Artists Biographies

:: Ranjani and Gayathri

:: Sanjay Subramanyam

:: Mythili Prakash

Mythili is special. One prays that an overdose of adulation her dance is bound to evoke, and the cynicism of the performance syndrome do not in any way puncture that precious inner core in the dancer.

:: T.M. Krishna

T.M.Krishna is one of the leading artists in the field of Carnatic Music. He has been performing for over 18 years and today, he is one of the youngest singers to occupy the top slot in every major music festival. His first concert was at the Spirit of youth series organized by the music academy Chennai (India). Since then there has been no looking back. He has traveled widely in India and abroad and won applause from connoisseurs and critics. He has received numerous awards and titles from many leading organizations. He has released many music albums from leading audio companies like Magna sound, H.M.V., Inreco, Amudham (U.S.A.) and Charsur.

From a very young age, he showed immense talent in the art of classical vocal music. He used to pick up all the songs that his mother learnt during her music classes. Taking notice of this talent, his mother put him under the tutelage of Vidwan Sri Seetharama Sharma at the tender age of 6. He has been learning from him ever since. He has also undergone special Ragam Thanam Pallavi (a special component in a Carnatic music concert) training under Sri Chengalpet Ranganthan. He had advanced training from Dr Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer for more than seven years.

His resonant and mellifluous voice and strict adherence to classicism have enriched his art. His music is marked with a very high level of aesthetics in conception and execution. He is known for his tremendous Manodharma (Imagination) and Sampradaya (Traditional) Sangeetha (music). His complete involvement and his ability to unfold ragas with ease have left many a listener lost in his music. His renditions of vilamba kalam (slow tempo) compositions are soaked with bhakthi (devotion) and bhava (emotion) are a treat to every listener.

:: O.S. Thyagarajan

O. S. Thyagarajan learnt music initially from Guru Sangeetha Bhushanam O.V. Subramanyam. He then attended the ‘Sangeetha Bhooshanam’ course at the Annamalai University and later he trained under the guidance of Padmashri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman and Sangeetha Kalanidhi T.M. Thyagarajam. He is an ‘A’ grade artist of the All India Radio and of Doordarshan, He has given a large number of concerts all over the world that are well appreciated and relished. He has a swift vocal style with long korvais and excellent sruti suddham. His style is original and he brings to the fore many rare and unknown compositions of great composers. He has won many awards including Tamil Isai Vendar and Sangeetha Choodamani.

:: Dr. Nagamani Srinath - Vocal & Dr.Suma Sudhindra - Veena

Nagamani Srinath started her training at an early age of 5 and at 9 had her first concert. She is a disciple of late Sri Ramnad Krishnan. She is also an astute grammarian with a deep insight into the facets of Carnatic music. She has enriched the field by providing new nuances to the traditional and established compositions of famous composers of yester years. She holds M. A. (Music), Mysore University, Vidwat (Music) – Government of Karnataka and Post Graduate Diploma in Music –Tamil Nadu Government, all with a First Rank. She is currently Professor and Head of the Department of Music, Government Maharani’s College, Mysore University. She is the recipient of many awards and titles including Ganasaraswathi (Vice President of India).

Dr. Suma Sudhindra, one of the acclaimed Veena artistes trained under Veena Maestros Raja Rao and Chitti Babu. She has blended into her music the classical conservatism at the dynamic spirit of innovations. Suma has contrived to bring within the borders of tradition, all her feelings and knowledge with a touch of creative Instinct. She has won many awards and titles including Ganakala Shree by the Karnataka Gana Kala Parishat, Best Vainika award from The Madras Music Academy, Vainika Kalabhushani from Thyagaraja Ganasabha, and Rajyotsava Award from KARNATAKA Government. She has performed in every prestigious music festival in the country and has traveled the world performing to an International audience.

