B V RAGHAVENDRA RAO

B V Raghavendra Rao is one of the most accomplished, popular and sought-after violinists in the field of Carnatic classical music today. Hailing from a distinguished family of musicians, his music is known for its mellifluous tone, creative imagination, and deep-rooted classicism. *Early Years and Initiation* Raghavendra Rao was initiated into the niceties of music at the tender age of seven by his father, Sri B. Sudarsana Rao. Attracted by the lure of classical music from early childhood, he showed extraordinary aptitude for the violin. Recognizing this, his father placed him under rigorous training. *Gurus and Training* He trained intensively for several years under eminent gurus - Sri Balan, Sri Thiruvallur Veeraraghavan and Sri Sangeetham Meera Sahib. His quest for excellence led him to come under the tutelage of the violin legend, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri T.N. Krishnan, whose graceful style and pristine bowing left an indelible impression on his playing. Later, he received invaluable guidance and extensive concert experience from one of the greatest musical geniuses India has produced in this century, Bharat Ratna Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna. This long association with Dr. Balamuralikrishna shaped his musical outlook, giving him a profound insight into manodharma, laya intricacies and concert presentation. *Rise as an Accompanist and Soloist* As a young artiste, Raghavendra Rao received the rare honour of appreciation from the President of India, Shri R. Venkataraman, for accompanying the celebrated musical genius Dr M Balamuralikrishna at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. This was a turning point in his career. Soon he climbed the ladder of success to become one of the most popular accompanists in the Carnatic field. He has accompanied almost all top-ranking musicians including Sangita Kalanidhis Sri Nedanuri Krishnamurthy T.N. Seshagopalan, Sri T.V. Sankaranarayanan, Late Maharajapuram Santhanam, Sri O.S. Thyagarajan, Smt. Sudha Raghunathan, Smt. Sowmya, Bombay Smt. Jayashree, Dr. Nithyashree Mahadevan, Priya Sisters and many others. While being a much sought-after accompanist, Raghavendra Rao is an expert solo violinist in his own right. The melodious and mellifluous music that he brings out through the violin illustrates his strong creative imagination that scales great heights. His solo concerts are marked by rich bhava, clarity and a singing tone that closely follows the vocal idiom. *Concerts in India* He has participated in the prestigious Bharat Cultural Integration Committee (B.C.I.C) music festivals organized all over India, performing in major cities and cultural centres, taking Carnatic violin to diverse audiences. *International Tours and Festivals* Raghavendra Rao has performed internationally and has participated in numerous music festivals organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (I.C.C.R.) and the prestigious "Festival of India" programs sponsored by the Government of India. He has widely travelled all over the world, including the U.S.A., Canada, USSR France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius and the Middle Eastern countries, earning acclaim as a cultural ambassador. *Prestigious Performances & Unique Combinations* Some of his landmark performances include: 1. Appearance with Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna at *Lincoln Centre, Alice Tully Hall, New York, USA* in 1991. 2. Jugalbandis with Flute Maestro *Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia* and Dr. Balamuralikrishna at Dallas, Chicago and Detroit. 3. Jugalbandi with *Pandit Bhimsen Joshi* & Dr. BMK at the Al Nasr Leisureland Hall, Dubai in 1993. 4. Performance with *Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty* & Dr. BMK at the Indien Festival, Beethoven Saal, Stuttgart, Germany and at the world-renowned *Carnegie Hall, New York* in 1995 & 1998. 5. Performed with the *Indo-Belgian Raj Hans Orchestra* conducted by Hans Vermeersch for UNESCO, New York in 1995. *Innovative Work and Music Composition* A versatile musician, Raghavendra Rao has also contributed as a composer and collaborator: - Music composer for Dance Ballets _Ambalathil Aadum Jothi_ & _Om Sharavana Bhava_ for Kala Sadhanalaya, Chennai. - Worked with Vikku Vinayakaram, Selva Ganesh & Rikhi Ray of Germany and Nadaka of Auroville and Drums Sivamani for Fusion Recordings and Instrumental Ensembles. - Composed music for _Saranam Guru Charanam_, a devotional album for Guru Sivananda Murthy, Bheemili, Vishakapatnam. - Provided music assistance to Music Director Shyam Joseph and has played for numerous recordings for all reputed music directors ...Vidyasagar, Deva, Ravindran and others. *Albums* He has played in many acclaimed albums: - Dr. Balamuralikrishna's - Jayadeva Ashtapadis, Bhadrachala Ramadas Sankeerthanams, Krithis on Lord Shiva for Sangeetha Live. - Sudha Raghunathan: Shankarabharanam, Thyagaraja Krithis and Papanasam Sivan albums released by Amutham Inc. - _Monkey in the Shakti's Shadow_ for Rikhi Ray - _Cross Winds_ for Oriental Records - _Living Colours_ for Nadaka, Auroville - World Music album for Drums Sivamani - _Laya Project_ for Earth Sync etc. In every note he plays, Raghavendra Rao's devotion and his quest for perfection find their expression. He continues to inspire students and rasikas alike through his concerts, teaching and recordings.