Ms. Sowmya began learning music at the age of six from the late Dr S. Ramanathan, a distinguished musician and musicologist who had been honored with the title of "Sangita Kalanidhi" ("Musical Treasure") by the Music Academy of Madras, the premier body devoted to the promotion of South Indian Classical (a.k.a. Carnatic) music. Starting at the age of 12, she also received lessons from Mrs. T. Mukta, a distinguished doyenne of Carnatic music, fondly referred to as "Amma" (mother) by her many disciples. Years of rigorous training under such stalwarts left a deep impression on Sowmya, who has made a name for herself as one of the brightest stars of her generation. Her technique - faithful to the centuries-old traditions of Carnatic music - is recognizable for both the parts that she inherited from her distinguished teachers as it is for her own improvisations that have left audiences around the world spellbound by her erudition. She is known and appreciated by purists and populists alike, as much for her obvious dedication to her craft as for her ability to please even lay listeners not normally attracted to classical music. Since she first started performing about a decade ago, Sowmya has performed in venues in virtually every continent around the world. She has won several awards from organizations dedicated to the promotion of music in India, including the state governments of Tamilnadu and the Government of India's Academy of Music and Dance, an organization notorious for not dispensing its patronage lightly. Sowmya is also known around the world as a vigorous activist for the cause of Carnatic music and musicians, through a website that she runs (Carnatica.com). Accompanying Sowmya on the mridangam (a cylindrical drum that is the South Indian counterpart to the tabla) is Neyveli Narayanan. Narayanan was initiated into the art of mridangam playing at the young age of seven and made his debut at the age of 11. He counts among his gurus U. Sivaraman, a mridangam player who is counted as among the greatest of this age. Narayanan is known for the clarity and precision of his style as an accompanist who both complements the main artiste and yet distinguishes himself on stage, so much so that audiences often come to listen to his playing as much as the main artiste. Also accompanying
Smt. Sowmya on the violin is Nagai Sriram, a young violinist
who is rapidly making a mark as a much sought-after accompanist
for several top vocalists in India. Web design by JIVI solutions. Art work (c) Leelavati Bagavant. |
