Ghatam Udupa

Ghatam Giridhar Udupa (born 17 November 1979) is an Indian percussionist and a leading exponent of the ghatam. He is one of the members of Layatharanga, a team of Indian classical musicians who have embarked on the task of blending different forms of classical, folk and world music. In 2015 he founded and has since served as the director of The Udupa Foundation, a registered charitable trust with the aim of promoting music, performing arts and culture.

Early life and tutelage Udupa was born into a family of artists, and was exposed to music and literature from a very young age. He began his musical training at the age of four, under the guidance of his father and well known Mridangam artist Vidwan Ullur Nagendra Udupa. He ventured into the world of Carnatic music learning all the traditional percussion instruments (mridangam, ghatam, kanjira and morsing), but it was the Ghatam that struck a chord with his musical personality. He has since taken advanced lessons from Vidushi Ghatam Sukanya Ramgopal and Vidwan Ghatam V.Suresh mastering the finer aspects of the fingering techniques of the instrument. He has undertaken several overseas musical tours, since 1998. Ananya Yuva Puraskara for the year 2002 as Best Percussionist of the year. Recipient of the prestigious Central Government Scholarship for Ghatam – 2002. Aryabhata Award – 2000. First Prize at the National Level All India Radio Competition – 2000. Best Ghatam Artist Award from Gayana Samaja, Ganakala Parishat and Malleshwaram Sangeetha Sabha for the years 1992, 1996 and 1999 respectively. Vijaya Kalashree title – 1997 First Indian percussionist to perform and conduct workshop at the Krakow International Music festival – 2005.