Download Ganesh Rajagopalan

Ganesh Rajagopalan
A Violinist, Vocalist, Composer and Teacher
Honorary Artistic Director, Rasika Music School, Portland
Phone : 91-9444049118
Email : [email protected]
www.ganeshrajagopalan.com
Curriculam Vitae
Over four Decades of Performing
Ganesh Rajagopalan, hailed as a ‘Child Violin Prodigy’, gave his first public performance
in the year 1972, when he was just 7 years old, along with his younger brother Kumaresh
Rajagopalan. Since then, he has performed in different places in India and in a number of
countries across the globe.
The young Violin duo, Ganesh Rajagopalan along with Kumaresh Rajagopalan had
completed their hundredth concert by the time Ganesh Rajagopalan was 12 years of age.
He was a big sensation and all musicians and connoisseurs would watch the virtuosity
filled performance of the duo with awe.
Ganesh Rajagopalan has carved a niche for Indian instrumental music with his
impeccable technique in violin playing and innovative interpretation of the musical
forms. His music is laden with virtuosity and brims with soul stirring creativity, soaked in
classicism and modernity mixed in equal measure.
Initiated into the world of carnatic music by his father Shri T. S. Rajagopalan, a veteran
violinist himself, Ganesh Rajagopalan completed his 100th stage appearance even before
he was 10 years old. He was performing with the veterans in the musical field even as he
was into his teens.
Life is very different for child prodigies and Ganesh Rajagopalan's stardom filled life was
no exception. Being a gentle, soft spoken and a very handsome person, cinema and all
other forms of media gave him opportunities to express his multi faceted personality.
Well versed in studies and Music, He was one of the youngest artistes to have been
bestowed with the 'A TOP' in violin and 'A' in vocal grading by the All India Radio.
His new age productions were a great sensation when thousands of youngsters thronged
to his world music concerts. This contemporary idiom of expression stimulated the need
for Ganesh Rajagopalan to create his own instrumental compositions in traditional ragas
as he did not want to mix the carnatic and world music genres. He believed in retaining
the pristine purity of the compositions of the great saint composers of the past and would
never try to give it a fusion touch. Hence the birth of 'Ragapravaham'.
Ganesh Rajagopalan is a much honored and globally acclaimed violinist today and has
made inspirational forays into world music, teaming up with many luminaries .
Ganesh Rajagopalan’s deep-rooted strength in musical perception and his command over
playing violin has made him a favorite with the purists as well as the uninitiated. His
strict adherence to classicism and his technical virtuosity backed by an innovative
approach in his presentations have earned for him the appreciation of thousands of music
lovers across the globe. He has brought about a refreshingly original content and style for
this form of art. Having performed in several top notch global festivals, Ganesh
Rajagopalan’s creative idiom is international in nature and his communication through
music crosses all boundaries.
By the time he was in his twenties, the music field saw the different avatars of this
synergic performer. Ganesh Rajagopalan has collaborated and played with the greatest
musicians across genres from classical folk film theatre jazz and global musicians like
Ustad Zakir Hussain.
When Ganesh Rajagopalan was in his thirties he became a full- fledged artist, musician,
performer, composer, director, producer, researcher and teacher. Violin maestro Ganesh
Rajagopalan considers himself to be a student of life and existence.
Apart from the regular Carnatic Music concerts, Ganesh Rajagopalan has made many
innovative thematic presentations. Some of the Productions that he has worked on are
'Chandrikain kadhai', a Tamil documentary film for Doordarshan, 'Dance like a man' and
'Lessons in Forgetting' award winning Indian films in English. Music collaborations with
dancers 'Savithri' for Nrithya Gram, 'Maya Ravan' with Shobana Chandrakumar, 'Shrishti'
and 'Gajamukha' with Dr. Jayanthi Raman. Ganesh Rajagopalan has also regularly
collabrated with legendary music directors in India like A.R.Rahman, Illayaraja, Vishal
Bhradwaj in many of their musical outputs.
Ganesh Rajagopaln has scored music for different and special situations in commercial
movies and art films.
Ganesh Rajagopalan has created new ragas like Mohanasri, Amrutha Kalyan, Sheila Sri
and Pamara Ranjani
Ganesh Rajagopalan has also composed many Varnams. Thillanas and Kruthis.
He has set tunes for lyrics of great composers like Purandaradasar, Bhadrachalam
Ramadasar, Annamacharya, Vallalar ,Patanjali which are followed by other eminent
musicians as well.
He has given a number of Carnatic Vocal music performances and released albums in
Vocal music also.
Over four decades, he has carved a niche for himself with his impeccable and remarkable
technique– powerful, precise with platinum tonality and incredible virtuosity.
During this time, Ganesh Rajagopalan was already flooded with several awards,
accolades and recognition from the government and other organisations. Kalaimamani,
Sunadha Sironmani, Sangeetha Saragnya, Dwaram Venkataswami Naidu Award, Asthana
Vidwan of Kanchi Mutts,GIMA ,Illayaraja prize by Trinity College of Music, Obul
Reddy and P.Gnanambal award are some of the awards bestowed on him.
Some of his notable performances have been at :Sawai Gandharva festival, Pune
Cleveland Thyagaraja festival
Tansen Thyagaraja festival, Gwalior,
Theatre de la ville, Paris
Doverlane festival, Kolakatta
Karlsrhue Jazz festival
Alchemy, Queen Elizebeth Hall, London
Walt Disney Centre, LA
Lincoln Jazz festival , Newyork
Elephanta Festival, Mumbai
Bangalore Habba, Bangalore
Vasantha Habba , Bangalore
Sydney Music festival
Gunidas Festival,Mumbai
Swar uthsav, India Gate, New Delhi
Rashtrapathi Bhavan, India
Edinburg Jazz festival, Scotland
Sangeeth Research Academy, Kolkatta
Tansen Samaroh, Bhopal
Festival of Violin, Barcelona
Indian International centre, Golden Jubilee celebrations
NCPA, Mumbai
Symphony Space, Broadway, NY
SF Jazz,SF
Istanbul Jazz Festival,Turkey
Baku Jazz Festival,Azerbaijan
Music Academy, Chennai
Shanmukhananda , Mumbai
BBC Radio, UK and Many
Ganesh Rajagopalan has also appeared as one of the judges in the reality show Carnatic
Idol.
By the time Ganesh Rajagopalan was 45, he had already completed 40 successful years
as a concert performer. He has now adored the role of a Guru and is training several
students to excel in the art of Violin playing. Given Master classes in Bharatiya Vidya
bhavan and Milap Fest in London
An ace performer, composer, teacher and administrator, Ganesh Rajagopalan is now
looking at establishing an institution for professional excellence in vocal and instrumental
music in collaboration with Rasika School of Music, Portland. This institution will try
and bring out artistes with skillful expertise in handling music and instruments.