:: Nirmala Rajasekar

Nirmala Rajasekar is a disciple of Vidushi Kalpakam Swaminathan on the veena. She has had her vocal mentoring under Bhagavatula Sri Sitarama Sarma and Prof. T. R Subramanyam. She has received many awards both as a veena player and as a vocalist. An A grade Artist of All India Radio since 1990, she has been empanelled by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and has performed in Festivals of India around the world to great acclaim.

Nirmala’s music is marked by adherence to her rich patanthara and she “makes the veena sing” –The Statesman, New Delhi. Her style of playing which makes her music ‘look’ easy and her pleasing presentation are a treat to rasikas. For many years now she has been a regular performer in the Chennai Margazhi Mahotsav.

Nirmala was selected as a BUSH artistic fellow for the years 2006 –2007 by the Bush Foundation. She has become the first Indian classical musician to receive this honor. She has also been awarded the titles of ‘Nada Kala Vipanchee’ in Dec 2005 and ‘Veenai Sudaroli’ in Jan 2007 in appreciation of her musicianship by organizations in India. India Association of Minnesota(IAM) has chosen Nirmala to be the winner of their Achievement award for the year 2008....more

:: Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri R.K. Srikantan

Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri R.K. Srikantan was born in 1920 to a distinguished traditional family of musicians of Rudrapatnam in Hassan District in Karnataka which is situated on the banks of river Cauvery. He is the youngest son of late Sri Krishnasastry who was a great scholar in Sanskrit and Kannada, a noted poet, a versatile artist and also a Harikatha vidwan. His grandfather Sri Narayanappa of Bettadapura was also a great musician and a close friend of Sri Veena Seshanna of Mysore. After taking lessons of music from his father at a tender age and later from his illustrious brother Sri R.K.Venkataramasastry - a leading violinist and a disciple of T.Chowdaiah - he came under the influence of all leading musicians of yore from the south.

The noteworthy features of Sri Srikantan's music are his sruthi suddham, clear cut pronunciation of the sahityam and his bhava-laden krithi renditions.

He has been particularly instrumental in popularizing the Devaranamas of all Haridasas especially Purandaradasa. The point to note here is his strict adherence to the rakthi ragas - the ragas which are the life and soul of Carnatic Music. All the Devaranamas tuned by him are in the time honored ragas like Todi, Bhairavi, Mohana, Kalyani, Dhanyasi, etc. Sri Srikantan belongs to the shishya parampara of Thyagaraja himself:

Thyagaraja
Walajapet Venkataramana Bhagavathar
Mysore Sadasiva Rao
Veena Seshanna
R.K.Venkatarama Sastry
R.K.Srikantan.

 listen to Sri R. K Srikantan

:: Sikkil Gurucharan 

Sikkil C.Guru Charan is a disciple of Vaigal S. Gnanaskandan. Born and brought up in a music family, there was a natural environment to learn Carnatic music from an early age. His first concert was under the banner of Gnanaskandan trust at Music Academy Chennai in 1994. He is an A-Grade artist of All India Radio. He has released several Albums that have been well received. He has won awards from several prestigious institutions including Yuva Kala Bharathi, Isai Chudar, Naada Oli, Kalki Memorial Award and Dharmatma memorial Award to name a few.

:: Mathangi Srinivasan - Bharathanatyam

Mathangi Srinivasan has been learning dance from. Smitha Magal since October 1999. Smitha Magal, founder of Silambam, is in turn a disciple of Padmashri recipient, Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy and the late Padmabhushan recipient Vidwan Madurai N. Krishnan.

Mathangi had her Rangapravesham in October 2005 and continues to learn and perform under the guidance of her Guru in productions put forth by Silamabam. Mathangi acknowledges her sincere thanks to her Guru and the Columbus Carnatic Music Association for providing her with an opportunity to perform.

Mathangi has also been trained in Carnatic Music by Ms. Sashikala Shankar in Chennai, India and by Mrs. Gnanam Subramaniam in Columbus Ohio. Mathangi has Masters degrees in Systems Analysis and Business Administration and currently works as a Business Analyst for Big Lots in Columbus Ohio.