Handel Manuel

Handel Manuel (27 April 1918 – 22 October 1994) was an Indian pianist, organist, conductor, composer and accompanist, who helped to make western classical music popular in Chennai, India. Manuel was the first Indian conductor of the Madras Musical Association. He also served for over 50 years as the organist and choirmaster at St Andrew's Church, Chennai and was the founder director of the Madras Philharmonic and Choral Society. He was the station director, Western music of All India Radio, and also in charge of its children's program.

Biography Handel Manuel was born in Tuticorin, India, on 27 April 1918, and was named after the composer George Frideric Handel. He was educated at the Madras Christian College, but he did not study music there. He was a self-taught composer.

Legacy At the request of several choristers who had sung under Manuel, Sharada and Surender Schaffter founded the Handel Manuel Chorus in 2003. Surender is the younger brother of Handel Manuel. This non-denominational choir has thirty members and specializes mostly in church music of the Baroque and Classical periods. They have performed at Egmore Wesley, St George's Cathedral, the Emmanuel Methodist Church and St. Andrew's Church, Bangalore.

His son, Viji Manuel has been acknowledged as the best pianist and bass player in India and has performed for over forty years consistently for acclaimed Indian composer Ilaiyaraaja. Viji Manuel died in August 2015.