G S Nagaraj

G S Nagaraj, born to Sri G.R. Sathyanarayana Shastry and Lakshminarasamma, is a well known Mridangam artist from Bangalore. He is been into the art of classical music percussion from past 25 years. 

He started his Mridangam training from Vidwan H L Gopalkrishna and later continued under Vidwan B N Chandramouli and Sangeetha Kalanidhi Vidwan Dr. Thiruvarur Bhaktavatsalam who are devoted and dedicated to this spiritual art. Under their guidance, G S Nagaraj gained tremendous knowledge about the ways of staging concerts. 

Nagaraj has to his credit of staging concerts in prestigious Sabhas and venues all over India and abroad. His Mridangam accompaniment is highly regarded and given due recognition and appreciation by music lovers, critics and great musicians. 

He is graded artist and given many performances in All India Radio, Doordarshan and leading television Channels.  He has led several percussion ensembles with his valuable experience in music composition, direction, and orchestration. He has directed many fusion concerts and percussion ensembles (Taala Vaadhya Kutcheries). He leads a percussion ensemble team “LAYA RANJANI”. 

He is a sought after artist of choice accompanying Mridangam for classical Dance performances, adding his deep knowledge of rhythm to dance forms. He has accompanied many renowned Musicians and Dance artists all over India and abroad. 

He has performed at several prestigious venues in USA (Los Angeles, Sacramento, Texas, Seattle, New Jersey, North Carolina, Florida, Detroit, Boston, Connecticut, Portland), Dubai (Dubai Music Festival), Madras Music Academy, Nadaneerajanam Tirumala, Bengaluru Habba, Times of India Music Festival, Trissur Music Festival, Mysuru Dasara Festival, Kumbh Mela (Prayagraj), Dhrupad Festival (Varanasi), and many more.

Awards and Recognitions


TEACHING

He also trains and guides students from all over the world in Carnatic music percussion (both physical and online classes). He is also well versed in teaching other percussion instruments such as Khanjira, Ghatam, Morsing and Konokkol. Many students have learnt and completed professional coaching under his guidance and performing concerts at prestigious sabhas and venues. His students are very well recognized and have won appreciation in competitions and concerts worldwide. He has also trained many classical dance artists on courses related to rhythm, Talam and Layam concepts, composing syllables and the mathematics used in professional classical dance performances.