T.M.Krishna is one of the leading artists in the field of carnatic music (Indian classical music-south Indian style) today. He has been performing from the age of 12. Today he is the youngest singer to occupy the top slot in almost every major music festival. T.M.Krishna belongs to a family of music connoisseurs. From a very early age he was exposed to the classical arts, especially carnatic classical music. His first concert was at the Spirit of youth series organized by the music academy Chennai (India). Since then there has been no looking back. He has traveled widely in India and abroad and won applause from connoisseurs and critics. He has been on tours to South Africa, North America, South East Asia, Australia and the Middle East numerous times. He has received numerous awards and titles from many leading organizations. He has released many music albums from leading audio companies like Magna sound, H.M.V., Inreco, Amudham (U.S.A.) and Charsur.
MUSICAL EDUCATION
From a very young age, he showed immense talent in the art of classical vocal music. He used to pick up all the songs that his mother learnt during her music classes. Taking notice of this talent, his mother put him under the tutelage of Vidwan Sri Seetharama Sharma at the tender age of 6. He has been learning from him for the past 18 years. He has also undergone special Ragam Thalam Pallavi (a special component in a Carnatic music concert) training under Sri Chengalpet Ranganthan. He had advanced training from Dr Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer for more than seven years.
HIS MUSIC
His resonant and mellifluous voice and strict adherence to classicism have enriched his art. His music is marked with a very high level of aesthetics in conception and execution. He is known for his tremendous Manodharma (Imagination) and Sampradaya (Traditional) Sangeetha (music). His complete involvement and his ability to unfold ragas with ease have left many a listener lost in his music. His renditions of vilamba kalam (slow tempo) compositions are soaked with bhakthi (devotion) and bhava (emotion) are a treat to every listener.
SOME OF HIS AWARDS
* Spirit of Youth award-Music Academy-1988
* Best main performer- Youth Association for Classical Music- 1989
* Best junior vocalist –Krishna Gana Sabha-1995
* Musician of the year – Narada Gana Sabha-1995
* Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar award - Music Academy- 1996
* Title ‘yuva Kala Bharathi’- Bharath Kalachar – 1997
* K.V.Mahadevan award for excellence- 1997
* Srirangam Gopalrathnam award – Music Academy – 1998
* G.Ramakrishna Iyer award - Music Academy – 1999
* Title ‘ Sangeetha Kala Bharathi’ – 2000
* Best senior performing artist – Music Academy - 2001
* Youth Award for Excellence – Maharajapuram Vishvanatha Iyer Trust
* Kalki Krishnamurthy Award – 2001
* Title Isai Peroli – Karthik Fine Arts –2002
* Tiltle Nada Bhushnam – Shanmukhananda sangeetha sabha - 2003
WORK IN THE FIELD OF MUSIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS 
T.M.Krishna was the president of the Youth Association for Classical Music (YACM) for 4 years. As its president he pioneered many innovative and far-reaching projects for the increase in listener ship of carnatic music among the youth.
WORKSHOPS
Between the years 1996 and 1999 he organized many lecture demonstrations in around 100 schools (100,000 children) in the city of Chennai (India). These were workshops for school children between the ages of 12 and 17. The objectives of these workshops were to increase the interest and awareness of Classical carnatic music. These lecture demonstrations used many innovative and made classical music as much fun for the young as any other modern form of music.
In the year 2000 he along with musician Bombay Jaishree and N.Vijay Siva organized a daylong. Carnatic music workshop for company executives CEOs CFOs and engineers using multi media presentations. The target of this workshop was to make them aware of the great tradition of Carnatic music.
MUSIC CARNIVALS
He has also organized music carnivals for children where they are given an opportunity to interpret Carnatic music in various different forms like dramas, Puppet shows, dance performances, quizzes and various different games. The objective of such an event is making children and the visitors think beyond the confines of the classical system and let them interpret the classical form in as different ways as possible. This has helped in the younger generation in understanding and appreciating the Classical system of Carnatic music much more.
TEACHER
As a teacher of music he has students from various parts of the world learning from him. He has students from Europe, North America, south East Asia and India learning from him. He is a teacher known for his very strict adherence to traditional values of the musical system.
AUTHOR
In December 1998, along with musicians Vijay Siva and Dr Sunder, he authored the first ever carnatic music appreciation album titled ‘ learning to appreciate carnatic music’. This album till date is one of its kinds and has achieved record sales. This album was released by H.M.V
In the year 2001 along with musicians Bombay Jayashree and Sanjay Subrahmanyan authored a book on Prof. Sambamoorthy an Indian musicologist of great international repute to commemorate his birth centenary. This is a publication of the Music Academy (a premiere institution in the field of Indian music) Chennai.
He has contributed many articles to many Carnatic music journals and magazines and classical music websites.
COMPOSER
T.M.Krishna has had the opportunity to assist his teacher Sri Seetharama Sharma in many of his composing projects, which included musical opera’s like The Ramayana presented in Reunion islands in 1993, orchestra presentations and choir singing presentations. This lead to him becoming a composer of his own right and has set to music to a number of lyrics and songs for other artists and dancers.
Krishna toured Singapore in 2001 to compose and conduct an orchestra of the Singapore fine arts society under the grant of the national arts council of Singapore. This programme was titled " On a Classical Trail ".
AN ORGANISER
In December 1999 to celebrate the new millennium he as the president of YACM (youth association for classical music) organized the biggest musical extravaganza that carnatic music has ever seen featuring musicians of seven generations (over 100 musicians) and 600 children. It included live performances and audiovisual presentations. It was hailed as an event unparalleled by one and all.
CONTACT
T M Krishna
Flat 2A, 115A,Sivaswamy Salai,
Mylapore, Chennai - 600 004.
email:
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website: www.tmkrishna.com
