Little India : Organisations : Culture : SIFAS

LittleIndia : Organisations : Culture : Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society

	Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society
	Introduction • Performances • Courses • Tutors

RESUME OF TUTORS OF THE ACADEMY
	Sri A. K. Karunakaran Karunakaran is a disciple of Maharajapuram V. Santhanam, and is the holder of the title "Sangeetha Vidwan" conferred upon him by the Tamil Nadu Music College, Madras. He also holds a Diploma in Department of Fine Arts of the University of Jaffna. He joined the Academy in October 1991.

	Sri Prapancham Ravindran Mr Ravindran is a very high-calibre mridangist. Coming from a family of illustrious classical musicians he had his debut at the age of six. He had his training under Tanjavur Rajam Iyer and Balakrishna Naidu. He has taught and produced quality mridangam artistes who now accompany musicians on the stage. His wife teaching knowledge has made him a much sought after mridangam teacher. As a performer he has accompanied all leading musicians in India. He has been an "A" grade artiste with the All India Radio.

	Mrs. Mangalam Shankar Sangeeta Vidwan Mangalam Shankar is the receipient of two gold medals for standing first from the Tamil Nadu Music College in 1978, one of Musicology and the other for practicals. She has also obtained the Teacher's training Diploma with a first class and distinction in practical. In the field of advanced training in Carnatic music she has attained the title of "SANGEETHA RATNA" from the Music Academy in 1984. A disciple of Sangeetha Kalanidhi T.M. Thiagarajan, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Smt. D.K. Partammal and Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri D.K. Jayaram, Mangalam Shankar is in possession of a rich repertoire of music and has given exclusive concerts of composers like Thyagaraja, Dikhitar, Shyama Sastri, Swati Thirunal, Purendra Das, Narayan Theerthar, Sadasiva Brahmendran, Neelakanta Sivan etc. She has been a regular performer in the AIR for a number of years and singing presently under the grade B high. She is also a B.A. (Hon) in Political Science from University of Delhi. She has worked at Kalakshetra, Madras in the Music department for over two years. Mangalam Shankar joined the Academy of Fine Arts at the end of June 97.

	Smt. Leelavathy Gopalakrishnan Leelavathy Gopalakrishnan is a disciple of Sangeetha Vidwan Sri S. Balasubramanian and passed the Sangeetha Vidwan course from Central college of Karnatic Music, Madras in 1961. She had advanced training in Music under Sangeetha Kalanidhi late Sri Musiri Subramania Iyer availing Govt. of India cultural scholarship for 2 years from 1962-64. She also had training under Sangeetha Vidwan Sri T.K. Govinda Rao. She is a recipient of President's Gold medal from All India Radio Music Competition in the year 1963 and is an A Grade artist. She was a lecturer in Tamil Nadu Music college, Madras before joining Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society in July 1996.

	Sri Raghav Raj Bhatt Raghav Raj Bhatt is the son of the well-known Folk and Tribal Dance, Choreographer, Dance activist of Andhra Pradesh Dr Gopal Raj Bhatt who passed on his talents to his son. Raghav Raj Bhatt had his training also from Pandit Birju Maharaj at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi. He has a Diploma and specialization in Kathak. He has worked as Staff Artiste in the Kathak Kendra, New Delhi. He has performed very widely all over India and abroad. He joined the Academy of Fine Arts in October, 1996.

	Sitaravamma Sandrasegaran Sitaravamma Sandrasegaran, holder of a Diploma and Post-Graduate Diploma in Bharatanatyam from Kalakshetra, Madras, has 10 years of teaching experience at Kalakshetra. She is also proficient in Kuchipudi style of dancing, which she has learnt under Guru Dr Vempati Chinna Satyam. She has also worked as an Advisor to the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Mauritius. She joined the Academy in August 1993.

	Mr. Ahmad Sarfraz Holder of Sangit Prabhakar title from Swar Sarita Sangit Mahavidyalaya Auzaffarpur, Bihar, Ahmad Sarfraz is an outstanding tabla artiste and teacher who has excelled himself in this art. A much sought after musician this gem of an artiste cum tutor will be one of the best table tutors the Academy ever had.

	Sri Ramankutty Girish Kumar A child prodigy, Sri Girish Kumar is a Diploma holder in Bharata Natyam from the prestigious institution of Kalakshetra in Madras. He started training at the age of seven at Murali's Natyalayam and later joined the famous Kerala Kalamandalam before his stint with Kalakshetra. He has won numerous awards at the Kerala state level and choreographed many dance items in Madras after he passes out of Kalakshetra. He is an established choreographer, performer and teacher rolled in one. He is indeed an asset to the Society as an accomplished dancer. He joined the Academy of Fine Arts in January 1996.

