BHARGAVI BALASUBRAMANIAN
Bhargavi Balasubramanian, a disciple of Sangeet Samraat Chitravina N Ravikiran is a very talented and proficient vocalist & instrumentalist – a rare combination that only a handful of artistes passionately pursue and excel as performing professionals. She has performed numerous solo vocal & chitravina concerts for several organizations in India, USA, Canada and the Middle East and collaborative concerts with many reputed musicians. Bhargavi has also had the privilege of performing for senior dancers such as Pt Birju Maharaj, C V Chandrashekar, Guru Rhadha, Bragha Bessell and Sujata Mohapatra. She has also performed along with her Guru Shri Ravikiran in several reputed venues across the world and been featured in special shows for the national networks of France and Greece. Bhargavi is a graded artiste of All India Radio in both vocal & chitravina and has been recognised and honoured with titles such as ‘Sathya Sunada Sundaram’ by the Bharatanjali Trust, ‘Isai Arasi’, by Trinity Fine Arts and “T S Balakrishna Sastrigal Award for Excellence in the field of music”.
Bhargavi is a much sought-after Guru and is well known for her contributions as a core-trainer for the ‘Sustaining Sampradaya’ programme, at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival and for training several award-winning disciples. Bhargavi is the architect of the popular and much acclaimed website (venkatakavi.org) dedicated to the master composer, Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi. Recently, she launched a first-of-its-kind mobile app for Oottukkadu Venkata Kavi which was warmly received by the music fraternity and rasikas.
A dual degree holder in Commerce and Music, Bhargavi also holds an advanced diploma in Finance.
R S SUDHA
Sudha RS Iyer, an A grade violinist and vocalist of AIR, Chennai, is a disciple of Smt. Lalita Raghavan, retd staff AIR. Ministry of Culture scholarship awardee, Ph.D. research scholar, Sanskrit Dept, Madras University. She also performs along with her sister as Iyer Sisters.
B. GANAPATHYRAMAN
Sedhalapathi Sri B. Ganapathyraman, a well-known name in the carnatic music circles, hails from a prestigious lineage of musicians. He inherits his music from his father Sedhalapathi Sri R. Balasubramanian, fondly adored as “Balu Mama” among the musicians and connoisseurs of music.
A child prodigy in laya, he took to mridangam play when he was barely 7 years old. Seeing his natural inclination to laya even when he was 3 years old, veteran mridangist Srimushnam Sri. V. Raja Rao initiated him into Mridangam play and blessed him by gifting a Mridangam.
He had the fortune of learning under Nagai Sri Soundararajan. Later he was put under the able tutelage of ”Laya Vadhya Kovida”, “Laya Pithamaha” Kumbakonam Sri. Rajappa Iyer and Srirangarajapuram Sri Jayaraman.
Listing the great stalwarts, he has accompanied speaks volumes about his calibre and this list goes as follows : Sri. T. M. Thiyagarajan, Sri. D. K. Jayaraman, Madurai Sri Somasundaram, Palaghat Sri K. V. Narayanaswamy, Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, Sri. T. K. Govinda Rao, Lalgudi Sri G. Jayaraman, Sri P. S. Narayanasamy, Chengalpattu Sri. Ranganathan, Anayampatti Sri Ganesan, Sri M. S. Gopalakrishnan, Sri. M. Chandrasekaran, Sri. T. V. Sankara Narayanan, Madurai Sri T. N. Seshagopalan Lalgudi G.J.R. Krishnan Unnikrishnan Sanjay Subramanian
Also he has played for senior musicians like Smt. R.Vedavalli, Bombay Sisters, Smt. Parasala Ponnamma, Smt. Suguna Purushottaman Smt.Arunasairam Smt Sudha Raghunathan Smt Bomby Jaysree and many other artists of repute.
And today, he is one of the most sought after Mridangist among the present generation of musicians.
A versatile artist, he had a firm grounding in playing for namasankeerthanam, wherein he has accompanied doyens like Mayavaram Sri. Krisnamurthy Bhagavathar, Srivanchiyam Sri Ramachandra Bhagavathar, Pudkkottai Sri Sanjeevi Bhagavathar with great Mridangam Maestro Mozhaiyur Sri Ramamurthy Iyer, when he was 7 years old.
He has also accompanied senior Harikatha exponent Smt. Kamala Murthy and many others.
He had the privilege of accompanying Thiruppugazh Mamani Guruji Sri Raghavan for his Thiruppugazh bhajan for many years.
Awards and Titles
- Asthana Vidwan of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Best Mridangam
- Artist Award from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Music Academy, Indian Fine Arts, Mylapore Fine Arts, Kalki Award from Kalki, ”Yuva Kala Bharathi” Award from Bharat Kalachar, ”Nadha Oli” from Raga Sudha. Tirupugazh laya semmani from siruvapuri murugan kuzhu.
He has traveled around the globe many times accompanying many artists of repute.
S. SUNIL KUMAR
In earlier age he is under the guidance of Thalam and basics lessons are teached by his Father Triplicane K. Sekar, After he has started to learning Kanjira from Kanjira Maestro V. Selvaganesh and also learning Konnakol from Ghatam maestro T.H. Vikku Vinyakaram.
‘A’ Grade artist in All India Radio, Chennai.
He has been accompanied with many stalwarts like clarinet Everest Sri A.K.C. Natrajan, Prof T.N Krishnan , Sri Dr T.V Gopalakrishnan, Sri T.H. Vikku Vinayakaram, Sri Guruvayur Dorai and senior Artists like Padmashri Kum A. Kanyakumari, Sri Sanjay Subramaniam, Vidhushi Smt Bombay Jayashri, Vidhushi Smt Sudha Ragunathan and also performing with many young artists etc..
He also played many Jugalbandhi & Fusion concerts he plays classical percussion instruments like Thavil, Kanjira & Mohasing performing with many leading fusion bands. He played Thalavadhya concerts with many leading Mirudangam, Ghatam and Kanjira artists.
He has won 1st prize in many National level cultural competitions in solo performance organized by Anna University and other colleges.
He plays many Sabhas during seasons and other festival Sabha’s like Krishna gana sabha, Music Academy, Brahma gana sabha etc.. Giving performances in India & Abroad.
He also played many Albums, CD’s and TV programs with many artists.
Awards
- Thethakudi Harihara Sharma Percussion Award given by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha during 2011
- Sri Kanchi kamakoti peetam Asthana Vidhwan on 2013
- In the Title of ‘Yuva Kala Bharathi’ given by Bharath Kalachar on 2013
- Received Dr M.S Subhalakshmi fellowship in the year 2015 given by Mumbai Shanmukhananda.
Saturday, November 13, 7:00 PM EDT
