Swaramurthy V N Rao Memorial Trust and Bangalore Gayana Samaja will jointly present the Veena Seshana Memorial Award to Sangeetha Kalaratna Prof H V Krishna Murthy and Swarnamurthy V N Rao Memorial award to Sangeetha Kalamidhi T V Shankarnarayanan. The awards will be presented on July 22 at 11 am at Bangalore Gayana Samaj.

Prof H V Krishna Murthy (80) is a veteran violinist of the state. A post graduate in Zoology he served the Bangalore Medical College as a professor. The violin trio - H V Krishna Murthy, A Veerbhadraiah and Anoor Ramakrishna - with the mridanga accompaniment of Palaghat Mani Iyer - became very popular all over the South India. HVK has trained a number of young aspirants at his Vijaya College of Music and is one of the founders of Karnataka Ganakala Parishath. He has directed several innovative musical productions including Prahlada Bhaktha Vijaya. His titles and awards include Sangeetha Kala Rathna from the Gayana Samaja and Karnataka Kala Thilaka from the Sangeetha Nrithya Academy.  He will receive the prestigious Veena Seshanna Memorial Award from Governor T N Chaturvedi.

    Vidwan TV Shankara Narayanan, recipient of this year’s “Swaramurthy Award”, is the best known vocalist of the Madurai Mani Baani today. As an Ambassador of Karnatic Music he has travelled widely including USA, UK, Canada, Australia and Singapore. Endowed with a rich and vibrant voice, he has carved out a niche for himself wIth impeccable adherence to Shruthi and chaste classical music. Padma Bhushan, “Sageetha Kalanidhi” and the Central Sangeeth Natak Academi Award are some of the honours he has recieved.

Prof BK Chandrasekar, Chairman of the Legislative Council, will confer the Swaramurthy VN Rao Memorial Award on TV Shankara Narayanan at the same function on July 22. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Sri Manjunatha Swamy Temple, Dharmasthala has sponsored the Veena Seshanna Memorial Award and Dr AH Rama Rao, president, National Education Society is the sponsor of Swaramurthy VN Rao Memorial Award, each consisting of Rs 25,000.

Veena Seshanna
Veena Seshanna, the legendary Musician, was a Veena player par excellence, an able teacher and a great composer. Above all he is the Principle Architect of ‘Mysoore Banni’ (Mysore style of Veena). In his memory an award is instituted and is being awarded to Veteran Instrumentalist of Kanatic music, every year.
Swara Murthy V N Rao (1916-1980), grandson of Veena Seshanna , was not only a vocalist but also a reputed Veena player. As a ‘Asthan Sangeetha Vidwan’ he has served under two Maharajas and was also well versed in Western Music. He has trained many youngsters and was a recipient of ‘Gana Kala ‘Bhushana’ Title.