Center for the Study of Hindu Traditions

The Classical Music Endowment Fund of The Center for the Study of Hindu Traditions (CHiTra) at UF presents…

A Carnatic music concert by Maharajapuram Ramachandran (vocal), Ashwin Ramanathan (violin), & Vijay Ganesh (mridangam).

The CHiTra Classical Music Endowment Fund was created at the University of Florida by patrons of Indian classical music and the arts, and supports events like these. This concert is also sponsored by several Gainesville residents to whom we are very grateful.

Free Admission to Students with ID.

Donations of any amount made out to the University of Florida Foundation (Indian Classical Music Fund) are welcome but not necessary to come and enjoy the concert!

*Gandhi Jayanthi (which is on October 2) will be recognized during the concert!

About the Artists

Maharajapuram Ramachandran is the eldest son and senior-most disciple of the renowned singer, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Maharajapuram Santhanam, and grandson of the legendary Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer. Maharajapuram Ramachandran has performed in some of the best forums in India, including the Music Academy, Krishna Gana Sabha, Tamil Isai Sangam, and All India Radio, for more than three decades. A “Top Ranking Artist” of All India Radio and Doordarshan, Maharajapuram Ramachandran is a recipient of many titles and awards.

Ramachandran has enthralled audiences in India and all over the world and has been acclaimed for his deep knowledge of music and wide-ranging repertoire. He has the honor of being accompanied by Senior Artists including Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri M.S. Gopalakrishnan, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri M.Chandrasekharan, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri T.K.Murthy, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri Vellore Ramabadhran, Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman, et al.

Ashwin Ramanathan is currently a senior at the University of Florida. He began learning the violin under Mrs. Gomathy Sundaram (Tampa) and is currently taking advanced lessons under Sri H.K. Narasimhamurthy and Sri H.N. Bhaskar. He has given solo performances in the United States and India and has performed with many musicians from around the world.

Vijay Ganesh began to learn the mridangam at the age of six from the illustrious Vidwan Sri Kumbakonam Rajappa Iyer. He has performed at the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C, and the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, Baltimore, MD.  He is a regular performer at the Cleveland Tyagaraja Utsavam and has performed extensively in music festivals in India, USA, and Canada, accompanying many eminent Carnatic musicians, including Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, Sri TK Govinda Rao, Sri Maharajapuram Ramachandran, Sri Malladi Suri Babu, A. Kanayakumari, and others. He has also played with outstanding exponents of Hindustani music. He is a “graded” artist of All India Radio, Chennai.  Sri Vijay has received the “Best Mridangist” award from the Music Academy (1999) and the Krishna Gana Sabha (1998), Chennai.