Orchestra

Lead Vocalist K. R. Sudharani is an acclaimed Carnatic vocalist, composer, and accompanist, from Vijayawada, known for her versatility and depth of expression. With rigorous training under legendary gurus such as “Padmasri” Sri Annavarapu Rama Swamy and Sri Ampolu Murali Krishna, she has become a respected figure in Indian classical music and an essential voice in the Kuchipudi dance world. Over her career spanning more than two decades, she has lent her voice to over 2,500 performances and composed music for 42 ballets and hundreds of solo works and compositions. Her collaborations include performances with iconic artists like Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, Radha & Raja Reddy, and Swapna Sundari, among many others. She has toured extensively across India, Europe, Southeast Asia, and North America, and regularly performs with the Indo-American Association for Carnatic Music in the U.S. Sudha is also a sought-after emcee and television artist, frequently hosting cultural programming on Doordarshan. Her performances have graced prestigious sabhas such as Narada Gana Sabha, Brahma Gana Sabha, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi. In recognition of her contributions, she has received numerous awards including “Raga Madhuri” and “Yuva Puraskar.” In addition to her performing career, she co-founded a recording studio in India, supporting the next generation of musicians. Her life is a testament to devotion, artistry, and the enduring legacy of Carnatic music.

B.V. Ganesh Rao has distinguished himself as one of the foremost Mridangam artists in the field of Indian classical dance accompaniment. A prodigy who rose to prominence at a young age, he has performed with nearly all the leading exponents of Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam. His impressive list of collaborations includes legendary figures such as Dr. Vempatti Chinna Satyam, Vempatti Ravishankar, Narasimha Chari & Vasanthalakshmi, Smt. Manju Bhargavi, Shobana, Prathibha Prahlad, Meenakshi Seshadri, and virtually every senior disciple of the Vempatti school. His mridangam accompaniment enhances the narrative and rhythm of dance with his signature crisp tonal quality and artistic finesse. Ganesh Rao has participated in all major dance and music festivals across India and abroad, including the Chennai Music Season, Mahabalipuram Dance Festival, Tanjore, Chidambaram Natyanjali, Hampi, Khajuraho, Konark, Surya Festival (Kerala), and the Kuchipudi Festival in Andhra Pradesh. Internationally, he has performed at prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center (USA), UNESCO Centre (France), Sydney Opera House (Australia), Victoria Theatre (Singapore), Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (UK), as well as in Dubai, Muscat, Mauritius, Switzerland, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Canada, and the USA. He has participated in over 300 Rangapravesams and Arangetrams across North America. A three-time participant in the Guinness World Record events for large-scale Kuchipudi performances in Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Vijayawada, Ganesh Rao is a long-standing member of the Indo-American Academy of Classical Music (IAACM), where he has performed for over 17 years. He has contributed to numerous recordings with leading music directors and has been featured in national programs, ICCR events, and various private television channels. A B High Grade Artist with All India Radio, Ganesh Rao’s unique style, tonal modulation, and creative approach make him an invaluable asset to every performance he is part of. His music is marked by a refined aesthetic that deepens the emotional and rhythmic resonance of classical dance.

Sri Chittoor K. Pathanjali is a distinguished Carnatic flute vidwan belonging to a revered lineage of musicians noted for their scholarship and service to classical music. He was initiated into the art of woodwind music at a tender age by his grandfather, the eminent violin maestro and MahaguruKalaimamani Sri Chittoor Gopalakrishnan, whose guidance laid a firm foundation in manodharma and classical aesthetics. He also received sustained musical inspiration and training from his father, Sri Chittoor G. Kumaresan, an accomplished and accredited violin and viola artist. A musician of deep classical grounding and refined artistry, Sri Pathanjali has been honoured with the rare distinction of Asthana Vidwan of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, recognising his vidwat, discipline, and adherence to sampradaya. He is a recipient of the CCRT Scholarship from the Government of India, New Delhi, and has also been honoured by the Government of Tamil Nadu for his contributions to Carnatic music. Sri Pathanjali has performed extensively on prestigious platforms such as All India Radio and Doordarshan, besides numerous leading sabhas and cultural institutions across the country. His academic engagement includes service as a part-time faculty member in the Department of Music, University of Madras, where he contributed to the nurturing of young aspirants. In addition to his performing career, he is a prolific composer and vageyakara, best known for the celebrated “Kamakshi Nava Ragamalika,” which reflects his command over raga lakshana, lyrical depth, and aesthetic sensitivity. As a dedicated guru, he continues the guru–shishya parampara by mentoring over one hundred disciples, many of whom are active performers. Sri Pathanjali has carried the rich traditions of Carnatic flute music to audiences abroad through concert tours in the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates, earning widespread appreciation from rasikas and scholars alike.

Rajasekar is a talented young violinist from Chennai, India. He was honored with a Gold Medal by Oscar winning and world-renowned music composer A.R. Rahman — a moment that marks a high point in his artistic journey. He is a senior disciple of Vidwan Kandadevi Dr. S. Vijayaraghavan, Head of the Violin Department at the Government Music College, Chennai. Rajasekar began his formal training in violin at the Government Music College in 2008 and went on to study there for seven years. He completed a Diploma in Music and a Bachelor’s degree in Music at the prestigious SVT College in Tamil Nadu. Rajasekar also had the rare distinction of participating in a Guinness World Record event, showcasing his commitment to musical excellence on a global stage. An accomplished performer, Rajasekar has toured extensively across India and abroad. He has accompanied several esteemed Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancers, gaining recognition for his versatility and skill in classical accompaniment.

Venkiteswaran hails from a musical family from Palakkad, Kerala. He came to Mumbai in 1997. From there he started his career in Bharatanatyam art field and performing for more than 24 yrs. He is a disciple of his father Guru Shri K. V. Narayana Swami (a disciple of the great Mridangam Maestreo Guru Shri Palghat Raghu Sir). His grandmother is the late Smt Palakkad Ammini Ammal, a senior Vocalist and disciple of Guru Shri Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagawathar. He has won several prizes during his school days in Mridangam competition including state second in Kerala. He started accompanying mridangam since 1997 fr Bharatanatyam art and played for several leading gurus. He is a regular mridangam accompanying artist for Bharatanatyam department in Pune University and Bharatiya Vidyapeeth Pune. Being a full time Mridangam artist he plays for Bharatanatyam concerts, vocal concerts, and fusion and Taalavadya concerts. He has traveled Canada, Switzerland, Dubai, and Malaysia for Bharatanatyam performances. He has a good number of students learning under him in India as well as abroad. His 6 yrs old student Master Vikhyath Nair from Pune won India’s Guinness book of records for a small child playing mridangam for the longest duration. He has released many compositions for Bharatanatyam through social media as Pushpanjali Alarippupadam Varnam Tillana Mallari, etc. These compositions are truly appreciated by many dance experts. He has been awarded Vaadya Siromani by Guru smt Girija Nair. Mumbai. He has been recently facilitated by Guru Geeta Sarama, Geeta Nritya Vidyalaya Pune