TELSA Musicians
Pradeep
Bugga
Pradeep Bugga has been learning carnatic music from Smt Padma Kutty, a popular and well-respected teacher doing immense service to the cause of carnatic music in Southern California, for the past nine years. Prior to that, he had his early training under Smt Gana Saraswati of Southern California for 7 years; he started his music lessons at a tender age of six years. Additionally, Pradeep had the benefit of occasional tutelage from illustrious carnatic musicians including Hyderabad brothers (Sri Raghavachary and Sri Seshachary) and Sri Palaya Ramachandran. He has been singing for several years in various local aradhanas organized by the South Indian Music Academy. He also gave a couple of concerts in India in the summer of 2006. Apart from carnatic vocal, Pradeep had several years of training in both piano and violin (western). He played violin in various orchestra/symphony groups, including Pasadena Youth Symphony, Pasadena conservatory’s chamber music, Arcadia High School and Caltech/ Occidental college orchestra.
Pradeep is a senior undergraduate student at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and has developed particular aptitude in biomedical research.. For the last couple of years he has been involved in developing synthetic methods for new drugs with potential application for HIV. His other interests include soccer and tennis.
Anupama
Tadanki
15 year old Anupama Tadanki is a sophomore at Northwood High School, lrvine. She started learning Carnatic music as a toddler of four in India and for the past five years here, under Smt Padma Kutty, whom she describes as "one of her finest teachers". She has been performing at local music festivals for the last few years and also had the opportunity to perform in Hyderabad and Vijayawada, India. She is one of the young promising local artists. Apart from music, she has a keen interest in drama, both in English and in her native Telugu.
Kavita
Renduchintala
19 year old Kavita Renduchintala is a sophomore at University of Southern California's 8-Year Bac/MD program. She has been learning Carnatic vocal from Smt.Padma Kutty, a nationally recognized teacher from Irvine, for 12 years and on occasion, from Sri Nookala Chinna Satayanarayana of Hyderabad. She has also learned Western classical music in both the vocal and keyboard forms. Accommodating her twin interests in music and medicine, she hopes to pursue research in the healing powers of music.
Pallavi
Bugga
15 year old Pallavi Bugga is a sophomore at Arcadia High School. She has been learning Carnatic music for over ten years from Smt Padma Kutty. Though Pallavi had introductory training from other teachers, it was under Smt Padma’s guidance that her interest as well as talent blossomed immensely. Pallavi has been performing regularly at the local aaraadhana festivals. In addition to Carnatic music, Pallavi also learned Indian classical dance-- Kuchipudi-- and performed her solo debut concert --Ranga Pravesam in 2005 under the guidance of guru Smt. Sumathy Kaushal. Pallavi plays the violin and is a member of Pasadena Youth Symphony. She plays tennis and soccer.
Arjun
Narayan
Arjun Narayan started as a student of vocal music with Smt.Radha Kalyan in Sydney Australia at nine, and continued with Smt.Padma Kutty. In 2000 he discovered his true aptitude lay with mrudangam when he met Sri Neyveli R.Narayanan. Training across the continents of U.S. and India, he grew into an accomplished player and has been supporting innumerable singers with rhythm. Arjuna has a B.S. in Chemistry from UC, Irvine and plans to pursue graduate studies both in Chemistry and Ethnomusicology. He is involved in collecting, and digitally restoring concerts of past masters.
Shiva
Ramamurthi
Shiva Ramamurthi, a sophomore in Trabuco High School, started learning Carnatic violin from Sri. Krishna Kutty at a young age and has been training under Sri Delhi P. Sunder Rajan since 2000. He has been learning Carnatic vocal from Smt. Padma Kutty for 10 years and from Sri P. S. Narayanaswami (Chennai) during summer visits. Full of great potential both as a vocalist and violinist, he has provided violin support at several music and classical dance events in the southland.