Voices and instruments ensemble

Vocals, Veena, Mridangam, Ghatam, Khanjeera, Morsing

Madhav Iyengar
Hrishiksh Chary
Vinod Seetharaman
Balaji Chandran

Madhav Iyengar is a leading voice in the American Carnatic space. A student of Vidvan Sri. T.M. Krishna since 2005, Madhav delivers deep raga exploration with a musicality that appeals to casual and well-versed listeners alike. Over the last 14 years, he has performed concerts across the US and in India and has been a regular presence in the Chennai December season since 2014.

Hrishiksh Chary started learning the veena at the age of six from his father, Sri Srikanth Chary, who is a disciple of the late music maestro, Sri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman. Hrishikesh has performed solo veena concerts in the United States and India. He has performed on television and provided orchestral accompaniment for various programs, CD releases, and dance performances. In 2014, Hrishikesh was selected as a Fellow by Indian Raga, and awarded a music fellowship. In addition, Hrishikesh has received vocal training from Smt. Hema Sista, a disciple of the late Smt. M. L. Vasanthakumari.

Hrishikesh has won several prizes in veena and vocal competitions including the prestigious Cleveland Aradhana Concert Competition, and was awarded a tambura and the opportunity to present a veena concert at the 2011 festival. He has also been invited to participate in instrumental ensembles, including performances with Sri V. V. Subrahmanyam, at the Cleveland Festival. He performs veena duets with his sister, Priyanka, regularly in Chennai during the Margazhi Music Festival.

Hrishikesh has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from UC San Diego, and a Master’s degree from Purdue University.

Vinod Seetharaman is among the most accomplished and sought after first generation Carnatic percussionists in the United States. His Mridangam performances have won him wide appreciation from audiences. His training in Mridangam started at the age of seven from Shri. Ardhanareeswaran, and he continues his advanced training from Bangalore Shri. Arjun Kumar and Shri. Umayalpuram Sivaraman. The purity and sophistication of Vinod’s mridangam training has enabled him to not only accompany an astonishing variety of musicians, but also given him the freedom to innovate and create meaningfully. Vinod has shared the stage with at least four generations of Carnatic musicians that includes Dr. M Balamuralikrishna, T N Seshagopalan, Dr. N Ramani, Chitravina Ravikiran, Neyveli Santhanagopalan Abhishek Raghuram, etc. Vinod is passionate about keeping up the purity of his traditional legacy even in collaborative ventures. He has composed and arranged the rhythm for many percussion ensembles. He is a popular teacher, and his students are regular features in music festivals and competitions. His vision is to work with a variety of musicians and propagate Indian percussion to diverse audiences across the globe.

Balaji Chandran started his Carnatic percussion studies in Mridhangam under Sri.Kovai Mani and Sri. Kadayanallur Narayana Iyer. He is a disciple of Sri.Ghatam V.Suresh from whom he learns Ghatam. He brings with him an energetic style of playing the Ghatam bestowed upon him by his guru. He has provided his percussive support to many artists in America, Canada and in India. He has performed in prestigious venues like Music Academy – Chennai, Naradha Ghana Sabha, and other illustrious venues. He considers himself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to lend support to stalwarts and stars of current generation. He has been part of the Cleveland Aradhana festivities and Thyagaraja Aradhana celebrations in Minnesota, USA for the past 14 years. He has been featured in TPT Television and KFAI Radio. He has collaborated with St.Olaf Collage Jazz band and “Brass Kings” an American Blue Grass Jazz band. He is also adept in playing the Kanjira and Morsing. He has also lent percussive support to many Bharathanatyam Arengetrams and dance productions.