Aruna Sayeeram

Aruna Sayeeram is an eminent Carnatic vocalist whose serene music signals more clearly than words that she has achieved a peaceful equilibrium between the material and the spiritual world. This celebrated singer is known for her eclectic range and collaborations with musicians from outside the Carnatic tradition. Her parents had a prominent role in building her holistic approach. They combined a lot of formal and informal education. Her mother, Rajalakshmi Sethuraman, was her first teacher. She was trained by the Alathur Brothers and by Tanjavur Shankara Iyer. On the other hand, great thinkers, orators, dancers, painters were always visiting her. She excelled both at studies and music with much ease, completing her B.Sc. in Chemistry and a B.Ed., besides a Masters in Music, and is feted not only for her range of voice, impeccable sruti and emotional depth but also for her readiness to innovate and experiment. Aruna Sayeeram collaborated with many Indian artists apart from internationally acclaimed artistes, like Dominique Vellard, the French Gregorian singer. She has presented her concerts in all major sabhas in India, as well as many destinations across the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Le Théâtre de la Ville in Paris and the Festival of World Sacred Music in Morocco. A disciple of stalwarts like T Brinda and K S Narayanaswamy, Aruna is an A-grade artiste of the All India Radio. She is a dynamic performer who has toured the globe with her unique vocal techniques and style. But this acclaimed singer who has made Carnatic music popular in Europe knows the greatest award is music itself. As she puts it, "The real listener resides within the heart; only when you connect to that, can your audience connect with you.”