Jayanthi Kumaresh
| Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh | |
|---|---|
|
Kumaresh and Jayanthi Kumaresh performing at Yamini 2007, the SPICMACAY cultural festival of IIM Bangalore | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Tamil Nadu, India |
| Genres | Carnatic Music |
| Occupation(s) | Classical Vainika |
| Instruments | Veena |
| Website |
jayanthikumaresh |
Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh is one of the most versatile Veena artistes today.[1] She hails from Tamil Nadu, India.[2][3] Jayanthi comes from a lineage of musicians who have been practicing Carnatic music for six generations and started playing the Saraswati Veena at the age of 3. Smt. Lalgudi Rajalakshmi, her mother, is her first guru and she later moved to her maternal aunt, Smt. Padmavathy Ananthagopalan as part of Gurukula vasam for intense training in Veena. She is also blessed with a rare opportunity to learn Veena from the Veena Maestro, Sundaram Balachander. She is married to Vid. Kumaresh Rajagopalan, the younger of the famous Ganesh Kumaresh violinist duo.[4] Legendary musician and violinist Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman is Jayanthi's maternal uncle.[5]
Jayanthi was awarded a doctorate by the University of Mysore for her work on the subject Analytical Study of Different Banis and Playing techniques of the Saraswathi Veena.
Sri Kumaresh and Dr. Jayanthi are currently Asthana Vidwans of the Sringeri Sharadha Peetam, Sringeri, Karnataka.
Dr. Jayanthi has performed extensively in different parts of the world sharing the stage with stalwarts like Ustad Zakir Hussain. She also heads the Indian National Orchestra, a group of artists from Carnatic and Hindustani genres representing the rich musical and cultural heritage of India.[6] Dr. Kumaresh is also a great patron for SPIC MACAY movement and has been performing for SPIC MACAY for several years.[7]
Awards
Dr. Kumaresh has received many prestigious awards, including Kalaimamani[8] from the Government of Tamil Nadu and Sangeetha Choodamani[9] by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha of Chennai in 2014.