Madurai T.N. Seshagopalan

Madurai T. N. Seshagopalan: Endowed with a velvety voice and a highly trained mind, T. N. Seshagopalan’s dynamic style, creativity and technical mastery proves that he is one of the foremost Vidwans of our times. Initiated in to devotional music and inspired by his mother, Tiruvenkatavalli, he started his musical career and gave his first Namasankeethan concert at the age of seven, playing the harmonium himself. Even at that young age, he was the preferred accompanist for Pudukottai Gopalakrishna Bhagavatar, the doyen of Nmasankeethatna tradition. At 16, he underwent formal training in Carnatic Music under the Late Ramanathapuram C. S. Sankara Sivam, foremost disciple of the famous musician, composer and Harikatha exponent, Harikesanallur Muthaiah Bhagavatar. The training imparted by Sivam, proved the culminating point in TNS’s life and thus his concert career started. TNS holds a degree in science from Madras University. Later, he became the Asst. Professor of Music at the Music College of Madurai University. TNS has received numerous awards and honors over many years. Most notable among them are: Sangeetha Kalanidhi by The Music Academy, Chennai (2006) and the Padma Bhushan, by the Government of India (2004). TNS is also an A grade Veena player, a Namasankeethan Bhagavathar, an amateur flute player, and a keyboard artist. He is a composer, and has set many Tamil literary works, including verses from “Kamba Ramayanam”. He has trained many students in the way of the time honored Gurukula System of Music education where the students had to be in the Guru’s home.

Mullaivasal G. Chandramouli - Violinist: In a career spanning two decades, Mullaivasal G. Chandramouli has performed in over 2000 concerts, often accompanying great stalwarts or performing violin solo concerts across many continents. Yuva Kala Bharathi, Violin Isai Vendhan, Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer trust and Viswapriya awardee, Grade-A artiste of both AIR and Doordarshan, Music Academy awardee (‘Outstanding Young Violinist’ for senior concerts), Chandramouli initially received training from Smt. Savithri Sathyamurthy, and thereafter was groomed under the tutelage of the veteran violinist (Late) Sri R.K.Venkatrama Sastry and Violin maestro Sri V.V.Subrahmanyam. He has accompanied great Vidwans of caliber such as the Late T.M. Thyagarajan, the Late Palghat K.V.Narayanaswamy, and regularly accompanies leading artists such as Thrisoor V.Ramachandran, T.V. Sankaranarayanan, O.S.Thyagarajan, Sanjay Subramaniam, Bombay Sisters, Bombay Jayashri, and Nityashree Mahadevan, among others. He performs Solo and also presents Duets with R.K. Shriram Kumar. Chandramouli was one of the founders of the YACM, and was Joint Secretary of SPIC-MACAY’s Chennai Chapter (1986 – 88). Perfection in bowing technique, bringing out the melodic nuances with purity, and weaving intricate and dexterous laya patterns are his forte. This technocrat from IIT, Madras is also a committed music scholar and teacher who has spent many years researching fingering and bowing techniques and evolving a unique methodology that best exploits both the theory and practice of violin playing and the principles of Carnatic Vocal Music.

Tanjore K. Murugabhoopathi – Mridangam: Tanjore Murugabhoopathi belongs to a family of artists and musicians. He had his initial training under Mridangam Vidwan and Lecturer in the Tamilnadu Government Music College Sri T.R.Srinivasan. After receiving the 'Vadhya Visharada' with distinction from the Music College, he came under the guidance of Late Sri Tanjore Upendran. He learnt from the late maestro in the age old tradition of “Gurukulavasam.” 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. Murugabhoopathi can adopt his playing to any style of singing or instrumentals and has won the appreciation of the artists as well as the rasikas. He regularly accompanies leading artists such as Sangeetha Kalnidhi 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, USA, UK, Switzerland, Australia, Dubai, Muscat, Doha, Belgium and Scotland.