A. Kanyakumari

Avasarala Kanyakumari is a renowned female carnatic music violinist from South India. She lives in Chennai. Nowadays, she plays alongside Kadri Gopalnath in concerts. Kanyakumari is a native of Vijayanagaram, Andhra Pradesh and has been living in Chennai for more than 25 years. She initially learnt from I. Vijayeswara Rao of the Dwaram school and later from maestro M. Chandrasekaran under the Govt. of India scholarship. She also had a fruitful long association with Dr. Shrimathi M. L. Vasanthakumari (MLV) as her stock accompanist (1972-91). Other people Kanyakumari has played for include:
*Flautist Dr. N. Ramani,
*Vocalist Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna
*T. R. Mahalingam
*Mandolin U. Srinivas
*Mridangist T. V. Gopalakrishnan.
*Saxophonist Kadri Gopalnath

She is also a distinguished soloist and has conducted many innovative recitals featuring 25 violins, 50 violins and recently 100 instruments for the new millennium. In 1988 she set a unique record playing the violin non-stop for 29 hours, at the Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala. She has also been given the status of Asthana Vidhushi of Dakshinamnaya Sri.Sarada Peetham of Sringeri Math, the Ahobila Mutt and the Dharma Paripalana Sabha. [ [http://www.chennaibest.com/discoverchennai/artandculture/musicanddance/musicinterviews08.asp Interview - A Kanyakumari - www.chennaibest.com ] ] She is a seasoned artist and has given performances all over the world including the US, U.A.E, Canada, Australia and many parts of Europe. [ [http://www.imsom.org/events/20030919.html 20030919.html ] ]

Awards and Honours

*"Dhanurveena Praveena", a title bestowed on her by M.S. Subbulakshmi, commemorating Kanyakumari's 25 years in concerts
*Kalaimaamani Award
*"Sangeeta Kala Nipuna", from the Mylapore Fine Arts Club, 2002
*Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, 2003

Teaching

Kanyakumari is also a dedicated teacher of violin, and offers free violin classes in Chennai. Prasanna, a carnatic guitarist and Embar Kannan are two of her students who are already making waves in the Carnatic music circle.

References

*http://www.unl.edu/raag/kadri/kanya1.html
*http://www.carnatica.net/mmmela2k2/awardees03.htm