kumbakonam Swaminathan
Artist, Art Director, and Teacher in West Mambalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Kumbakonam K Swaminathan is the Prime disciple of the celebrated Mridangam Vidwan Shri.Poongulam S.Subramanian.
His formal training on the mridangam began at a very tender age from Vidwam Shri. Sigaram Pillai (who was a disciple of “Kumbakonam Shri. Azhagunambiya Pillai) and Shri Natchiyarkoil V. Raghu. As a 10 year old, he had already started performing in Concerts and Nama Sankeerthanam. He eventually accompanied leading Chennai artists visiting Kumbakonam on the mridangam and kanjira.
His love for music gave him the encouragement to quickly finish his graduation in commerce and move to Chennai. He underwent intense training in the traditionalGurukulam formatunder the famous Mridangam Vidwan Sri Poongulam S. Subramanian. He is an“A” GradeArtist. His intense training Paid off in the form of a rare double promotion to “B high”-grade artist at the AIR.
Swaminathan is passionate about disseminating his knowledge. Apart from Indian students, he tutors many western artists that belong to the Western Classic and other genres of music. He also conducts annual Carnatic music workshops for Western musicians especially from South America.
Swaminathan has extensively toured India and abroad with various leading artists. The press and critics have commended him on his style of playing.
He is specially known for the clarity of expressions and the ability to expand on the main artist’s complicated patterns on the fly.
He has been actively performing in the Chennai Music circuit since 1999 and has been the recipient of many award including:
1)"Best Percussionist award"- from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, 2005.
2)"Best Mridangam Artiste award"-from Sri Parthasarathy Swamy
Sabha , 2008 December Series.
3) Prestigious “Aasthana Vidwan” for SHRI KANCHI
KAMAKOTI MATT, 2012
4)"Best Percussionist Award" – Again from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, 2012.
5)“YUVA KALA BHARATHI” – BHARATH KALACHAR,2014
6)“YUVA SANGEETHA KALAJYOTHI”– SUSWARA TRUST,CHENNAI
FINE ARTS, 2014
7)‘MAHARAJAPURAM VISWANATHA IYER AWARD’, 2015
8)Special prizes from:
Janaranjani–1997
Tamil Isai Sangam, Karaikudi-1998
Rasika Ranjana Sabha, Trichy–2000
Contact Details:
Kumbakonam K Swaminathan
F 5 Sharadha krupha flats
27/ 12 Kirupa Sankari street
West Mambalam
Chennai – 600033.
Mobile: +91 9444278009
Email: [email protected]