Rama's musical ensemble consists of top ranking professional musicians who work with Rama on a permanent basis. She derives great support from them in her endeavour to achieve excellence. Rama's performances stand out for their high quality musical accompaniment provided by the following well known artists. Rama also works with additional eminent musicians for specific projects:

Sudha Raghuraman - Vocal

Born in a family of distinguished musicians, she had her training in Carnatic music from her grandfather, Sangeetha Bhushanam Shri O.V.Subramanyam,the highly acclaimed doyen of the Tanjavur'bani'. Surrounded by the pulsating musical atmosphere at home, further enriched by her father Shri O.S.Sridhar,and her paternal uncles, well known carnatic vocalist Sri O.S.Thiagarajan and Sri O.S.Arun, her formative years were the ideal ground for listening by listening. Sudha brings to carnatic music her own unique sensibility. Sudha has performed at several prestigious music festivals and platforms, both in home and abroad. Sudha works with Rama on specific projects.

Ramya Sundaresan Kapadia - Vocal

Ramya had her training in Carnatic vocal under her mother Gayathri Sundaresan and later under guru V Vamanan and Violin under Prema Sundaresan. She is also trained in Bharata Natyam under Shanta Gopinath and presently under Kripa Bhaskar. She has sung in several fusion bands besides presenting classical vocal concerts. Ramya holds a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering in Mumbai, India and obtained Master's Degrees in Medical Physics and Neuroscience at UW Madison, USA. Ramya joined Rama's team in 2008.

Sushant Parambath - Vocal

Sushant is a product of Kalakshetra, Chennai and a senior desciple of veteran vocalist and guru Vairamangalam Lakshmi Narayanan. On completion of his studies in Carnatic Vocal, he has been performing and teaching both in India and abroad. He has an attractive voice and a unique style of singing.

Sushant has done a number of tours and shows with Rama Vaidyanathan since 2007 and though lives in Chennai he still works with Rama as and when required/on specific projects.

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INFORMATION:

12 to 18 August 2009: Rama was invited by the leading Tamil newspapaer of Sri Lanka, 'Virakesari' to present first ever event after the war in Jaffna. More than 3000 people attended her concert in Jaffna.

Rama also presented shows in Colombo to mark 80 years of Virakesari publication in Sri Lanka.

Rama received the distinction of being the first artist to present a public performance after the war in Jaffna, Sri Lanka.

Rama was accompanied by Vidya Srinivasan - Vocal, Ramamoorthy Sriganesh - Mridangam and GS Rajan - Flute.

In May-June 2009 Rama toured Europe with performances at the Musee Guimet, Paris, Culturalis, Netherlands, Cite de la Musique, Marseille, Casa De la India, Valladolid and other venues in Germany and Swizerland.

Rama was accompanied by K Sivakumar - Nattuvangam, Ramya Kapadia - Vocal, Sumod Sreedharan - Mridangam and GS Rajan - Flute.

In December 2009, Rama choreographed and recorded a DVD containing compositions of Dr. M Balamurali Krishna.

NEWS:

'akhilam madhuram'
a solo choreographic work on the symbolism of
Mathura and Vrindavan

Tour of USA in OCT-NOV 2010.

For booking: ramaconcerts@yahoo.com

Premiered at Narada Gana Sabha's 'Kshetra Bharatam' festival in Chennai

In March/April 2010, Rama and her team will visit the United States of America on a performance tour. She will be presenting a solo choreographic work titled 'akhilam madhuram' on the symbolism of Mathura and Vrindavan.

Visualised, choreographed and presented by Rama Vaidyanathan with Music Composition by GS RAJAN.

Orchestra: Ramya Kapadia - Vocal, Ramamoorthy Sriganesh - Nattuvangam, Sumod Sreedharan- Mridangam and GS Rajan - Flute.

For booking: ramaconcerts@yahoo.com

Vidya Srinivasan - Vocal

Born in a family steeped in the tradition of Carnatic classical music, Vidya Srinivasan was destined to excel in the art. Initiated into formal training by her mother at the tender age of six, Vidya later came under the tutelage of her maternal grandfather, renowned maestro Sangeeta Bhushanam Shri O.V. Subramaniam. Presently concentrating on Carnatic vocal concerts Vidya has worked with Rama for more than 15 years.

