Shri Sreyas Narayanun

Sreyas Narayanun, who was earlier known by the name C.B.Ramanarayanan is a Carnatic vocalist of outstanding merit and has been giving many concerts in prestigious sabhas in India and abroad. He is an “A” grade artiste of All India Radio and Doordarshan,Chennai.He is  blessed with a deep, resonant voice which can traverse all the three octaves with complete ease and also clearly communicate the musical ideas conceptualized. His musical ideas have earned a special place in the hearts of innumerable rasikas.Having been groomed in a strong traditional background, Sreyas's music has a majestic aura, captivating the listeners and making them get immersed in the beauty of the melody.

Sreyas had his initial training in music from Sri A.Anantharama Iyer [Muthuswamy Dikshitar lineage] of Guru Guha Gaana Vidyalaya, Kolkata. Later, when he moved to Chennai, he came under the tutelage of Professor M.A. Venugopal for fifteen years. For the past 10 years, Sreyas is the able guidance of the veteran musician Padmabhushan Sri.P.S.Narayanaswamy.

Sreyas Narayanun has been performing in all leading sabhas of Chennai including Narada Gana Sabha, The Music Academy, Mylapore Fine Arts, Karthik Fine Arts, Mudhra, Bharat Kalachar, Shri Krishna Gana Sabha and also major sabhas outside chennai like Shri Shanmugananda Sabha-New Delhi, Rasika Ranjana Sabha, Kolkata, Kalasagaram ,Secunderabad, Malleswaram Sangeetha Sabha,  Bangalore, Bhakata Rasika Ranjana Sabha, Anushakthi Nagar, Mumbai.

He has also been on concert tours abroad to Australia, Gulf countries and Kenya(Nairobi).

CD

Sreyas has sung in several CDs and albums. Recently, he released a CD titled “Eswaro Rakshatu."

Awards and Titles

Prize in the competition conducted by All India Radio (1987), Best Main Artiste award from YACM(1988), Vishwapriya from Narada Gana Sabha(1994), Best musician award from Music Academy (1996, 1998 and 2001), Yuva Kala Bharathi title from Bharath Kalachar (1999), Gayaka Sikamani Puraskar from Sri Bharathi Gana Sabha, Amalapuram (2006), Asthana Vidhwan of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam from the Sri Kanchi Mutt (2006), Ganagandharva Sreshta by Sri Kothandarama Seva Samithi, Kolar (2007).

Reviews

The success of a Carnatic concert depends upon the ability of the performer to gauge the pulse of the audience. Sreyas Narayanun succeeded in doing that.

- A.Sangameswaran, The Hindu, 28.1.2005

The composition that Sreyas Narayanun sang for the concert was one of the resplendent gems adorning the repertoire of carnatic music in todi raga set to Aadi talam. Todi admits a detailed alapana both extensive and intensive. To do justice to it, one should possess a voice which negotiates Keezhkala and Madhyamakala with absolute clearness. Adhering to the Sampradaya and following Semmangudi's style, he rendered Thodi raga. Its bhava was prominent both in the Neraval Swara and the rendition of alapana.

- Uma Maheswari, The New Indian Express, 11.9.2004

Rama Narayanan has a stentorial voice and  hardly needs a mike. He does not croon but sings full throatedly. He had been fortunate enough to come under the tutelage of the great Semmangudi who is an excellent Tunesmith. Rama Narayanan's handling of the raga Simmendramadhya-mam was par excellence. It was no holds

barred elaboration covering the essential points of the raga. On a couple of occasion, he touched the tara panchamam also.

-Subbudu,Statesman, New Delhi,

Shreyas Narayanan's full-throated style of singing made the Carnatic vocal recital of the sixth day a lively affair. The main kriti of the evening was 'Janaki mamava' in Bhairavi.

