Ram Kaushik has
learnt Carnatic music from several vidvans and vidushis including T.K.
Govinda Rao and Neyveli Santhanagopalan. He is primarily a self-taught
artiste, analyzing and absorbing varied influences from the great
maestros of past and present generations. First and foremost, he
considers himself a rasika of music, and is therefore deeply grateful
to the countless "maanasika gurus" who continue to shape his musical
perceptions. He has a mellifluous voice and a relaxed, but highly
traditional and classical style, emphasizing gamaka-laden alapanas. He
has performed several concerts and lecture-demonstrations in the U.S.
and India.
Shankar Venkataraman
entered Carnatic music through his training in the flute but then
absorbed vocal music, considering Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer as his
manasika guru. He has been mentored by vidvans O.S. Thyagarajan,
Neyveli Santhanagopalan and Madurai Sundar. He has a vibrant, strong
voice and is popular for his outstanding alapanas and niraval
renderings. He has given several vocal and flute concerts both in the
US and India.
Ram and Shankar have performed as a duo, giving several concerts and have been fondly referred to as the “Columbus Brothers.”
Several
of Ram and Shankar's renditions can be heard on the Internet, both at
Shivkumar Kalyanaraman's Carnatic music education site and at Ram's
eSnips site.
