Neyveli Santhanagopalan

Sri Neyveli Santhanagopalan is an acclaimed senior musician steeped in traditional classicism. Renowned for rendering effective concerts couched in ‘Bhakthi’ (devotion) and ‘Bhava’ (emotion), he skillfully elevates music to the pedestal of divine life philosophy. His excellent theoretical depth with extensive research of the best approaches makes him a distinctive musicologist. This great multifaceted and versatile singer is also proficient at playing the veena and percussion instruments with strengths in ‘laya’ exposition.
He hails from a culturally strong family, and was initiated into music by his mother Smt. Jayalakshmi Ammaal. He obtained his early guidance from reputed gurus like Chembai Sri. C.S.Anantharama Bhagavathar and Srirangam Sri. Ranganathan.
Neyveli has distinguished himself with numerous successful concerts worldwide and is the recipient of many awards from music associations in India and overseas. He has been awarded the Sangeetha Kala Sarathy by Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha,the oldest Sabha in Chennai, Naada Sevitha by Naadabrahmam Music Journal, Nama Sankeerthana Rathan by G.K.Foundation, and Sri Vidya Thapasvi by the Thapas Academy. He has also received Rasika Priya Rathna award from a prominent music organization in Australia. Garnering the Aasthaana Vidwan (Primary musician) titles from the most esteemed Kanchi Mutt, Sringeri Mutt, and Sri Ganapathy Sachidananda Mutt (religious establishments) has been a great honor for this deeply religious musician.
Outside of stage performances, Neyveli has been instrumental in promoting South Indian Classical Music education in India and abroad. He is the Dean of the Nityananda Music Academy (in USA); founded ‘Nada Pata S’ala’ to coach and guide budding musicians; anchors a daily music program ‘SaRiGaMaPa’ for JayaTV and promotes Internet-based music teaching/learning via www.imi.in/elearning. He has done extensive research on ‘Nada Laya Yoga,’ a new initiative exploring the medicinal and curative effects of music.

S. D. Sridharan started initial training under Kumbakonam Sri Srinivasan, a leading disciple of the late violin great Kumbakonam Sri Rajamanickam Pillai. He followed advanced training under the present day violin Maestro Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri. M. Chandrasekaran.
Over the last 4 decades, Sridharan has accompanied many great musicians of the past: Chembai Vaidyanatha Baghavathar, T.K. Rangachari, Prof. S. Ramanathan, D.K. Jayaraman, K.V. Narayanaswamy, Veena S. Balachander, and Maharajapuram Santhanam. He has accompanied almost all the living greats such as D.K. Pattammal, Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, Dr. N. Ramani, Sangeetha Kalanidhi T.N. Seshagopalan, T.V. Sankaranarayanan, Mandolin U. Shrinivas, Neyveli Santhanagopalan, Sanjay subramaniyam and T.M. Krishna. He has performed in the company of great percussionists such as Palghat Mani Iyer, Dr. T.K. Murthy, Palghat Raghu, C.S. Murughabhoopathy, Umayalpuram Sivaraman, Valagaiman Shanmugasundaram, Haridvaramangalam Palanivel and Ustad Zakir Hussain.
Sridharan has travelled around the world performing festivals and music series, including jugalbandhis in the company of Mandolin Srinivas, Zakir Hussain and Vikkhu Vinayakram. Among the various titles, the most important one is - Astanavidwan of Sri Kamakoti Mutt conferred by Paramacharya.
Among all the awards that Sridharan has received, the most important ones are the best senior violinist award from The Music Academy in 1986 during their all India festival and the Best Senior Violinist from the Indian Fine Arts Society in 1996.

Sri 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, Sudha 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.

Balaji Chandran started his Carnatic percussion studies in Mridhangam under Sri.Kovai Mani and Sri. Kadayanallur Narayana Iyer. He is a disciple of Sri.Ghatam V.Suresh from whom he learns Ghatam. He brings with him an energetic style of playing the Ghatam bestowed upon him by his guru. He has provided his percussive support to many artists in America and in India . He is also adept in playing the Kanjira.