- G Jayakumar, The Hindu, 28.4.2006

On the seventh day of the festival, C.B.Ramanarayanan of Chennai, not a familiar voice to music lovers of this city, gave delightful concert. Ramanar is an engineer by training, who has been compelled by his love of the Carnatic tradition to take up music as his vocation. He had his early lessons from Calcutta A. Anantharama Iyer, and later, he received advanced training from Prof. M.A.Venugopal and P.S. Narayanaswami, both disciples of the late Semmangudi Sreenivasa Iyer. Ramanarayanan, may be said to belong to the Semmangudi bani, and his concert bore this out without leaving any room for doubt. After the preliminaries,Ramanarayanan gave an excellent rendering of the intricate Syama Sastri composition in raga Chintamani: Devi Brova Samayamide. This composition is not too often encountered in music concerts and when a musician does justice to it,as in this instance, it is indeed a rare pleasure. Kritis  in raga Vachaspati and another in raga Sri followed in quick succession. The main kriti of the evening was the Swathi Thirunal composition Deva Deva Jagadeeswara in raga Poorvikalyani. Before winding up for the evening, this young musician also treated the audience to the ever popular Irakkam Varamal in Behag, a moving composition of Gopalakrishna Bharati.bharathi"

-Vinayakumar, The Hindu, 23.4.04

C B Ramnarayan's concert had classical weight and his full throated singing helped in translating his ideas effectively. In “Ninne E.M.Subramaniam bhajana” (Nata), the Kalpana swaras in Sarvalaghu lent good tempo.

Thodi was dealt with elaborately and "Emijesithe” of Thyagaraja with Neraval swaram on 'Kama moha' was methodical. Ramnarayan was in his best in “Rama Rama Guna” (Simhendra Madhyamam). In the alapana in Tarasthayi, he was able to give fine glimpses of the raga and even in the fast phrases there was considerable clarity.

-  "Indian Express"10.8.97.

He has a soft and melodious voice, and a sweet musical sensibility. He does not go in for the aggressive but approaches raga, kriti and swara with tenderness.

His singing has a good sawkhya bhava (resposefulness), lacking in many singers in these tension-ridden days.

- KNK AND KSK, The Indian Express, 28.12.96.

Sreyas Narayanun sang with great understanding of the niceties of Carnatic music. He also revealed sound training. -SVK, The Hindu, 3.1.97 His main raga Sankarabharanam alapana was notable for his open mouthed singing in the tara sthayi. The popular Tyagaraja kriti "Enduku Pedala" was a good rendering along with neraval and swaras for its charanam line “Vedasastra”.

- SVK, The Hindu.

Smt. Ramya Srinivasan

Smt. Ramya Srinivasan,  a disciple of Padma Bhushan Smt. Sudha Ragunathan, has been learning Carnatic music since the age of 10. Her initial period of training was under Smt. Radha Sundaresan and later she learnt from Vaigal. Sri. S. Gnanaskandan for a few years before she came under the tutelage of Smt. Sudha Ragunathan.

She has performed in all the sabhas in and around Chennai during the December Music festivals. She is endowed so much with “Divine Grace” that she was invited to perform during the Brahmotsavam Festival of Lord Venkateshwara twice, at Tirumala and at Ahobilam during the 6th Centenary Celebrations of Ahobila Mutt. Besides, she has to her credit well acclaimed performances in Andhra, Karnataka, Kerala & Maharashtra.

She has received many awards in recognition of her talent in the Carnatic music.

“Sangeetha Bhaskara” from Vaigal Gnanaskandan Trust
Musiri Subramanya Iyer Award for ‘Niraval Singing’ from
Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai in 2002
Best Female Singer in the Youth Festival 2003 organized by The Music Academy, Chennai
Govindarajan Memorial Prize for Best Vocal Concert from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai in 2004.

“Kalavardhani”, Chennai has released four Audio Cassettes of Ramya, one exclusively with some of the rare krithis of Sri Annamacharya.

Gitaa Cassettes & CDs, Chennai has released a couple of CDs of Ramya titled ‘Daasara Kritis’ and Desika Stotrams.

She is also the recipient of Central Government Scholarship for Advanced training in the field of Carnatic Music.
She has a brilliant academic record too. She holds a Masters Degree in Computer Applications and is an accomplished Software Engineer working for a reputed Software Concern.


