Our Gurus

Born into a family of musicians, Vidushi Rajarajeshwary Bhat began learning Vocal Carnatic Music from her mother, Smt. Krishnaveni, and from her brother, Sri Vittal Ramamurthy, a renowned violinist at a young age. She further honed her skills under the guidance of Sri Sethalapathy Balasubramaniam and Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri Neyveli Santhanagopalan. She was fortunate to learn from Padmabushan Lalgudi Sri G. Jayaraman and Sangita Kalacharya T. R. Subramaniam through a National Scholarship. Vidushi Rajarajeshwary Bhat is the Founder and Director of Krishna Gana Sudha Music Academy both in India and the United States. Holding a Vidwat (Master's degree) in Music from the Karnataka government, she is a distinguished vocalist, educator, composer, and teacher, and remains a humble student of the art.

As a B High-graded artist with All India Radio, Vidushi Rajarajeshwary Bhat has performed extensively on Radio and Doordarshan TV, and in various Sabhas across India and the USA. She also gives lecture demonstrations and concerts as an Indian Cultural Ambassador in the USA, presenting "Roots of Classical Music" at institutions such as the University of Houston, Texas A&M University, and Louisiana State University. Her collaborations with Western musicians, including Brahma Fusion, United Choir, Houston Symphony, and Arts Alliance programs, highlight her versatility. Among her accolades are the "2003 Best Concert Award" from Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai, the "2011 Best Teacher Award" from Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, and the "Amritavarshini" Award from Tamil Stage Creations in Houston. Many of her students have achieved remarkable success, by giving concerts and securing accolades at renowned competitions such as Cleveland Aradhana, Music Academy of Chennai Saptami, and others in the US, India, and worldwide.

Vidushi Rajarajeshwary Bhat has significantly promoted Carnatic Music in North America, teaching in the community and providing opportunities for aspiring musicians. Since 2004, she has been a permanent head faculty member at Swaralayam Arts Forum, a non-profit organization promoting classical music in North America. Her innovative teaching methods, including "Gruha Sangeetham" and "Tender Voices," encourage students to excel and share their music through traditional concert performances. Many of her students, now leading performers, owe their success to her dedicated teaching.

Her passion for music and education extends to rural India, where she established Krishna Gana Sudha in Ujire, Karnataka, in 2000. She also conducts Gurukulam-style summer music camps in her native village and Houston with support from family and friends. There, she serves as Founder-Director and teaches over 250 students. Driven by a vision to globalize Carnatic music, she has pioneered several innovative educational programs. She initiated a Certificate Examination in Carnatic Music in the United States and Canada through Tournametrix, allowing students to measure their progress and gain certification.

Vidushi Rajarajeshwary Bhat has contributed to various fundraising events for temples, specially challenged schools, hospitals, old age homes, and contributing new libraries for public schools in rural India. She also works with autistic children, offering regular classes to positively impact their lives through music and showcasing her commitment to philanthropy through music.

Vidushi Keerthana Bhat is an accomplished Classical singer, born in a family of musicians with rich lineage, she was initiated into Carnatic Music by her grandmother Smt. Krishnaveni Hebbar, her mother Vidushi Smt. Rajarajeshwary Bhat, and uncle Vidwan Vittal Ramamurthy. She has given numerous concerts and is a recipient of various musical awards in India and USA. Perfection of sruti (pitching), nectar-like voice, ambient & aesthetic way of singing are some of the qualities that describe the music of Keerthana. The capacity to deeply experience and enjoy what she sings, takes her music to a different plane. Keerthana also shares her skills through volunteer community service locally in music, fine arts and healthcare. She is currently under the tutelage of Vidwan Abhishek Raghuram, Vidushi Trivandrum G Seethalakshmi & mother, Vidushi Smt Rajarajeshwary Bhat and Vidushi Kruthi Bhat.