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Vidwan Sikkil C. Gurucharan (born 1982) is the grandson of Sikkil Kunjumani, the elder of the Sikkil Sisters flautist-duo. He learnt Carnatic music from his mother and subsequently from Vidwans Vaigal S. Gnanaskandan and B. Krishnamurthy. Gurucharan is an ‘A’ grade All India Radio artist and a popular performer in India and abroad. He and pianist Anil Srinivasan have released several albums of novel format of the classical piano and Carnatic vocal music. Gurucharan has also been a radio DJ at Worldspace Radio, presenting programs, interviewing artistes, and doing voice overs for the Carnatic music channel “Shruti”.

Vidwan Bharat Sundar (born 1988) is one of most sought-after Carnatic vocalists today. He burst into prominence after being crowned in 2010 the winner of a popular Carnatic music contest television show for which he currently serves as a judge. His gurus include Smt. Gayatri Mahesh, Smt. Leelavathi Gopalakrishnan, eminent Acharya-Vidwan P. S. Narayanaswamy and Sangita Kalanidhi Smt. S. Sowmya. Bharat Sundar can be heard in several prime-time concerts across Chennai during the December music festival this year.

Sri. A. R. Rahman (born 1967) is an acclaimed composer who has scored music for over 145 Indian films across various languages. He is also the winner/nominee of several international awards including the Oscars, Golden Globes and BAFTA awards for best musical scores and songs. He was born a Hindu and converted to the Islamic faith at the age of 23. Rahman is also a singer and song writer who has recorded several popular Islamic devotional songs.

Gautama Buddha is believed to have been born sometime in the 5th or 6th century BCE as a prince in the region belonging to present-day Nepal. He later became was a teacher, philosopher and spiritual leader who is considered the founder of Buddhism. Buddha, the title given to him means “the Enlightened One”. Buddhism was brought into China as early as in 3rd century BCE.

Bhai Satinderbir Singh is a singer of Gurbani (Sikh devotional music). He goes by the title Hazoori Ragi at Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar. Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar refers to the Golden Temple located in Amritsar, Punjab, India, and it is the holiest of holy shrines of the Sikh faith where the Gurbani is sung daily.

Hadar Nehemya is a singer and performer of jazz and world music. She was born to a Yemeni Jewish mother and Indian Jewish father, both of whom were born and raised in Israel.

Mahaveer Jain is considered to be the twenty fourth Tirthankara (saint) of the Jain religion. It is believed that he was born a prince in 599 BCE. but at the age of thirty left his family and royal household to become a monk. Mahavir preached that right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct together is the real path to attain liberation from karma, the accumulation of one’s past deeds.

Smt. Anuradha Paudwal (born 1954) is a well-known Bollywood film playback singer and a popular singer of Bhajans (Indian devotional music). Several of her Hindi film tunes have become huge hits in the nineties.

Carnatic singing icon Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi (1916 - 2004) initially trained under her mother Madurai Shanmugavadivu in Veena and vocal music. In later years, she continued training under Sangita Kalanidhi Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer. M. S, as she was fondly called by adoring masses and the elites, was known for her exquisite raga alapanas, sparkling Tanams and extraordinary Neraval singing. The Government of India presented her with the highest civilian honor “Bharat Ratna” in 1998.

Nagaswaram playing husband-wife duo Sheikh Mahboob Subhani and Begum Kaleeshabi Mahboob hail from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh and were disciples of Sangita Kalanidhi Shiekh Chinna Moulana Sahib. The couple won the “Padma Shri” honor from the Government of India in 2020. They are celebrated for their contemplative playing on the Nagaswaram which can often sound loud and blaring in the hands of lesser players.

Dr. M. L. Vasanthakumari (1928-1990) affectionately known as MLV was one of the “Female Trinity” of Carnatic vocalists along with M S Subbalakshmi and D K Pattammal. Just like the other two, MLV had a successful career as a film playback singer as well. She was the disciple of the great Madurai G N Balasubramaniam and in turn, trained many of the top musicians of today. MLV was the youngest female recipient of the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi honor in 1977 and was known for bringing her extraordinary intellect and brigha techniques to her music.

Vidushi Smt. Bombay Jayashri Ramnath (born 1965) is an eminent Carnatic vocalist, film playback singer, teacher, veena player, dancer and also trained in Hindustani music. She was initially trained first under her parents, then under Smt. T.R. Balamani and finally spent several years being taught by the violin maestro Lalgudi G. Jayaraman,

Jayashri has been named by the Music Academy, Chennai to be this year’s “Sangita Kalanidhi”, the highest accolade in carnatic music.

The Academy noted: “She is known for her melodic and meditative style of singing and is recognized by a “Padma Shri” from the Indian government. She has also been training underprivileged children in music and contributing through her art to social causes.”

Vidushi Smt. Bombay Jayashri Ramnath (born 1965) is an eminent Carnatic vocalist, film playback singer, teacher, veena player, dancer and also trained in Hindustani music. She was initially trained first under her parents, then under Smt. T.R. Balamani and finally spent several years being taught by the violin maestro Lalgudi G. Jayaraman,

Jayashri has been named by the Music Academy, Chennai to be this year’s “Sangita Kalanidhi”, the highest accolade in carnatic music.

The Academy noted: “She is known for her melodic and meditative style of singing and is recognized by a “Padma Shri” from the Indian government. She has also been training underprivileged children in music and contributing through her art to social causes.”

Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma (1938 – 2022) was a composer and the foremost exponent of Hindustani music played on the Santoor, a 72 stringed, trapezoid shaped instrument of the Kashmir region. He was celebrated for his genius and persistence in taking this folk instrument to the world stage and turning it into a classical music instrument. He was honored with numerous awards including the “Padma Shri”, “Padma Vibushan” and Sangeet Natak Academy awards.

Carnatic vocalist Smt. Palkulangara Ambika Devi hails from Kerala where she has been teaching and performing for over six decades. She has been chosen by the Music Academy, Chennai to receive this year’s highest honor for music teaching, the “Sangita Kala Acharya” title.

Hindustani vocalists in the Khayal style, Pandit Rajan Mishra (1951-2021) & Pandit Sajan Mishra (born 1955) grew up in the holy city of Varanasi in a family of vocalists and sarangi players from whom they learnt music. The brothers have performed to international audiences and have won prestigious awards including the Sangeet Natak Academy award and the “Padma Bhushan”.

Vidushi Dr. Pantula Rama is a Carnatic vocalist, instrumentalist, author, and scholar who lives in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Dr Rama was trained by her father Sri Pantula Gopala Rao and subsequently by Vidwan Sri Ivaturi Vijayeswara Rao. Dr. Rama is known for her “melodious voice and immensely creative manodharma singing.” She has won numerous awards including the Senior Outstanding Vocalist prize of the Music Academy.

Pandit D V Paluskar(1872 - 1931) was a Hindustani vocalist and acknowledged as a child prodigy. He sang the original version of the famous bhajan Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram and is also credited with arranging one of India's anthems, Vande Mātaram, as it is heard today.