PERFORMANCE DURING MUSIC FESTIVALS IN THE LAST TEN YEARS


Sri Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha

Nungambakkam Cultural Academy

Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha

Hamsadhvani

Mylapore Fine Arts

Narada Gana Sabha

The Indian Fine Arts

Sri Kapali Fine Arts

Nada Inbam

Kartik Fine Arts


SOME OF THE OTHER IMPORTANT CONCERTS ARE -

Asthana Mandapam (During SRIVARI BRAHMOTSAVAM FESTIVAL –1998 ) - TIRUMALA

SRIVARI BRAHMOTSAVAM FESTIVAL –2004 - TIRUPATI

S. V. College Of Music And Dance, TIRUPATI

6th Centenary Celebrations Of Ahobila Mutt, AHOBILAM, A.P

Gayana Samajam, BANGALORE

S V N Music Academy, BANGALORE

Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple, BANGALORE

Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha, MUMBAI

Sri Sathguru Sangeetha Samajam, MADURAI

CDs RELEASED : 

By Kalavardhani’s in 1996   

• RAMYA GANAM (Compositions of Alathoor Sri. A.Vijayakumar)   
• Annamacharya ‘s Krithis
•  Kanyaka Parameshwari Suprabhatham 
• General Concert

By Gitaa Cassettes and CDs

• Daasara Kritis 
• Desika Stotras – Shri, Bhu, Godha Stutis \

AWARDS RECEIVED :

“SANGEETHA BHASKARA” - from Gnanaskandan Trust

MUSIRI SUBRAMANIA IYER AWARD (for Niraval Singing) from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha

Recipient of Central Government Scholarship for Advanced Training in the field of Carnatic Music

Recipient of the ‘Best Female Vocalist’ from The Music Academy, Chennai in the Yuva Utsav Series – 2003

Govindarajan Memorial Prize for Best Vocal Concert from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha - 2004

RLV Hemanth Lakshman

Shri. Hemanth Lakshman is a young and energetic Nattuvangam exponent and a trained dancer with a humble background. He was born on November 19th 1992 in Vaikom, Kerala. At the age of 9  he started training for Bharathanatyam under the guidance of Guru RLV Pradeep Kumar. He got his Kathakali training under the guidance of Kalamandalam Rajesh Babu. He has also learnt Kuchipudi and Ottamthullal. He has done M.A. in Bharathanathyam from RLV college of Thripuntra, Kerala. He also has a Nattuvangam Kalaimani from Annamalai University.

He has successfully composed many Jathis and has choreographed the same. He has played Nattuvangam for well known artists. His sheer passion and the strong foundation has enabled him to perform extensively nationally and internationally. At a very young age he has got opportunities to work with A grade dancers for composing jathis and performing nattuvangam.

Hemanth has also worked as a dance teacher and was HOD in various schools. He has worked at international level as HOD for Kairali Kala Kendra run by Asha Sharath, Dubai. Asha Sharath is a well known  Malayalam actress. He has also choreographed many masterpieces for Asha Sharath’s daughter’s .They have also done many performances.

He currently runs his institution "Sankara Sree Giri School of Dance and Thala Academy"  where he trains kids and adults for Bharatanatyam. Many of his students have completed their arangetram.

Hemanth has composed many Alarippus like Panjamughi and Pannakaa along with numerous Jathiswarams,Varnams and Thillanas.

He also conducts classes through "Skype" for Nattuvangam and dance for students spread across the world.

Achievements:

Hemanth has won prizes at the State and University levels for Bharathanatyam. He is identified in Kerala as a "Young Nattuvanar". Received Kalaprathibha for district level.

He has judged many competitions and has conducted numerous workshops.

