Trichy Sankaran Biography 
Trichy Sankaran is a foremost mridangam player from Thiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, who is also expertized in Kanjira. He is associated with live concerts since 1970s and his musical activities are concentrated in Toronto. In 2012, he was honoured with Sangeetha Kalanidhi, from the Madras Music Academy. He has been performing at the Music Academy since 1956, and is the first recipient from the Pudukkottai School of percussion to receive this honour. He is the founder of the Tyagaraja Aradhana in Toronto, the annual aradhana of saint composer Tyagaraja. He is also a professor of music at York University.
He was born in Thiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu in 1942. He took his first formal lessons in classical music from his cousin, P. A. Venkataraman and later studied under Pazhani Subramania Pillai. Sankaran's first public appearance was in Delhi in 1952 at the age of 10 for a Harikatha presentation. He accompanied his first teacher, Venkataraman for his first show. He made his first public appearance for a music concert at the age of 13. He accompanied Alathoor Brothers for his first concert. Since then he regularly performed with Indian vocalists till early 1970s. In 1971 he moved to Toronto and is living there since then.
He aside vocalist Jon B. Higgins founded Indian Music Program in Toronto in 1971 and since then he has been teaching there. He also conducted workshops and seminars in many educational institutions and universities since then. He also published columns in numerous journals across the globe. He authored a book on mridangam and its basics titled - The Rhythmic Principles & Practice of South Indian Drumming. In 2010, he published the book, The Art of Konnakkol. He has also given contributions to contemporary music. Steve Smith, Peter Erskine, and Giovanni Hidalgo are among the leading musicians with whom he has performed live for stage shows.
Published: N/A
Updated: March 12, 2016
