About Musicians

Sri Sudev Warrier

Vocalist

Sri Sudev Warrier comes from a musical family and started music training from his mother, Smt. Savithri Surendran, when he was just three. Later he continued learning music under the guidance of Late Shri David Bhagavathar and Smt. Seetha Rajan, Chennai and then expanded the horizon of his music, under the tutelage of renowned Carnatic musician and composer Guru Padmavibhushan Dr M Balamurali Krishna, and is today a renowned artist in his own right. He also completed the teachers training course from Music Academy, Chennai-India and an advanced course "Sangeeta Ratna" from the same institution with a scholarship from National Sangeet Natak Academy.

He has been offering professional music services for the past 25 years. He is proficient in extending vocal support to eminent South Indian classical dance performers, such as Padmabhushan The Dhananjayans, Padmasri Smt. Chithra Visweswaran, Smt. Priyadarshini Govind, Kalaimamani Smt. Gopika Varma and "Urvashi" Shobhana.

He has composed several songs for Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam including Cholkkettu, Jathiswarams, Varnams and Thillanas and many of his compositions are popular in the dance arena. Sir Sudev Warrier has traveled extensively all over the globe to perform. He also has given several programs on All India Radio and Doordashan. Sri Sudev also has accompanied several playback singers including K.J.Yesudas and S.P.Balasubramaniam as a specialist sound engineer to European countries. Along with performing, he also gives online carnatic vocal lessons to aspiring students in many countries.

Sri S.Nagarajan “Laya Visharadha”

Percussionist

Sri S. Nagarajan has over 25 years experience playing mridangam for indian classical, western, fusion music and dance forms such as Bharatanatyam, MohiniAttam, Kuchipudy.

Sri Nagarajan started learning mridangam under the guidance of Great Guru Kalaimamani Durairaj. Later he pursued his advance training in indian classical percussion (Mrudangam) under Guru, the living legend Padmabhooshan Shri Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman.

Sri Nagaraj is proud to be born in a musical family. Mr and Mrs. Shanmugalingam. His father was then complimented as THE GREAT PANNISAI VENTHAR & OTHUVAAR MOORTHI. His uncle Ambalavanar was a great and famous Mrudangam Artist in the 60s in Jaffna Srilanka.

Sri Nagaraj has an M.Phil in Indian music (Rhythmology - Mrudangam) from Madras University, 2011. He was awarded Dasyam Sruthi Laya for best Mrudangist of the year 2012-2013. He has received many other awards, and recognitions nationally and internationally for his excellence in percussion. He is taking the main part in few western and classical fusion bands in India and Germany.

Sri Nagaraj has worked with top artists such as (late) Adyar K. Lakshman, living legends Padmabooshan C.V. Chandrasekar, Natyarcharya Dhananjeyans, Kalaimamani Gopika Varma, Sridevipriya, Urmila Sathyanarayanan, Srijeth Krishna, to name a few.

Sri Nagaraj conducts classes through his own music school “KALADARSHANAM”.

Sri V.K. Sivakumar

Flutist

A flute teacher and performer Sri Sivakumar has over 25 years of experience in solo concerts in all leading sabbas in Chennai and abroad and he has accompanied flute for more than 500 classical dance concerts . He has worked with stalwarts of Indian classical dance like Chitra Visweswaran, Urmila Satyanaryanan, the Dhananjayans, K J Sarasa, Mrs Radha, Sheejith Krishna and Shijith Nambiar for their dance performances. A senior disciple of Padmasri Dr N Ramani, Sivakumar served as a flute teacher in Singapore Fine Arts Society for more than 10 years and also worked as flute teacher in G.K. Shetty Hindu Vidyalaya, Chennai and Jaigopal Garodiya Hindu Vidyalaya, Chennai.. Sivakumar has traveled and performed for dance all over Asian countries, USA, and Europe.

Sri Ananda Nadayogi

Violinist

Sri Ananda Nadayogi was trained in Carnatic Violin & Vocal by the legendary musician, Padmabhooshan Sri Lalgudi G. Jayaraman and his son Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri Lalgudi GJR Krishnan. Ananda underwent training in the Gurukula system, staying at the Master’s residence. In the Indian classical Violin playing, Lalgudi style is traditional, innovative, vibrant and a judicious blend of musicianship and technique.

Ananda is a graduate in Indian Music from the University of Madras. He has performed as an accompanist and a soloist in various programs collaborating with different genres across the globe. He has the credit of teaching Carnatic Violin and Vocal over a period of three decades in India, Middle East, Singapore and in the United States of America. Ananda has been awarded the titles Naadha Guru in the year 2017 by Antarnaada, Austin, Kalai Magudam in 2021 by Austin Tamil Sangam and Life time achievement award in 2022 by the Geeva Arts Festival, Louisville, Kentucky. Ananda also is the coordinator for Sangeet Bharati Austin chapter and the Chair person for Carnatic music examinations organized by Sangeet Bharati in America. He Currently resides in Austin, TX as a full time musician performing and teaching Carnatic Violin and Vocal.