Smt.Gayathri Karthick

Smt. Gayathri Karthick is a Carnatic Vocalist, residing in Singapore. She hails from a highly respectable and musically inclined family. Her father Shri. K.Sivaraman is a well-known Carnatic violinist and classical music composer. Her uncle Ghatam Maestro Shri. “Vikku" Vinayakram, is a "Padmabushan" awardee and Grammy Award Winner. She underwent Carnatic tutelage under Shri. Mahesh Vinayakaram (son of 'Padmabushan' Shri. “Vikku" Vinayakaram). She further nuanced under the able guidance of the legendary Carnatic vocalist Smt.Suguna Varadachari. Currently she is a Carnatic Music tutor at Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Gayathri Karthick started giving stage concerts way back in 2007. She has given many concerts at temples, sabhas, in Chennai till 2010.She successfully toured Europe and South East Pacific region along with renowned accompaniments. She participated and won in many popular TV shows such as Raagamaalika (featured in Sun TV). She was one of the semi-finalists in EnnoduPaattu Paadungal (featured in Jaya TV).Gayathri received a special mention from veteran cine playback singer S.P. Balasubramaniam Sir during a TV show. She has to her credit of rendering a Tamil Devotional album titled "AMBIGAIYE UMAIYAMBIGAIYE" along with her Guru Mahesh Vinayakram. The CD received tremendous response in Europe. She is the core member of a Fusion Music band 'Trisatya' - a collaborative effort with renowned musicians in India. Gayathri Karthick has conducted vocal workshops for students in association with legendary musicians in India. She recently had a privilege to perform for our Honorary Prime Minister Shri.Narendra Modi, during the unveiling ceremony of Mahatma Gandhi Ji's plaque held in Singapore during July 2018.

TEACHING CAREER

Gayathri Karthick got initiated into teaching from 2011 and associated with Shri ShenpakaVinayakar temple, Singapore as a Vocal Tutor. She started her journey as a music teacher with 3 students. With her immense dedication, friendly yet Guru- Shishya sampradaya pattern, she now has around 80+ students learning Carnatic Vocal/bhajan under her tutelage. She has nurtured her students and made them participate in many competitions, temple concerts/slots over the past 3 years.

Mrs. K.V. Godha

     Mrs.K.V.Godha had her initial training in carnatic vocal from her mother Smt.Leelavathy and advanced training from Smt.Chella Upendran in Chennai and Shri.N.R.Prashanth at SIFAS, Singapore. She is the Founder of the Music school Shubharaagam School of Music and has been doing various music projects through her school. Her collaborated event with Lahari Society called 'Shubhalahari' has gained popularity ever since its inception in 2015. She has been performing Devotional vocal concerts at the temples, Carnatic Concert at the SIFAS Music & Dance Festival, Vasantha Utsavam, Dhwani Festival of Music, GOPIO International Festival,Telugu Samajam Singapore and Navarasa Ramayana Music & Dance Ballet. She has held the position of Lead Vocalist, Choir Leader & Publicity Manager at Singapore Indian Orchestra and Choir & LalitAnjali Orchestra and has taken part in various International  Music festivals in Singapore, America, Europe & Asia. She was selected to be the Main Female Vocalist & a part of the delegation that represented Singapore in the Singapore Porusski (Singapore in Russia) at Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow. Mrs. Godha was chosen to be one of the lead vocalists as a part of "LalitAnjali" a 12 member orchestra which represented Singapore at The prestigious dance festival “Ananya Samarpana” in Bangalore(India) in 2015. She has worked as Part-time Teacher at SIFAS & Managed choir groups @ Umar Pulavar Tamil Language School. She is a very sort after judge for various National Level Music Competitions conducted by CC’s and other prestigious associations in Singapore.

DR. SUBHASHINI PARTHASARATHY

Trained and tutored by eminent scholars like Sangita Kalanidhi Sri T.M. Thiagarajan, the great Padam exponent Smt. T. Mukta and Sri. P.N. Raghava Rao and nurtured by her mother Dr. Nirmala Sundararajan, Dr. Subhashini Parthasarathy exhibits amazing erudition in Karnatic music. Her singing has received wide appreciation and acclaim from connoisseurs, critics and lay men.

A recipient of an M.A. in Indian music from the University of Madras (1986) and a PhD for her doctoral thesis on Padams and Javalis, Subhashini has travelled widely in India and abroad giving concerts, lecture-demonstrations and conducting workshops. She also presently trains a number of advanced-level students both in India and abroad.

