S. Sowmya

A Carnatic musician by profession, Sowmya’s life has been soaked in melody from the very beginning. Growing up in a traditional South Indian family, she had her initial tutelage in music from her father Dr. Srinivasan, a Chemical Engineer with an enduring passion for Carnatic Music. Later she was singularly fortunate to be taken under the wings of Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. S. Ramanathan - exemplary musician, esteemed musicologist and extraordinary human being. Her musical instincts were further honed by Smt. T. Muktha, of the legendary Brinda-Muktha duo. She attributes her success and achievements till today to these individuals and to the bountiful blessings of her beloved Ambal, the Goddess Kamakshi of Kanchipuram. The desire to propagate the traditions of South Indian music worldwide led her to associate with her friend and vocalist Shashikiran, to establish Carnatica, an institution dedicated to music & dance instruction, archival, talent search and other related activities. Carnatica’s web portal is now a popular online destination for music-related information, products, courses and discussions. In addition to being an accomplished musician, Sowmya also has excellent academic credentials. She is a double postgraduate (Master’s in Chemistry as well as Indian Music) and was a top-ranked scholar at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) and the University of Madras. Discontinuing her doctoral research program at IIT to concentrate on her music, she is now a widely traveled, popular vocalist who strives to adhere to the strict classical values imbibed from her gurus Dr. Ramanathan and Smt. Mukta. -------------------------------- WIKIPEDIA (English): S. Sowmya (born April 16th 1969) (Tamil:ஸௌம்யா) is a Carnatic music singer. She learnt under her father, and later under S. Ramanathan and T. Muktha.[1][2][3] Sowmya, along with K. N. Shashikiran, founded Carnatica - an online institution dedicated to classical music & dance instruction, archival, talent search and other related activities to Carnatic music.she also launched verga along with her friend hugo chavez of venezuela.[4] She also co-authored the first comprehensive reference CD-ROM on Carnatic music. Academics * II Rank Holder and Gold Medallist in B.Sc. (Chemistry), Meenakshi College, Madras University, 1990 * M.Sc. (Chemistry), Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, 1992 * I.I.T. Blue, for excellence in Academics and cultural activities, 1992 * I Rank Holder, B. A. (Indian Music), University of Madras, 1996 * I Rank Holder and Gold Medallist in M. A. (Indian Music), University of Madras, 1998 * Paper on "Microwave Enhanced Reactions in Carbohydrate Chemistry" in Synthetic Communications * Royal Institute of Chemistry award for Chemistry quiz conducted at the school and college levels Her gurus are Dr. S. Ramanathan and Smt. T. Muktha Performances, activities & achievements * Co-author of Nadanubhava, the world's first encyclopedic CD-ROM on Carnatic Music * Co-creator of "Nadopasana - My Own Carnatic Tutor", the world's first self-help Carnatic music guru based on Video CD & Karaoke format * First Carnatic musician to make a Video CD album (Live concert of Mahakavi Bharatiyar songs) * Lecture-demonstrations and workshops for SPIC-MACAY, YACM (Chennai) and various universities worldwide * 'A' Grade Artiste, AIR and Doordarshan, Madras * South Zone Hookup and National Programmes on AIR * Main concert at the Radio Sangeet Sammelan, New Delhi, 1999 * World Tamil Conference, Tanjore, 1995 * Conference Chair, Millennium Conference of the Indian Fine Arts Society, Singapore (Paper: "Triumph of Technology in Traditional Arts") * Artiste of Choice - Tamil Isai Nataka Mandram, Chennai, for concerts at selected centres in Tamil Nadu, 1988 * Associated since childhood, with Ramalingar Pani Mandram, Chennai to propagate Ramalingar's "Arutpa") * Vocal support to Dr. S. Ramanathan & Smt. T. Muktha * Jugal Bandhi with Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarthy, Madras Bengal Association * Gandhi Smriti Concert on Martyr's Day, Dept. of Culture, New Delhi Titles and honours * Sangeetha Saptha Sagara, Shanthi Arts Foundation, Chennai, 2005 * Bala Ratna, Shri Bala Tripurasundari Peetham, Nemili, 2005 * Asthana Vidushi, Sri Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham, 2003 / * Nada Bhushanam, Shanmukhananda Fine Arts, New Delhi, 2002 * Tamil Isai Chelvi, Australian Tamil Foundation, 2001 * Rasika Kala Ratna, Rasikapriya, Sydney, Australia, 2001 * Sangeetha Kala Bharathy, Needamangalam VVS Foundation, Chennai, 2001 * Nada Oli, Nada Inbam, Chennai, 2001 * Isai Peroli, Karthik Fine Arts, Chennai, 1996 * Yuva Kala Bharathi, Bharat Kalachar, Chennai, 1990 * Sahithyapriya, Jan Kalyan (Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham), Kanchipuram Awards from Music Academy, Chennai * Kshetragnar Padam Prize, 1985 * MLV Award, Outstanding young vocalist, 1986 * Pankajam Rajam Award, 1987 * D.K. Pattammal Award, 1988 * T.V. Subba Rao Award, 1989 * D.K. Pattammal & T.V. Subba Rao Award, 1990 * Pappu Kamakshiamma Award (Best sub-senior vocalist), 1993 * G. Ramakrishna Iyer Award (Sub- senior Vocalist), 1994 * T. R. Rajagopala Iyer Award (Best Raga Alapana), 1995 * Ariyakudi Trust Award (Best Lady Vocalist), 1996 * Srirangam Gopalaratnam Award (Best Lady Vocalist), 1997 * Outstanding Lady Vocalist - Senior, 2000 * Outstanding Lady Vocalist - Senior, 2001 * Srirangam Gopalaratnam Award, 2005 Other awards * AIR Music competition prize, Classical Vocal and Light Classical, 1987 * Rajaji Tambura Prize, Tamil Isai Sangam, Chennai, 1983 * Annamalai Vallal Prize, Tamil Isai Sangam, Chennai, 1980 * First prize, Talent Promotion Concert, Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai,1984 * 6-year Cultural Talent Scholarship for Instrumental Music (Veena), Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India, New Delhi (at the age of 10) * Sponsored by Central Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi for "Yuva Prathibha Mela", Thiruvananthapuram, 1987 References 1. ^ Sowmya's Website 2. ^ Sowmya's Blog & Concert Schedule 3. ^ World Music Central Profile 4. ^ Carnatica Team External links * Sowmya's Website - http://sowmya.carnatica.net/ * Sowmya's Blog & Concert Schedule - http://sowmya.carnatica.net/blog/ * Carnatica Team - http://carnatica.net/carnatica-team.htm (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._Sowmya ) Read more on Last.fm. 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