Mridangam : T R Sundaresan

T.R.Sundaresan has 4 decades of experience in the field of Mridangam a percussion instrument of Carnatic music. He had initial training from his father late Sri.T.V.Rangarajan and later adopted the traditional method of learning in the “GURUKULA” system staying at the Guru’s (teacher) house for advance training under the Mridangam maestro Dr.Yella Venkateswar Rao for 10 years. He is a graded artist of the national broadcasting agency ‘All India Radio’ and ‘Doordarshan’. An established artist he has accompanied many stalwarts both nationally and internationally on many prestigious festivals. He has been an ICCR outstanding panel artist from 1986 and has performed for many cultural exchange events - ‘Festival of India’- abroad organized by ICCR.

He has served as professor in the pioneer art institution of India Kalashetra Foundation Chennai and also the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society –SIFAS for over 28 years. Currently a guest Mentor for the specielised field on ‘LAYAM’ at Kalashetra Foundation Chennai. He has been mentoring students in India and also many other countries like Australia, Europe and US. He has co-authored 2 books along with Mr.Ludwig Pesch from Germany a Carnatic flutist and an eminent musicologist – ‘Eloquent Percussion’ by Ekagrata Publications and ‘A Companion To South Indian Classical Music’ by Oxford Publications. Musical features Giri Sankeerthana Sangamam and Nava Mridanga Tarang are his innovative productions. Has composed many Rhythm structures for dance ballet. In the year 2005 as prayer to mother nature, he performed the ‘MRIDANGA MAHA YAGNAM’ for 42 hours continuously, which got a mention in the Singapore Books of Records.