Mandolin Trio Concert by U. P. Raju, U. Nagamani and U. Jaya Vigneshwar

Accompanied by Vijay Ganesh (Mridangam) and N. Rajaraman (Ghatam)

U. P. Raju

Mandolin U.P. Raju is one of the foremost exponents of Carnatic mandolin and a Top Grade artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan. A native of Palakol, Andhra Pradesh, he trained for seven years in the gurukulavasam tradition under the late Sri R. Subbaraju, whose guidance helped shape his distinctive adaptation of Carnatic gamakas on the mandolin. In October 2023, he and his family presented their Mandolin Family Quartet overseas for the first time at the Philharmonie de Paris during the Nuit du Raga festival, where they received a standing ovation from a packed audience. Together with his wife, Mandolin Smt. U. Nagamani, he also trains more than 150 students around the world. Over a career spanning more than three decades, Raju has performed regularly at major sabhas in Chennai and across India, including the December music season, and has toured extensively in South Africa, the United States, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Dubai, Sri Lanka, France, Switzerland, and Germany. He has also gained recognition through solo and duo recordings under leading labels and through his acclaimed mandolin duo with Smt. U. Nagamani. His honours include All India Radio A Grade (1997) and Top Grade (2016), the K.S. Mahadevan Endowment from Narada Gana Sabha, the titles Sruthi Laya Samrat, Yuva Kala Bharathi, Gandharva Kala Ratna, Isai Tamil Vendhar, Nadha Kala Vipanchee, Sangitha Vidwanmani, and Sangeetha Kalamitra, along with the Asthana Vidwan title from Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. He also founded Shastriya Mandolin Sikshana in 2012 and released the instructional DVD Learn to Play Mandolin.

U. Nagamani

Smt. U. Nagamani, a native of Palakol, Andhra Pradesh, is a distinguished Carnatic mandolin artist who began learning the instrument at the age of seven under the guidance of her uncle and mentor, Sri Mandolin U.P. Raju. A child prodigy, she was performing as a soloist in Chennai’s leading sabhas by the age of nine and went on to become the first female artist to perform Carnatic classical music on the mandolin. Nagamani has performed widely in India and internationally, including South Africa, the United States, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Germany, France, and Switzerland. She has earned recognition through solo and duo recordings and, together with her husband and mentor Sri U.P. Raju, forms a noted mandolin duo. An accomplished performer, teacher, and composer, she co-founded Shastriya Mandolin Sikshana, has trained more than 150 students in India and abroad, and conducts the annual Guru Smaranam in tribute to her guru. Her many honours include awards from Krishna Gana Sabha, Music Academy, Narada Gana Sabha, Bharat Kalachar, All India Radio, Sangeet Natak Academy, and the Ministry of Culture, as well as Top Grade recognition from All India Radio and other major titles and festival invitations in recent years.

U. Jaya Vigneshwar

U. JayaVigneshwar is a gifted Carnatic mandolin artist from Palakol, Andhra Pradesh, trained from the age of six by his parents, mandolin maestros Sri U.P. Raju and Smt. U. Nagamani. Though young, he has developed remarkable command over gamaka and Indian classical music on the mandolin, while also exploring other genres with keen curiosity. To broaden his musical knowledge and performance style, he also trained in vocal music under Sri P.B. Srirangachary and has presented vocal concerts as well. A student of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, Chennai, and an alumnus of Chinmaya Vidyalaya, he has actively curated and composed music for school events and served as Cultural Secretary.JayaVigneshwar has presented over 300 concerts across India and abroad, including Australia, France, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore. He has performed at leading sabhas, temples, festivals, and cultural venues, both as a solo artist and with eminent musicians and his family ensemble. His notable recognitions include first place in The Hindu Margazhi Music Contest (2021), the Sri Shanmukhananda Bharat Ratna Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi Fellowship for Mandolin (2022), HCL Carnatic Quest winner (2023), the Nada Pallava Award (2023), Direct A Grade from All India Radio (2024), and Best Instrumental Concert at the Rasika Ranjani Sabha Youth Festival (2024).

Vijay Ganesh (Mridangam)

Sri Vijay Ganesh a seasoned mridangist, learnt this divine art from the age of 6. He had his tutelage under Sangeetha Kala Acharya, Vidwan Late Sri. Kumbakonam Rajappa Iyer.

Vijay Ganesh has performed extensively in India and United States accompanying many eminent Carnatic musicians like Dr M Balamurali Krishna, Nagai Sri Muralidharan, Lalgudi Sri GJR Krishnan, Sri TM Krishna, Sri P Unnikrishnan, Maharajapuram Sri Ramachandran & many others. He has also played with outstanding musicians of the Hindustani stream like Pandit Sri Viswamohan Bhatt, Pandit Ronu Majumdar & many others.

He has won several awards including: Best Mridangist award from Music Academy, Best Mridangist award in Gokulashtami festival from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, “Youth excellence” for Mridangam from Sri Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer trust.

In 2010, he started a percussion school called KMR school of Mridangam to promote classical music by inviting artists from India.

He was honored with the prestigious Kala Seva Mani title by the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana this year in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the promotion and propagation of Carnatic music in North America.

N. Rajaraman (Ghatam)

N. Rajaraman is a Ghatam artiste who carries the rich traditions of South Indian classical percussion instrument Ghatam across the globe. A disciple of “Padma Bhushan” Vikku Vinayakaram, having started his career at the age of 16, he has been playing ghatam for several leading musicians worldwide. He is B-high grade artist of AIR and won the best performer award from Music Academy in 2014. His work bridges tradition and innovation, presenting a Carnatic instrument as a living, evolving art form on the world stage. Such presentations include his works with French musicians making a few albums creating Indo-French music.