OS Thiagarajan Concert

About the Artists

Vidwan O. S. Thiagarajan

Shri O. S. Thiagarajan learned music initially from Guru and father “Sangeetha Bhushanam” Shri O.V. Subramaniyam and later received guidance from “Padmashri” Lalgudi G. Jayaraman and “Sangeetha Kalanidhi” Late T.M. Thyagarajan. He has performed all over the world with senior accompanists like Shri M.S. Gopalakrishnan, Shri Lalgudi Jayaraman, Shri Palghat Mani Iyer and Shri Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman.

O. S. Thiagarajan is perhaps one of the few male vidwans whose gifted voice is in complete alignment with the sruti, and whose oral expression is effortless and, without any physical strain, combines with authentic traditional background, leaving the listener in an extremely comfortable zone. He is an ardent devotee of music and a senior vocalist of repute. An "A" grade Vidwan of All India Radio and Doordarshan, he has given a large number of concerts, which have been well appreciated and relished around the globe.

O.S.T. has received numerous awards and honors over many years. Most notable among them are: Sangeetha Choodamani, Sangeetha Kalasagara, Sangeetha Saragnya, Sangeetha Kala Visharada, Madura Kala Praveena, Nada Booshanam, Tamil Isai Vendar, Naada Kanal, and Sangeetha Mamani
B.V. Raghavendra Rao

Raghavendra Rao hails from a distinguished family of musicians. He was initiated into the niceties of music at an early age of five by his father B. Sudarsana Rao.

Attracted by the lure of classical music from his childhood, he trained rigorously on the violin for several years and he is presently the disciple of the violin “Maestro” Sangeetha Kalanidhi Shri T.N. Krishnan. Later he received invaluable guidance and concert experience from Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, one of the greatest musicians India has produced in this century. As a young artiste, he received the appreciation of the President of India for accompanying the celebrated musical genius and climbed the ladder of success as an accomplished violinist, and one of the most popular, in the Carnatic Music genre today.

These are only just a few accolades in the career of Raghavendra Rao, an expert solo violinist in his own right. The melodious and mellifluous music that he brings out through the violin illustrates his strong creative imagination, which scales great heights. He has won several prizes and awards from various sabhas in Madras and has participated in the prestigious Bharat Cultural Integration Committee's (BCIC) music festivals organized all over India.

Raghavendra Rao has performed internationally and has participated in numerous music festivals of ICCR. and the prestigious "Festival of India" programs. He has widely travelled all over the world, including the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius and the Middle Eastern countries.

Raghavendra’s devotion, and his quest for perfection, finds its expression in his instrument.

Tanjore K. Murugabhoopathi

Tanjore Murugabhoopathi belongs to a family of artists and musicians. He had his initial training under Mridangam Vidwan and Lecturer in the Tamil Nadu Government Music College, Sri T. R. Srinivasan. After receiving the "Vadhya Visharada" with distinction from the Music College, and after two years of concert experience, he came under the guidance of the Late Sri Tanjore Upendran, learning from the maestro in the age-old tradition of “Gurukulavasam.” This great opportunity of being with his guru for ten years shaped his career as a Mridangist. He can adapt his playing to any style of singing or instrument and has won the appreciation of artists as well as rasikas.

He has won numerous awards including the Vadya Kalaimani from the Music College, Chennai; the Laya Kala Ratna from the Tiruppur Murugan Mandram; the Best Artiste Award from the South Indian Music Club, Andhra Pradesh; the Music Academy and the Sivan Mandram, Sydney, Australia.

He regularly accompanies leading artists such as Sangeetha Kalanidhi Madurai T.N. Seshagopalan, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. N. Ramani, Mandolin Srinivas, Sanjay Subramaniam, Sutha Ragunathan and Aruna Sayeeram to name a few. He has performed with these artists in

Singapore

Malaysia

South Africa

Germany

Spain

the USA

the UK

Switzerland

Australia

, Dubai, Muscat, Doha,

Belgium

and

Scotland

Ravi Balasubramaniam

Dr. Ravi Balasubramanian is the most sought-after Ghatam artiste in North America and is known for his energetic and sensitive accompaniment and solos. Ravi has extensive experience in Carnatic percussion, including performing on the Ghatam at top musical institutions such as the Chennai Music Academy and the Cleveland Aradhana for over fourteen years.

He received the title Yuva Kala Bharathi in 2003 from Bharat Kalachar, a music organization in Chennai, for excellence and dedication in the art of Ghatam. Ravi has had the rare honor and experience of performing with leading artistes including Sangitha Kalanidhi vocalists, violinists, flautists, and mridangists in India, USA, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia.

Ravi received his initial tutelage from Palghat Sri P. K. Sekar and Sangitha Kalanidhi Dr. T. K. Murthy and later pursued advanced training from Sri V. Suresh in Chennai, India. Ravi has given lecture-demonstrations on the Ghatam in the University of Pittsburgh, PA. He recently received his doctorate in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University and is a Research Associate in the University of Washington.