Hari and the Veena

Hari Vrndavn started his training in Carnatic (South Indian Classical) music at the young age of eight. A student of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan from age ten, he was groomed under the tutelage of Smt Sivasakthi Sivanesan, one of the UK’s foremost Carnatic figures. He was privileged enough to also start touring with his Guru at a young age through Europe, accompanying her Vocal performances on the concert and dance platforms. His Guru presented him for Arangetram (his pioneer stage concert) at age thirteen where he was awarded a scholarship by the Asian Music Circuit to further his training in India.

Hari took this opportunity at age seventeen, where Smt Sivasakthi Sivanesan guided him to study under one of her own Gurus, Smt Kalpakam Swaminathan. Having undergone more than six months intense training in India, Hari returned. Continuing with his studies, it was whilst at university that Sitar Maestro Ravi Shankar invited Hari to tour with his forty concert "Festival of India" tour throughout the States.

Hari first met Raviji through the Bhavan and his Guru when he was thirteen. He was privileged to be picked by Raviji to sing and play in the CD, "Chants of India" produced by Raviji and ex Beatle George Harrison. Since then, Hari also worked for Raviji playing Vina for a special orchestral piece for Dartington College and also for the “Concert for George” at the Royal Albert Hall.

Hari has been fortunate enough to learn from some of the great stalwarts of Indian music today such as Sri T V Gopalakrishnan, Sri M Balamuralikrisha, and many of his Guru's Gurus. He has been greatly inspired by them and indeed the sweet Guru-Shishya Parampara.

Having travelled extensively for the past 4 years, Hari is now settled in London, England. He currently assists his Guru in teaching Vina at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and playing concerts and events. He has recently started accepting students for private tutoring, and he finds great pleasure in inspiring and being inspired by the students that he works with.

Hari truly believes that music is the language of the heart. Passionate not only about classical music, Hari is also looking forward to taking his classical career to the next level; working with more fusion, and stretching geographic and musical boundaries.

Hari would like to pay his respects and love to his Guru’s Smt Sivasakthi Sivanesan and Smt Kalpakam Swaminathan and also the many Gurus of Smt Sivasakthi Sivanesan that Hari has been fortunate enough to come into contact with and to learn from.