Nagaraja Rao Havaldar

Nagaraja Rao Havaldar (17 July 1959) is a Hindustani Classical vocalist from Karnataka, India.

Education

Music Havaldar is a disciple of Madhava Gudi, himself a prime disciple of the Kirana scion Bhimsen Joshi. He is also a disciple of Panchakshari Swami Mattigatti, a senior disciple of Mallikarjun Mansur, of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana.

During his study for "Sangeetha Ratna", a six-year degree course in Hindustani Classical Music from Karnataka University karnataka, Dharwad, Karnataka, he studied under Mallikarjun Mansur, the Head of the Department of Music, as well as Panchakshari Swami Mattigatti, Pandit Basavaraj Rajaguru (Kirana), Pandit Sangameshwar Gurav (Kirana) and Dr. B.D. Pathak who were faculty members.

Career

Performances He has performed all over India, including in venues such as the Hampi Utsava, Mysore Dassera Durbar Festival and Sankat Mochan Sangeet Samaroh at Varanasi. He has also toured the United States and the United Kingdom extensively. He is the founder and president of Sunaada Art Foundation, an organization dedicated to the promotion of Indian classical Music. He has also worked with a theatre group in Indianapolis on the music of a play with a spiritual theme.

Havaldar has taught and continues to teach Hindustani music, both locally in Bengaluru, as well as internationally to students in the United States and United Kingdom via workshops and telephonic sessions. Many of his students have become prominent musicians themselves, notably his son Omkarnath Havaldar and Kannada playback singer Chaitra HG.

Other Havaldar has previously worked as a Programme Executive at the Music Archives, All India Radio, Bengaluru (1988–1991). He was also formerly the chairman of Textbook Committee for Hindustani Music, for The Directorate of Textbooks, Karnataka.

Personal life Havaldar was born in Hosapete town in Bellary District, Karnataka, where he spent his early years until his graduation. He currently resides in Bengaluru. His sons Omkarnath and Kedarnath are upcoming musicians - Omkarnath is a vocalist while Kedarnath is a tabaliya.