	Mrs. Jayalaxmi Subramaniam Mrs. Jayalaxmi Subramaniam is a disciple of Smt. Kalpagam Swaminathan holding a High Grade certificate in Veena and Vocal. Mrs. Jayalaxmi Subramaniam is also the holder of Technical Teacher's Certificate in Indian Music in addition to Sangeetha Vidwan title from the Government of Tamilnadu in 1952. From March 1973 to March 1998 she worked as part time Veena teacher at BSSS Music School, Madras. She also has wide experience in teaching veena as lecturer in the Tamil Nadu Government Music College, Madras. With her wide experience and knowledge Ms. Jayalaxmi Subramaniam will be another tutor with a lot of potential which our students yearn for. She joined the Academy in July 1998

	Dr. (Mrs.) Y. Bhagavathi Dr. Bhagavathi, an accomplished musicologist and disciple of Smt. Kalpagam Swaminathan is a M.A. in Music, from Madras University and is also a gold medallist. She was awarded the University Grants Commission Junior Research fellowship which enabled her to conduct research work on 'Yagraja Nauka Caritramu' for help Ph.D. Degree. She received the Doctor of Philosophy from University of lecture-demonstration award at the Music Conference conducted by the Music Academy Madras in 1994. She published her doctoral thesis along with two audio cassette in the year 1995. Dr. Bhagavathi was awarded the U.G.C. Research Associateship in September 1993 to do her post-doctoral research on topic "Raga-s handled in Muthuswami Dikshitar's compositions". She taught Veena and theory for B.A. and M.A. Music at the Music Department, Madras University for six years. She joined the Academy of Fine Arts at the end of June 1997.

	Sri K. Sivaraman Disciple of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri T.N. Krishnan the famous maestro of Carnatic Violin music. Sri Sivaraman has accompanied leading performing artistes viz Sangeetha Kalanidhi M.L. Vasanthakumari, Sri T.N. Seshagopalan, Sri T.V. Sankaranarayanan, Smt. Radha and Jayalakshmi, the Bombay sisters, Sri Balamuralikrishnan, Mrs. Sudha Ragunathan etc. in India and Overseas. Having obtained the Sangeetha Vidman title in Violin from the Central College of Carnatic Music, Chennai, he has tutored many students in Violin in India and London and made a name for himself as a talented teacher, performer and accompanying artiste. Sri K. Sivaram will commence Violin classes at the Academy of Fine Arts from 1st July 1999.

	Sri K. Rajkumar Holder of a Diploma in Bharatanatyam from the College of Fine Arts Chennai, Sri Rajkumar is a choreographer, director, performer and teacher all rolled into one. He has been associated with the arts since 1987 and has varied experience in all aspects of Bharatanatyam. One of his greatest achievements was the threatre presentation of AAYANA with 1000 school children on contemporary themes. He has also worked as visiting dance tutor at Protima Bedi Nrityagram, Banglore. Sri Rajkumar joined the Academy in May 1999 in place of Smt. Shanta T. Ponnudurai who migrated to Canada recently.

	Sri R. Thiagarajan The son of Dr. N. Ramani Sri Thiagarajan has passed with distinction and won the first prize in Post-Graduate Diploma in Music "SANGEETHA ALANKAR" (equivalent to M.A. Music) from the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Maha Vidya Mandal, the premier Indian Institution of Music. Sri Thiagarajan has completed over 2000 successful concerts all over the world. He has accompanied the late Sri Palghat Mani Iyer, Sri M.S. Gopalakrishnan, Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman, Sri T.N. Krishnan, Sri Palghat Raghu, Sri V.V. Subramaniam etc on the flute. He has also accompanied many famous artistes on the violin including Dr. N. Ramani, late Sri D.K. Jayaraman, Sri U. Srinivas etc. He has also a large student following in India. Sri R. Thiagarajan will replace Mr. P. Kannan and commence classes from July 1999.

	Sri Susanta Chowdhury Sangeet Siromani Sri Susanta Chowdhury has the rare distinction of coming first in M.A. (Music) from Delhi University and obtaining the coveted gold medal a rare achievement in the world of Hindustani music. An A Grade artist in Sitar in the All India Radio, Delhi, he is one of the young breed of Music exponents in India. He has also a good student following and is well known in the music circle of North India. Sri Susanta Chowdury will take over the classes hitherto conducted by Sri Parto Das from July 1999.

	Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society
	Introduction • Performances • Courses • Tutors