Priya balaji

Priya Balaji started learning music as a toddler from her mother, Smt. Sowmini Ramakrishnan,
who, past the age of 80, still continues to teach vocal, veena, and bhajans in Bengaluru. Priya
then went on to study with the Late Sangeeta Kalanidhi Dr. S. Ramanathan, the renowned
musicologist. After that, she continued her training under Smt. Savithri Sathyamurthy.
Priya has performed in various functions and has sung at several festivals including the
Chidambaram Natyanjali and Kutralam Arudra festival. She has performed on AIR and was on
the cover of Kalki magazine with her guru and peers. She was the lead singer for the cultural
groups Aradhana and Arpana.
Upon relocating to the US, Smt. Priya has been teaching about 50 students a year, most of
them in one on one sessions. Classes are supported with recorded sessions for practice, and
specific coaching for events. Her students have gone on to perform at community cultural and
religious events, school and college functions, as well as in local competitions. Her highschool
graduating students also go on to do Ragaarpanam, should they choose to do so.
While teaching, Smt. Priya focuses not only on technical skill and precision, but also on the
student’s ability to appreciate the music and derive the joy it is meant to bring. Smt. Priya also
teaches Thiruppugazh, and slokams to adults.