Yashasvi Subbarao

YASHASVI SUBBARAO Violin & Vocal Professional | Carnatic Classical Musician | Music Educator Yashasvi Subbarao began his journey in Carnatic music at the age of six, learning both violin and vocal music from his father, Gana Sudhakara A. Subbarao. He gave his first public solo performance at the age of 17 at the State Academy of Music. He pursued advanced training in Carnatic classical music under the guidance of Prof. Anoor S. Ramakrishnan and later under Sangeetha Kalanidhi Padma Bhushana Dr. R. K. Srikantan, continuing a rich musical tradition rooted in rigorous classical training and performance. MUSICAL CAREER Yashasvi Subbarao has completed 50 glorious years as a professional vocalist and violinist, performing across various genres with a primary focus on Carnatic classical music. He has performed at numerous prestigious sabhas, festivals and cultural institutions across India and has also toured extensively in the United States, presenting concerts in cities including Pittsburgh, Portland, Washington D.C. and New Jersey. He is a graded artiste of All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan, Bangalore. He has also recorded music for Kannada films and released classical vocal and instrumental albums. As a violinist, he has accompanied several leading Carnatic musicians and has been part of numerous major concerts and musical collaborations. ACCOMPANIMENTS & COLLABORATIONS Yashasvi Subbarao has accompanied and performed alongside several eminent artistes, including: - Sangeetha Kalanidhi Dr. R. K. Srikantan - Prof. Anoor S. Ramakrishna - Padma Bhushana T. N. Seshagopalan - Sangeetha Kalanidhi T. V. Shankara Narayanan - Ganakalasri M. S. Sheela - T. V. Gopalakrishnan - Dr. T. S. Satyavathi - Sangeetha Kalanidhi Bombay Jayashree - Sandeep Narayan - Shankaran Namboodiri - Mandolin U. Srinivas - Dr. Suma Sudhindra - Dr. Nagamani Srinath - Dr. Vidyabhushana - R. K. Padmanabha - Seethalakshmi Venkatesan - Palghat Ram Prasad - Dr. R. N. Srilatha - Vasundara Rajagopalan - Dr. Sukanya Prabhakar - Dr. Nagavalli Nagaraj - and several other distinguished artistes. He has also performed with stalwart mridangam vidwans including Guruvayur Dorai, A V Anand, Tanjavur Upendran, C S Murugabhoopathy and Dr. T. K. Murthy. PERFORMANCES He has performed at numerous prestigious sabhas, festivals and cultural institutions across India, including: - Ganabharathi, Mysore - Bangalore Gayana Samaja - Karnataka Gana Kala Parishat - Lalitha Kala Academy - Malleshwaram Sangeetha Sabha - Parthasarathy Gana Sabha - Krishna Gana Sabha - R. T. Nagar Sangeetha Sabha - Vani Institute of Music - Kalasangama Sangeetha Sabha - Hamsadhvani Creations - Mudabidire Festival of Music - Manipal Festival of Music - Mandu Festival, Indore - Hampi Utsav - Indian Institute of World Culture - Girinagar Sangeetha Sabha - Devagiri Sangeetha Sabha - Raj Bhavan - and several other leading cultural forums. He has also performed extensively as part of Ramanavami concerts across Karnataka, including Bangalore, Mysore, Hassan, Udupi, Mangalore, Shivamogga, Sagara, Sulya, Sringeri, Kukke Subramanya and Dharmasthala. His performances have taken him to major cultural centers and institutions including Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad; Tirupati Brahmotsava; ICCR, New Delhi; Karnataka Association, New Delhi; University of Jaipur; Rasika Ranjani Sabha, Calcutta; Shanmukhananda Hall, Mumbai; Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai; Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai; and Tarangini Academy of Music, Chennai, among many others. He has participated in several prominent festivals and cultural programmes including Bangalore Habba, Mysore Dasara, Rudrapatna Music Festival, Hampi Utsav, Palakkad Music Festival, Vaikom Music Festival, Gudiya Sambhrama and various programmes organized by the Government of Karnataka and other cultural institutions. He has also performed at special programmes including the Kargil Musical Tribute, attended by the Chief Minister and Governor of Karnataka, and at Shankara Cancer Hospital, Bangalore. ENSEMBLES, FUSION & JUGALBANDHI Yashasvi Subbarao has actively explored ensemble, fusion and cross-genre musical collaborations. He formed an instrumental ensemble featuring Veena, Venu and Violin, performing several programmes with M. K. Pranesh and Pushpa Kashinath. He has participated in numerous Jugalbandi concerts with artistes including Sitar Rajashekar, Prakash Sontakke, Pravin Gorkindi, Ananth Bhagavath and Pt. Sameer Rao. He has also performed violin duets with several distinguished violinists. For more than three decades, he has served as lead violinist for Layalahari, the percussion ensemble headed by Vidwan Anoor Anantha Krishna Sharma. He has also performed with the fusion and percussion troupe Laya Taranga. He founded Naada Fusion, Bangalore, bringing together Western and Carnatic musicians for fusion performances at music festivals and corporate events. MUSIC EDUCATION Alongside his performing career, Yashasvi Subbarao has dedicated over four decades to teaching music, nurturing numerous students who have gone on to become professional musicians. In 2000, he founded Vagadheeshwari Kala Kendra, a music training institution dedicated to imparting systematic training in Carnatic music. He presently serves as Principal and Managing Trustee of Vagadheeshwari Kala Kendra Trust (R), a registered trust running a music school and Sangeetha Sabha. The institution has trained students to professional levels for several decades. Many students have successfully completed proficiency-level examinations conducted by the Secondary Education Board of the Government of Karnataka, while several students of the institution actively perform in concerts. AWARDS & HONOURS His contributions to music have been recognized through several awards, titles and honours, including: - Student Scholarship Award – State Sangeetha Nruthya Academy, Karnataka - Pranavashree – Sreekantham Sangeetha Sabha - Parampara Shree – Parampara Trust, Bangalore - Gandharva Vamsha Nidhi – Vamsi Academy of Music - Lalitha Kala Suma Award – Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira - Sri Ramaseva Choodamani – Sri Karanji Anjaneya Sri Rama Seva Samithi - Manjudasa State Award – 2023 – Mohana Tarangini Sangeeta Sabha - Piteelu Vaadana Gayana Ubhaya Kalaa Vichakshana. He has also been felicitated for his contribution to the field of music by Sri Iyannar College of Music and Aradhana Trust, Srirangapattana, and honoured by Samskara Bharathi and several other reputed institutions.