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U Srinivas (1969 – 2014) started to play the mandolin, a virtually unknown instrument on the Carnatic stage, when he was just 6 years old. He was an acknowledged child prodigy who introduced and adapted the mandolin to the Carnatic concert stage. Hailed as a virtuoso performer, his rise was meteoric and led to collaborations with many international star musicians. He won several honors including the Padma Shri, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in addition to the Special TTK Award and Best Artist Award conferred by the Madras Music Academy during his short lifetime.

Kumar Gandharva was the title given to Shivaputra Siddharamayya Komkalimath (1924-1992) for his extraordinary singing abilities. He burst into prominence when he was only 12 years old due to his spellbinding performance at an All India Music Conference. Kumar Gandharva was known for his unique vocal style, and he was not bound by any one gharana of Hindustani music. He overcame tuberculosis during his career and learnt to sing with just one lung. In 1990, he was awarded the second highest civilian honor in India, the Padma Vibhushan.

Sangita Kalanidhi D K Pattammal (1919 - 2009) was a member of the female trinity of Carnatic Musicians along with Smt. M S Subbalakshmi and Dr. M L Vasanthakumari. Learning from luminaries such as Kanchipuram Naina Pillai and Ambi Dikshitar, she trained a succession of musicians, had a film playback singing career and stood for music adhering to tradition. Unmatched in her open throated singing with exemplary swaraprastharas and gamakas, she was considered a living repository of Muthuswamy Dikshitar's compositions.

Acknowledged as one of the great twentieth century masters of the Sarod, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (born 1945) learnt music from his father Hafiz Ali Khan and gave his first recital at the age of six. He is an international performer and has won numerous accolades including Padma Vibhushan and several honorary doctorates.

Sangita Kalanidhi D K Jayaraman (1928 - 1991) was an acclaimed Carnatic vocalist. Born and raised in Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, he was the primary disciple and vocal accompanist of his sister, the legendary D K Pattammal. He also learnt music from such stalwarts as composers Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavathar and Papanasam Sivan. Known as a generous teacher, and for his bhava laden voice and sparkling swaraprastharas, Jayaraman trained many of the popular Carnatic singers in the field today.

Dr. Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande (born 1960) is a famous exponent of the “Jaipur-Atrauli” Khayal Gayaki school of Hindustani Music. She learnt music from Pt. Narayanrao Datar and her mother Smt. Manik Bhide. Smt. Bhide-Deshpande is equally at home with lighter varieties like Thumri-Dadra and Bhajans/Abhangs. She has received several high honors including the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 2014 and “Rashtriya Kaalidas Samman” in 2016. Besides music, she has pursued high level academic pursuits in science, earning a Doctoral Degree for her research in Biochemistry from the prestigious Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.

Maestro Lalgudi G Jayaraman (1930 – 2013) was a Carnatic violinist, composer, vocalist, and Guru. Born as a direct descendant of a disciple of composer Tyagaraja, “Lalgudi” went on to create his unique style of violin playing in a career spanning seven decades. Known for his national and international collaborations with Hindustani and Western classical musicians, he was honored with "Padma Bhushan" by the Indian Government and with a Special Lifetime Achievement award by the Madras Music Academy.

Padma Shri Shahid Parvez Khan (born 1958) is the son and disciple of Ustad Aziz Khan and a seventh generation sitarist of the distinguished Etawah Gharana. He has won numerous honors and given scores of international performances.

Gayatri Venkataraghavan is a leading Carnatic vocalist who learnt music from gurus such as Vidushis Smt Rajalakshmi and Smt. Rukmini Ramani and also from Vidwans Sri. A. Sundaresan and Sri. P. S. Narayanaswamy. She has won numerous awards and received praise from critics for her melodious voice and musical acumen.

Sangita Kalanidhi Dr. M . L . Vasanthakumari (1928-1990) was hailed as one of the trinity of great female Carnatic musicians. Trained by her mother - actress and singer Madras Lalithangi, M L V gave her first public performance when she was just 13. Her musical intellect attracted the attention of maestro G N B who taught her and shaped her music. She trained many of the current top stars of Carnatic music and was the youngest woman to receive the highest accolade of Carnatic music, the Sangita Kalanidhi award.

Star Carnatic vocalists G Ravi Kiran, Rithvik Raja and Vignesh Ishwar are Sangita Kalanidhi T M Krishna’s disciples and are active in the dissemination of the Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini style of singing Muthuswamy Dikshitar’s kritis.

Iconic Carnatic vocalist of India, philanthropist and actress, Sangita Kalanidhi M. S. Subbalakshmi (1916 – 2004), had her first song recorded at the age of 10. Her recital at the age of 16 was extremely well received and after that there was no looking back. She was the first Indian female classical musician to receive the prestigious Sangita Kalanidhi award, the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor and the Ramon Magsaysay award. Gifted with a voice of incomparable purity, she imbued her music with deep intellect as well as devotion.

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (born 1938) is the foremost exponent of Hindustani music on the flute. His various distinctions include "Padma Vibhushan", the second highest civilian honor in India and the Sangeet Natak Academy Fellowship.