HK Raghavendra

Vidwan H. K. Raghavendra was a Carnatic violinist and a disciple of his father, Sangita Kalarathna Prof. H V Krishnamurthy. Born into a distinguished musical family of Bangalore, he performed extensively alongside his brother, Vidwan H. K. Venkatram, and also appeared in violin ensembles with his father and brother. Raghavendra excelled in both academics and music from an early age, winning several prizes at inter-school and inter-collegiate competitions. As a violinist, he gave numerous solo and duet performances and accompanied several stalwarts of Carnatic music, including Dr. R. K. Srikantan, Chitravina N. Ravikiran, and Dr. R. K. Padmanabha, among others. The violin trio comprising Raghavendra, his father, and his brother was accompanied on various occasions by legendary percussion maestros such as Dr. T. K. Murthy, Dr. Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman, and Sri Guruvayur Dorai. He was a graded artiste of All India Radio (AIR) and was actively involved with Vijaya College of Music, Bangalore, where he trained several students in violin. As Secretary of the music college, he also played an important role in organizing concerts, lecture-demonstrations, and other musical activities, contributing to the institution's efforts to promote and propagate classical music. Alongside his musical accomplishments, Raghavendra distinguished himself professionally as an engineer and corporate leader. He held senior management and leadership positions with prominent technology companies, including Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), 3Com, and Compaq, successfully combining a demanding professional career with his enduring commitment to Carnatic music.