Needless to say, all her concerts echo traditional and mature musical values, winning for her, in the process, several awards and accolades worldwide.

AWARDS

• Yuva Kala Bharati award from Bharath Kalachar, Chennai - 2000.

• Recipient of Scholarship and Fellowship from the Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India, 1984-1987, 1989—1991 and 2000-2002,

• Recipient of MaharajapuramViswanatha Iyer Memorial Trust Scholarship,1987-1989.

• Adjudged Best Vocalist in the Afternoon concert – The Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai - 1991.

• Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. S. Pinakapani Award for the Best Raga Alapana – The Music Academy, Chennai - 1994.

• Suryakantha Memorial Award for The best Lecture-Demonstration on the compositions of Tiruvarur Sri Ramaswamy Pillai – The Music Academy, Chennai - 2003.

• “A” grade artiste of the All India Radio and Doordarshan

• Kuwait Musician of the year 2007 by Bharathiya Sanskrithi Manch, Kuwait(Bhasma) – Dr KTB Menon Memorial Indian Classical Music Festival

• Vidushi T. Muktha Centenary Award by Trinity Arts Festival of India, 2014.

• Recipient of a production grant from the Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India. (2015)

REVIEWS

• Subhashini Parthasarathy is not afraid of open-mouthed singing in her alapana, where her akaram is a great plus point. Her raga structuring pleased by staying within the traditional formate, not mechanically, but with a conviction and feeling that gave it freshness. -GR

• Dr. Subhashini Parthasarathy, a well groomed vocalist, gave a neat and polished performance. Her rendering of the raga Lathangi was very analytical as also melodious. Subhashini has a ringing voice and was therefore able to fetch any phrase in any register. The Tamil composition was effectively rendered with a tag of swarapratharas well mounted.-Subbudu

• A scholarly effort exploring and expanding some of the fine nuances of Carnatic music creating a transcendent mood in the expression of Manodharma, the vocal recital by Subhashini Parthasarathy of Chennai in Kala Bharathi. Visakhapatnam last week delighted all alike.- A.S.R

• In her morning concert, Subhashini Parthasarathy demonstrated her prowess in every segment through an authentic display of patantharam...Subhashini’s Latangi alapana had an old-world charm as was Papanasam Sivan’s kriti, ‘Pirava Varam Tharum.’ The laya-sharp kalpanaswaras drew a round of applause.- The Hindu

• Her spreading and punctuation carried substance and style. Thyagaraja’s ‘Evarimata’ was once again dealt with in detail with a powerful ingenious niraval on ‘Bakta Para.’ The swara matrices landing in daivatam were crisp without extending to tiring lengths. Being the direct disciple of Muktha, Subhashini embellished the concluding segment of her concert with ‘Thatthai Mozhiyal’, a Tamil padam by Vaitheeswaran Koil Subbarama Iyer, a Javali in Bhairavi by Chinnayya, and a virutham from Nachiyar Thirumozhi.- The Hindu

• Subhashini Parthasarathy is endowed with a mellifluous voice that has a full range through all three sthayis. Her Begada was a testimony to her musical creativity and proficiency.- The Hindu

AUDIO CASSETTES AND CDS RELEASED

• Padams and Javalis – Sangeetha (along with Dr. Nirmala Sundararajan)

• Devanayaka Panchasat - Stotras of Sri Vedanta Desika on Lord Devanayaka of Tiruventhipuram

• Classical Vocal - Sargam Cassettes

• Classical Vocal - Kalavardini.

• Rangamalika -Kalavardini.

• Srinivasa Gita Malika -- Kalavardini.(along with Dr. Nirmala Sundararajan)

• Varadaraja Stavam (Appayya Dikshitar) --- Tag (along with Dr. Nirmala Sundararajan)

• Traditional Padams and Javalis - Gita Cassettes.

• Muralidhara - Abirami Recording Co.

• Venkatesa Suprabatham --- slokas in praise of Lord Srinivasa ( Mylapore-Chennai)