Usha Rajagopalan

"Mark my words, young Usha, will in the near future join the galaxy of great maestros. " These were the words echoed by Sri Subbudu as he watched Usha perform. Coming from a critic like Subbudu is no flash in the pan. Born in Chennai, (erstwhile Madras), Usha Rajagopalan started learning the violin at the age of seven. She underwent rigorous training from Sri.Ananthagopalan and Smt.Padmavathy Ananthagopalan. She also received valuable guidance from Violin Maestro Sri Lalgudi G Jayaraman. At the age of 13, Usha joined the Ananthagopalans in Singapore where they were on a teaching assignment. It was here that she received a firm foundation as a violin accompanist and the opportunity to accompany senior and well known musicians to concerts. Her real break came with the Bombay Sisters, Smts.C.Saroja and C.Lalitha. Recognizing talent in Usha they groomed her for concerts and this formed the backbone of her recitals. Since then Usha has authored many solo performances and accompanied many stalwarts like Bombay Sisters, Dr.Balamuralikrishna, D.K.Jayaraman, D.K.Pattammal, Dr.N.Ramani, Sudha Raghunathan, R.Vedavalli, Mandolin Srinivas, Kadri Gopalnath, Sikkil Sisters, Suguna Purushothaman, Prof. TR Subramanian, Prof. T.K.Govinda Rao and many others. She has performed in all leading Sabhas in and outside India. Usha has released many albums of her solo performances, the recent one being the ‘Violin Delights’. A Post graduate in Music from the Madras University Usha also been awarded the Doctorate Degree in the year 2019. She is a Top Grade artist of the All India Radio, and was employed with them as Staff Artist till her retirement in February 2023. Besides being honoured by the Music Academy, she has won many awards and prizes from several premier music institutions like the Tamil 1sai Sangam, The Indian Fine Arts Society etc. to name a few. As a student she has won several prizes at the Inter College Competitions and Cultural festivals that she participated. She was conferred with the ‘Kalaimamani’ Award by the Government of Tamilnadu in the year 2005, ‘Thanthree Nadhamani’ award by The Sri Kanchi kamakoti Sri Sankara Madam, Kanchipuram in the year 2010 and the ‘SKGS Nadha Rathna’ Award by the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in the year 2013. Also conferred with ‘Gandarva Vidyadhara’ Award by Irai pani mandram in the year 2012. Usha has travelled extensively and performed in the United States, Canada, Singapore, South Africa, Mauritius, Australia, United Arab Emirates etc. Usha has also been training students both in Vocal and Violin. Some of her students are performing concerts.