S. Tyagaraja Rao Memorial Carnatic Music Competition – 2026
Thank you for your interest in the 2026 Carnatic Music Competition.
In order to encourage children and adults in the community who learn Carnatic music and have an opportunity to showcase talented singers, Dhvani organizes a competition event. The competition is held each year in fond memory of our charming friend and mentor, the late Sri S. Tyagaraja Rao. Rao Mama was an indefatigable connoisseur of Carnatic Music as well as an ardent supporter of music. In his memory, we dedicate ourselves to keeping this art form alive in our minds and hearts.
BY POPULAR DEMAND THE COMPETITION IS NOW OPEN TO ADULTS THROUGH AGE 65
The competition is judged by a group of professional Carnatic musicians invited specially for this occasion. Participants from as far as Detroit, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, and New Jersey have joined to participate in this event. We encourage participants and their families to think of this event as an opportunity to share and learn more than to compete and win. We think of all our participants as winners.
We continue to offer both in-person and remote options for participants. All participants have eligibility to choose between either of the two options:
The in-person competition will be held between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM EST on March 22nd, 2026, at the Peggy R. McConnell Arts Center of Worthington.
The remote participants will be offered an evening, 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM EST timeslot, on March 18th and 19th, 2026 via Zoom.
The exact categories and time slots will be published once all the registrations are processed.
- The winners’ list will be posted on the website and Facebook on Wednesday March 25th, 2026
- All times are given in Eastern Time.
Reporting times for Remote participation
March 18th
Event starts at 7:30 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84737825094?pwd=RZ2B69kbqi1PL1AatE92xHsQ23KmpA.1
Meeting ID: 847 3782 5094
Passcode: 249442
Break Room 1
Vocal
Juniors (9 to 11)
Reporting time – 7:15 PM
Sub-Juniors (5 to 8)
Reporting time – 7:50 PM
Super-Seniors (19 to 24)
Reporting time – 7:50 PM
Seniors (15 to 18)
Reporting time – 8:15 PM
Break Room 2
Veena
Sub-Seniors (12 to 14) Reporting time – 7:15 PM
Veena / Mandolin
Seniors (15 to 18) Reporting time – 7:20 PM
Keyboard
Sub-Seniors (12 to 14) Reporting time – 7:30 PM
Flute
Juniors (9 to 11) Reporting time – 7:35 PM
Alto Saxophone
Sub-Seniors (12 to 14) Reporting time – 7:45 PM
Violin
Juniors (9 to 11) Reporting time – 7:55 PM
Sub-Seniors (12 to 14) Reporting time – 8:10 PM
Seniors (15 to 18) Reporting time – 8:30 PM
Mridangam
Seniors (15 to 18) Reporting time – 8:40 PM
March 19th
Event starts at 7:30 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85048175558?pwd=gZQ5hrSFDZRrMt3QNO31EjRCr28CuD.1
Meeting ID: 850 4817 5558
Passcode: 385200
Break Room 1
Vocal
Sub-Seniors (12 to 14)
Reporting time – 7:15 PM
Adults (25 -40)
Reporting time – 8:15 PM
Senior-Adults (41 and above)
Reporting time – 8:15 PM
Reporting times for In-Person participation
March 22nd
Event starts at 9:00 AM
Break Room 1
Vocal
Sub-Juniors (5 to 8)
Reporting time – 8:45 AM
Juniors (9 to 11)
Reporting time – 9:10 AM
Sub-Seniors (12 to 14)
Reporting time – 9:40 AM
Seniors (15 to 18)
Reporting time – 10:40 AM
Super-Seniors (19 to 24)
Reporting time – 11:20 AM
Senior-Adults (41 and above)
Reporting time – 11:25 AM
Break Room 2
Instrumental
Juniors (9 to 11) – Mridangam
Reporting time – 8:45 AM
Sub-Seniors (12 to 14) – Mridangam
Reporting time – 8:55 AM
Juniors (9 to 11) – Violin
Reporting time – 9:05 AM
Sub-Seniors (12 to 14) – Violin
Reporting time – 9:10 AM
Sub-Seniors (12 to 14) – Flute
Reporting time – 9:35 AM
Senior-Adults (41 and above) – Flute
Reporting time – 9:40 AM
Seniors (15 to 18) – Saxophone
Reporting time – 9:50 AM
Seniors (15 to 18) – Veena
Reporting time – 10:00 AM
Rules & Regulations
- The in-person part of the competition will be held on Sunday, March 22nd, 2026. The remote part of the competition will be conducted over Zoom on March 18th and 19th 2026, 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm EST.
