WPRB Princeton 103.3 FM

(Left) Bangalore Nagarathnamma (1878 – 1952) was a popular Carnatic singer, composer and activist for the rights of Devadasi women. She was instrumental in renovating the tomb and building a shrine in Tiruvaiyaru for the great composer Tyagaraja.

(Right) Sangita Kalanidhi Palghat K V Narayanaswamy, affectionately known as KVN (1923-2002) was a disciple of Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, a past musical giant who is considered to have invented the modern format of Carnatic concert singing. KVN was a much honored internationally known concert performer and teacher.

(Top Left) Reena Esmail (born 1983) is an Indian American female composer, who weaves together the traditions of Hindustani and Western classical music. Her work “Malhaar: A Requiem for Water” was premiered by the Los Angeles Master Chorale in 2023.

(Top Right) Mumbai native Saili Oak is a disciple of eminent Hindustani vocalist Dr. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande. Saili has won numerous awards.

(Bottom) Soprano Lucy Fitz Gibbon is a graduate of and current Faculty at the Bard College Conservatory. She has performed with orchestras all over the world to great acclaim.

(Left) Meerabhai was a 16th century woman composer and ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. Though married to Prince Bhojraj of the Royal house of Mewar, Meera had no interest in family life and became a wandering saint mingling with the devotees everywhere.

(Right) Pandit Jasraj (1930 – 2020) was a legendary Hindustani vocalist belonging to the Mewati Gharana. He was born in Haryana state, north India and made New Jersey his final home where he taught for several years. He was decorated with India’s highest civilian honor, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2000.

(Left) Andal was an eighth century Tamil poet and great devotee of the Hindu God Vishnu. She considered Vishnu to be her husband and composed a number of exquisite songs on him which are still sung today.

(Right) Carnatic vocalist and film playback singer Dr. Nithyasree Mahadevan hails from a family of celebrated musicians such as Sangita Kalanidhis D. K. Pattammal, D. K. Jayaraman and Palghat Mani Iyer. Winner of numerous awards, she is known for her adherence to tradition and resonant tenor of her voice.

Alif Laila grew up in Dhaka, Bangladesh and was trained by Ustad Mir Qasem Khan of the Senia Maihar Gharana. After moving to the United States in 1988, Alif has been performing at prestigious venues, collaborating across cultures and ethnicities, teaching and composing.

(Left) Aavudai Akkal was an early 18th century female composer who lived in Shengottai, South Tamil Nadu. She was a child widow and was initiated into the Hindu philosophy of Advaita by a mystic passing by her front door. Aavudai Akkal infused complex philosophical thought into the Tamil songs that she composed for women to be sung as part of their daily routine and play.

(Right) Gayathri Venkataraghavan is a leading Carnatic vocalist who learnt music from gurus such as Vidushis Smt Rajalakshmi, Smt. Rukmini Ramani, Vidwan Sri. A. Sundaresan and the venerated teacher P. S. Narayanaswamy. Gayathri has won numerous awards and acted in teleplays.