi, various Sabha in Chennai season 2018-2019 and various other events in the bay area.
He is a runner and has won awards in various running meets in the Bay Area. He was the Valedictorian of Chaboya middle school’s class of 2018.
Sharadh has been learning Carnatic Violin at the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society since he was seven, and he is currently under the tutelage of Guru Nellai Ravindran, since July 2010. He completed his 8th Year Diploma in 2013 for Carnatic Violin and achieved the ‘Vadhya Visharad’ title the same year. He also achieved the Best Student Award for his 5th Year exams in 2010. Prior to Guru Ravindran, Sharadh was also taught by Guru N. N. Ganesh Kumar and Guru Shertalai Sivakumar. He has played solo in the SIFAS Festival of Music and Dance since 2012. He is also an accomplished accompanist, having accompanied several artistes on the violin in temple performances, in the SIFAS Chennai Music Festivals, SIFAS Festivals of Music and Dance since 2013, Giri Fine Arts Festival 2018, Hamsadhwani NRI Festival 2018 and the Melbourne Trinity and Tyagaraja Festival 2019.
Sharadh has achieved top places for both Carnatic Vocal and Violin in the National Indian Music Competition organised by the National Arts Council, Singapore in the Intermediate category in 2014, and the Open category in 2017.
Sharadh is currently an undergraduate student at the National University of Singapore, and is pursuing a double major in computer science and physics.
Varun Viswanath learnt the art of playing Mridangam starting at a young age from Layakala Ratna Sri. Ramesh Srinivasan, a leading disciple of Mridangam Maestro late Vellore Sri.G.Ramabhadran, and has trained under him at Sarvalaghu Percussion Arts Center, San Jose, for over 12 years.
Varun performs widely in the San Francisco Bay & Sacramento area and provides accompaniment for youth and adult vocal and instrumental concerts at various venues under the auspices of several organizations, Swaralahari-TV programs, temple events and fundraisers; Taala-Vaadya programs and dance programs in the bay area.
Varun had his mridangam arangetram in Chennai at the age of 11, where he accompanied Sangeetha Choodamani Vidwan Sri. O.S.Thyagarajan, presided and blessed by late Sangeetha Kalanidhi Vellore Sri. G. Ramabadhran.
Since then, he has performed at various venues during the December Music season in Chennai, accompanying leading musicians and their disciples, and has performed at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana for music ensembles and concerts.
He is privileged to have accompanied visiting AIR graded artists like Smt Bhargavi Balasubramanian, Sri G.Ravikiran, Sri. Tejasvi Raghunath, Sri. Srinivas Meduri, Sri V.V.Ravi & Smt Jayalakshmi Sekhar,Sri. Dushyanth Sridhar for Sangeetha Upanyasam, and double mridangam with a Senior Artist Trichur Sri.Narendran for Dr. Palghat Ramaprasad concert.
Varun is an undergraduate sophomore majoring in cell biology at UC Davis , CA.
Vasudev Raguram began his Mridangam journey at the tender age of 9 with Guru Ramamoorthy Dharamala and then transitioned to Guru Erode Sri Nagaraj. Vasu performed at his first concert at the young age of 12 at a Kalakendra Annual Community Music Concert. Since then Vasu has performed at several local events, such as, Thyagaraja Aradhanas in Portland, Seattle and Corvallis, annual Marghazi Utsavam at the Portland Balaji temple and Kalakendra sponsored music concerts.
Vasu continued his musical training with Guru Sri Ravi Balasubramanian. With Guru Sri Ravi's training and guidance, he performed at his own Arangetram in August 2016, accompanying professional artists such as Neyveli Santhanagopalan(vocal) and Sri Vittal Ramamurthy (violin).
Vasu had the opportunity to participate at the Chennai Music Festival in India during the 2017-2018 seasons and performed with several local and other NRI artists.
Vasu has also played for dance arangetrams for students of the Nartana School of Kuchipidi Dance and Navarasa School of Dance.
Vasu is receiving advanced Mridangam training under the tutelage of Guru Sri Mannarkoil Balaji.
Vasu is a college freshman at the University of Washington from the fall of 2019.
Vignesh Thyagarajan hails from a family of musicians belonging to the lineage of Flute Maestro Brahmashri Sarabha Sastrigal and started learning Carnatic vocal and violin at a very young age with his mother Smt. Rama Thyagarajan, a renowned Bay Area music teacher. He also under-went training in the violin from Sri. Susheela Narasimhan for a few years. He is currently under the guidance of his uncle and guru Vidwan Delhi Sri P. SunderRajan, and has been learning vio-lin and vocal from his guru for 14 years. He has regularly accompanied in the Chennai December Music Festival for the past 6 years in leading sabhas such as Naradha Gana Sabha, Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha, Kapali Fine Arts, Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Chennai Cultural Academy, Trinity Music Festival, Asthika Samajam (Tiruvanmyur), Papanasam Sivan Sabha (Madipakkam), Cleveland Festival in Chennai, and Maarga. He has also performed at the Madras Music Academy for the 2016 Spirit of Youth series, 2017 HCL series, 2018 Radel Mid-Year Concert series, and its prestigious Annual December Music Conference.
Vignesh has also performed widely throughout the USA, in various states like New Jersey, Cali-fornia, North Carolina, Washington, Oregon, Nebraska, and Ohio for chamber concerts and fes-tivals, notably the prestigious Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana festival held annually in Cleve-land, Ohio. He has performed many solos throughout the US and provided violin accompaniment to many visiting artists from India.
Vignesh has had the privilege of accompanying his guru, Vidwan Delhi Sri P. SunderRajan, in multiple concerts as violin support and violin accompaniment.
Vignesh had his solo violin arangetram in the year of 2014 accompanied by Vidwan Neyveli Sri R. Narayanan on the mridangam and Vidwan Adambakkam Sri K. Sankar on the ghatam.