- Remote participants will need to make sure they have a good wi-fi or preferably a wired connection to the computer or device. Any time lost due to technical difficulties from the participant side will not be adjusted and will be counted as part of the time allocated to the participant.
- Online participants must be in a private space with good internet connectivity. Please do not try to participate from a car or a public space.
- The video will need to be turned on for the full 5 minutes and participant should be looking into the camera and not anywhere else during the remote presentation.
- In the Zoom settings, make sure to select the Audio options as below and Test your mic and speakers before joining the meeting.
- Please do not ask for technical help to do this during the Zoom session. Act ahead to confirm your connection and settings, please.
- Participants, once registered, may not switch between online and in-person options.
- If an online participant is not logged in 5 minutes before the start of their scheduled age group, they will be disqualified. Please be on time
- All participants between the ages of 5 and 65 are eligible to participate.
- The age of the participant should be based on their age on the day of the Competition (March 22nd)
- Age groups and final categories will be determined and posted on the website once the registrations are completed.
- Participants will be given up to five minutes each to present a geetham, varnam, swarajathi, krithi or other song.
- The competition will include instrumental categories including percussion.
- All songs must be sung or played without manodharmam.
- Songs are not restricted to any particular composer or language.
- All presentations must be solo without any instrumental or other support except sruti.
- Registration will begin on Jan 5, 2026, and end on Feb 28, 2026.
- A non-refundable registration fee of $75 per participant per category should be paid along with each registration for non-members.
- The registration fee will be waived for Patrons, Benefactors, and Donors of Dhvani who have paid the 2026 membership before registering for the competition.
- To participate you should register on line and pay the registration fee on or before the deadline of February 28th, 2026.
- If there are a large number of participants, Dhvani, at its sole discretion, may arrange an audition round and/or adjust the time allotted per contestant.
- All participants are required to arrive at the appointed time at the venue or online on the day of the competition.
- The assigned online slot and arrival time for each category will be posted on the Dhvani website and Facebook page on or before March 7th, 2026.
- For in-person participants, be sure to verify and know your check-in time. Check-in times will be staggered for the various categories. The check-in times will be announced by March 7th, 2026.
- Failure to comply with any of these rules of the competition could result in disqualification.
- All participants will be presented a participation certificate. Certificates will be e-mailed to all participants on March 30th, 2026.
- The judges’ decisions will be final.
- Dhvani reserves the right to modify these rules and/or add new rules.
- By participating in the competition, you are accepting these rules and agree to abide by them.
- Late registrations are accepted at the sole discretion of the organizers and are subject to a $150 late registration fee.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT ITEMS
- Registration Deadline is at midnight on February 28th, 2026.
- Age categories and arrival times will be posted on the website by March 7th, 2026.
- We welcome participants in all instrumental categories.
- Your PayPal Receipt will be your confirmation no other email will be sent to individual registrants.
- Make sure you also are registered on the Dhvani website to receive emails.
- Make sure to like and follow the Dhvani Facebook Page for important updates.
- To participate, you must pay your registration fee and/or your annual membership on or before registering for the competition.
- Registration fees are non refundable.
- Check the website after March 7th, 2026 to confirm your age category and your arrival time.
- Prizes will be announced in a Zoom session on Monday, March 23rd 2026, at 3:00 pm EDT. Winner names will also be published on the Dhvani website and Facebook page. The participant and award certificates will be emailed by Monday, March 30th, 2026.