Musical & Academic Profile
· Tutelage under Gurus: Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. S. Ramanathan, Sangita Kala Acharya Smt. T. Muktha, Father Dr. M. Srinivasan
· Indian Music: University of Madras, Chennai, India, 2001- present.
· Chemistry: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, India, 1990-92
Professional activities:
Concerts:
· Year round Carnatic music concerts in all leading cultural organizations all over India
· Cultural shows at North America, Europe, Australia, the Orient and the Middle East
· Vocal support and active participation in Gurus’ concerts and lecture demonstrations
Music Education/ Discussions:
· Chair, the Millenium Conference in Singapore at the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society Presented a concert and paper titled, 'Triumph of Technology in Traditional Arts'
· Conducted Indian music workshops and classes at top US Schools
Purdue University, Cornell, UCLA, Drew University, Colgate University to name a few
· Concerts and thematic lectures at top Indian schools and colleges including the IITs and the IIMs
· Formulation and organization of innovative and popular music appreciation programs:
The Raganubhava, Sahityanubhava, Layanubhava, Vadyanubhava and Natyanubhava series.
· Department of Culture Performances, New Delhi, as in Gandhi Smriti, January 30, 2005
· Music in schools, as in the “Build a Rasika” program with YACM, 1994
Recordings and media performances:
· Radio/TV programs as A-grade artiste All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan, Chennai
· Cultural shows, concerts, quizzes on top television channels at prime slots
· Commercial Carnatic/ Tamil/ Folk music recordings :cassettes/CD/DVD/VCD
Propagation of Tamil Music and culture:
· Participant in the World Tamil conference, Tanjore in 1995
· Chosen by Tamil Isai Nataka Mandram, Madras to perform at key state locations, 1988
· Active association since childhood with Ramalingar Pani Manram, Madras
· Performed at the Chennai Sangamam, 2008
Cross-pollination with diverse Indian and world music forms:
· Jugalbandhi-s with leading Hindustani musicians: Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty, [Nina Gupta]
· “Thyagaraja’s influence on Rabindra Sangeet”, at the Madras Kalibari, 1994
· Organization of music events and conferences, as in the annual ‘World Music Day’
Technological innovation for the cause of Indian Music:
· Founder and Managing Director of Srishti’s Carnatica Pvt. Ltd. [NEED ADDRESS]
· Masterminded the world’s first interactive, encyclopedic CD-ROM on Carnatic music
“Nadanubhava – The Horizons of Carnatic music”
· Conceptualized and designed the world’s first educative VCD on Carnatic music
“Nadopasana – My Own Carnatic Tutor”, a self-help guru with Karaoke..
· Pioneered the world’s websites dedicated to Carnatic music education and propogation:
http://www.clickcarnatica.com and http://www.carnatica.com
· Documentation of Carnatic music as Executive Trustee, Carnatic Archival Centre, USA
Interests:
· Freelance photography
· Active association with the IIT Madras Alumni Society
· Philology: English, French, German, Sanskrit, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu
· Other music forms: Jazz, Middle-eastern music, Ghazals
· Social service
· Religion and philosophy
Awards and Accolades
Titles conferred
· Sangeetha Saptha Sagara, Shanthi Arts Foundation, 2005
· Bala Ratna, Sri Bala Tripurasundari Peetham, Nemili, 2005
· Asthana Vidushi, Sri Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham, 2003
· Vani Kala Sudhakara, Sri Tyaga Brahma Gana Sabha, Chennai, 2003
· Isai Peroli, Karthik Fine Arts, Chennai, 1996
· Yuva Kala Bharathi, Bharat Kalachar, Chennai, 1990
· Sahithyapriya, Jan Kalyan (Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham), Kanchipuram
· Tamil Isai Chelvi, Australian Tamil Foundation, 2001
· Rasika Kala Ratna, Rasikapriya, Sydney, Australia, 2001
· Sangeetha Kala Bharathy, Needamangalam VVS Foundation, Chennai, 2001
· Nada Oli, Nada Inbam, Chennai, 2001
· Nada Bhushanam, Shanmukhananda Fine Arts, New Delhi, 2002
Annual Awards from the Music Academy, Madras
· Kshetragnar Padam Prize, 1985
· Outstanding young vocalist, MLV Award, 1986
· Pankajam Rajam Award, 1987
· D.K. Pattammal Award, 1988
· T.V. Subba Rao Award, 1989
· D.K. Pattammal & T.V. Subba Rao Award, 1990
· Best sub-senior vocalist, Pappu Kamakshi Amma Award, 1993
· Best Sub-senior Vocalist, G. Ramakrishna Iyer Award,1994
· Best Raga Alapana, T. R. Rajagopala Iyer Award, 1995
· Ariyakudi Trust Award (Best Lady Vocalist), 1996
· Best Lady Vocalist, Srirangam Gopalaratnam Award, 1997
· Outstanding Senior Lady Vocalist, 2000
· Outstanding Senior Lady Vocalist ,2001
· Best Lady Vocalist, Srirangam Gopalaratnam Award, 2005
· 2006
· 2007
· 2008
Other Awards
· AIR Music competition prize, Classical Vocal and Light Classical, 1987
· Annamalai Vallal Prize, Tamil Isai Sangam, Chennai, 1980
· First prize, Talent Promotion Concert, Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai,1984
· Cultural Talent Scholarship -Instrumental Music(Veena),Government of India,1978-84
· Sponsored by Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi, for “Yuva Prathibha Mela”, 1987
Academic Accolades
· II Rank Holder and Gold Medalist , B.Sc.(Chemistry), Madras University, 1990
· IIT Blue, 1992, awarded for excellence in Academics and cultural activities.
· I Rank holder in B. A. (Indian Music), Madras University, 1996.
· I Rank Holder and Gold Medalist, M.A. (Indian Music), Madras University, 1998.
· Publication in international journal, Synthetic Communications, "Microwave enhanced reactions in Carbohydrate Chemistry"
· Royal Institute of Chemistry award for quiz at the school and college levels