Vidya has also performed as a lead vocalist for a Raga Symphony Band called ' Malabarians' and is lead vocalist for an ensemble group called 'Dhwani'.

K. Sivakumar - Nattuvangam

A maestro in creating rhythmic patterns, Kameswaran Sivakumar has been working with Rama for the past six years. Hails from a musical family he is the disciple of Mridangam maestro Karaikudi Krishnamurthy. He has also composed jatis (complicated rhythmic patterns) and presented them in recitals of veteran dancers and for percussion ensembles. Sivakumar received the prestigious award 'maestro of rhythm' from Apoorva ragam, in Chennai in 2007.

Arun Kumar - Mridangam

Arun Kumar Kalapurakkal is born into a family of traditional musicians in Calicut (Kozhikode), Kerala. He had his initial training under his father Late Shri Soma Sundaram and later under the tutelege of Mridangam maestro Puthukode Krishnamurthi. Arun Kumar has unique style of playing the Mridangam and has accompanied a good number of Indian classical dancers over the last two decades. He also plays Thavil, Tabla and other traditional percussion instruments. Arun Kumar joined Rama's team since 2009.

Ramamoorthy Sriganesh -
Nattuvangam/Mridangam

Born in a musical family in Lalgudi in Tamil Nadu, Ganesh had an early inclination towards rhythm and started learning the Mridangam at the age of ten from Chidambaram Late Sh. V. Nataraja Iyer in New Delhi. In 1985 Ganesh switched over to dance accompaniment and also started taking advance training from Kalaimamani Sh. A. Prem Kumar of All India Radio New Delhi. With his dedication and hard work Ganesh gradually became one of the most sought after mridangists in the capital. He also learnt the skills of doing Nattuvangam (Conductor of the Dance Orchestra) and became a successful Nattuvanar too.

He has widely travelled all over the globe and since 1998, Ganesh has been conducting a number of percussion ensembles simultaneously with accompaniment on the mridangam. Ganesh has been playing mridangam and doing nattuvangam for Rama for the last 10 years.

GS RAJAN - Composer-Flautist

An outstanding music composer and classical flautist. Rajan (Guruvayoor Srikrishnan Rajan) has been performing solo flute recitals in India and abroad since 1985. He has composed music for innumerable films, documentaries, ballets, television advertisements, signature tunes for channels and albums of great artists including Abida Parween and others. His compositions were appreciated by none other than maestro Zubin Mehta who attended his concert in Munich, Germany. RAJAN is a product of Rukmini Devi Arundale's Kalakshetra and a student of MD Ramanathan in vocal music and H Ramachandra Shastri in Flute. He received a special fellowship from the Government of France to live in France and compose raga-symphony. RAJAN has been composing for Rama and playing flute in her concerts since the last ten years.

Rajan worked as Deputy Secretary of SNA - National Academy of music, dance and drama, Ministry of Culture, Government of India for almost 14 years. He also contribute articles/reviews to national dailies such as The Hindu and The Statesman. For more information on visit www.malabarian.com

Madhavi Gopalakrishnan

Madhavi Gopalakrishnan is a senior scholar of ancient Indian Sanskrit Texts. None other than Swami Chinmayananda himself trained her in recitation and intepretation of these ancient texts. She is regularly invited by study groups to give discourses in Sanskrit texts like the Bhagwad Geeta, Upanishads and the Bhagvatam. She accompanies Rama in her dance recitals by CHANTING THE SANSKRIT TEXTS to a special melody. While she recites, Rama uses the medium of Dance to convey the meaning of the verses. Madhavi also is a part of the musical ensemble for playing the TANPURA.

Madhavi has accompanied Rama for her concerts all over India and abroad. She also runs an organization in New Delhi called VIGYAN MANDIR where she imparts training in the understanding and recitation of the ancient Indian epics and texts.