Prapancham Sitaram
One of the most respected flautists in recent times, Prof. Prapancham Sitaram has been performing for over 65 years now. Born in 1942 to Vijayawada Gangabai and Prapancham Krishnamoorthy, the young Sitaram learnt the nuances of flute playing from the genius Mali. Academically highly qualified with double doctorates (from the Bangalore University and the U.S.), Sitaram has guided many bright youngsters in their Ph.Ds, including Balasai and Balakrishna Tantri. A top ranking artist for AIR and Doordarshan, Sitaram has held many high profile posts such as the UGC University professor and Dean. A widely travelled musician, he has won laurels from various quarters including the Tamil Nadu Government’s Kalaimamani and UNESCO-sponsored Asian Rostrum Global First Prize.
Thanjavur Ramamoorthy
Even as a 12-year-old, Ramamoorthy regaled audiences with his superb and precise mridangam playing. Adept at playing the violin and veena as well, Ramamoorthy began life as an AIR artist in Tiruchirapalli in 1945, and retired as an ‘A’ Grade artist. Ramamoorthy has accompanied many a stalwart including Ariyakkudi, Madurai Mani Iyer and Veenai S. Balachander. A recipient of many awards, including the Kalaimamani, Ramamoorthy has performed in various platforms to great praise.
Musicologist Awards
Dr. R. S. Jayalakshmi
Musician, teacher, research scholar and musicologist… They are the many faces of R.S. Jayalakshmi’s personality. Even as a child, she learnt vocal music and also the veena. She had her initial training under V. Raghavan. After a Teacher’s Training Course from The Music Academy, she underwent further training under R. Pichumani Iyer after getting a Government of India Scholarship. She also trained in padams and javalis under the legendary T. Muktha. An A Grade artist with AIR, she is at present part of the teaching faculty of the Advanced School of Music run by The Music Academy and faculty of Haridoss Giri School of Music of Narada Gana Sabha. When she is not busy presenting papers at different fora on music, she co-ordinates an ongoing project by T.M. Krishna on Sangeeta Sampradaya Pradarshini.
