Kiranavali comes from a lineage of well-respected Carnatic musicians that includes her legendary grandfather, Gotuvadyam Narayana Iyengar and father chitravina maestro Narasimhan. By age two, she astounded the music world with her ability to identify nearly 200 ragas and 175 talas and answer technical questions posed to her, relating to Carnatic music. Apart from intensive training both under her father and her brother, Ravikiran, Kiranavali also had guidance from T Brinda, the torchbearer of one of the most coveted styles in Carnatic music.

She has been in the eye of the public as a vocalist since the age of five, initially in tandem with her brother, K N Shashikiran, and later, as a soloist.

Kiranavali has also presented chitravina solo concerts and has teamed up with Ravikiran in instrumental duets. She is the first artiste to be graded in both vocal and the chitravina by the national radio and television networks of India.

Kiranavali has been featured by many leading organisations in India and the US, such as The Music Academy & Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai, the Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai, and Cleveland Tyagaraja Festival, USA.

She was the lead female vocalist in Ravikiran's operatic ballet, Lakshmi Prabhavam, presented across North America in 1997. In fall 2003, she completed another tour across the continent, this time, for solo vocal concerts. She has lent her voice for many recordings and music-based documentaries such as the Great Masters series and won several awards for her concerts.

Kiranavali has trained many students in India and USA, and has served as an advanced-level teacher in Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and is currently spearheading the Carnatic music section of the Centre for World Music in San Diego, CA. She also heads the local chapter of the International Foundation for Carnatic Music, in Buffalo, NY.

Kiranavali has several published articles to her credit and has edited a book titled Ragas at a Glance. Her contributions as the editor for www.carnatica.com enabled this site to emerge as a leading web portal. Her academic career is studded with ranks at regional and national levels, not to mention an international prize in painting.

Press
"…provided a demonstration on the depth of Carnatic music and her own knowledge of it in a truly astounding ragam, tanam and shataragamalika (100-raga) pallavi… a connoisseurs delight… it had intense concentration, dexterity and precision..." - India Journal

"More fantastic is the manner in which 3-year old Kiranavali is able to tell the raga even at the commencement of its outline." - The Hindu

"...wonderful voice, a touch of huskiness to lend it distinction and depth, and a malleable timbre. It revels in ragabhava and brings off the gamakas with an ease which does not ignore their luminescence." - Frontline

"Special mention is to be made of Shashikiran and Kiranavali for their excellent vocals; especially Kiranavali's ringing voice with clear pronunciation added a charm to the orchestral group." - The Hindu

"The vocal duo of 15-year old Shashikiran and 12-year old Kiranavali gave real meaning to the 'super talent' claim of the campaigners, by stealing the hearts of listeners including the conservative ones aflame with the traditional vitality and passion of their performance... Kiranavali looked charmingly innocent but sang a spectacular akaara passage in the course of her forays into Shanmukhapriya and won both affection and applause..." - The Hindu

"Faultless rendering... elegance and artistry mark her out as an artiste who has a great future..." - Indian Express

"…Kiranavali who provided chitravina accompaniment to Ravikiran proclaimed her competence... there was nobility in every one of her phrasings in alapana, neraval and swaras..." - The Hindu

	Buy
	Kalavardhani's Carnatic Vocal - Kiranavali (REC 155) 1. Swaminatha - Nattai - Adi - Muttuswamy Dikshitar 2. Marugelara - Jayantashri - Adi - Tyagaraja 3. Anandanatam - Poorvikalyani - Roopakam - Neelakantha Shivan 4. Bhogeendra shayinam - Kuntalavarali - Khanda Chapu - Swati Tirunal 5. Chakkani raja - Kharaharapriya - Adi - Tyagaraja 6. Samayamide - Behag - Roopakam - Patnam Subramanya Iyer 7. Manasa sancharare - Shama - Adi - Sadashiva Brahmendra
	Ragas at a glance by Prof S R Janakiraman Edited by Kiranavali Vidyasankar Buy this book
Articles by Kiranavali:     R K Srikantan interview, The Hindu, June 27, 2004 Cleveland Tyagaraja Aradhana 2004, Chennaionline, April 24, 2004 T Brinda article, The Hindu dated April 18, 2004 Melody in Carnatic Music, Part 1 for www.sawf.org Melody in Carnatic Music, Part 2 for www.sawf.org Melody in Carnatic Music, Part 3 for www.sawf.org Melody in Carnatic Music, Part 4 for www.sawf.org Melody in Carnatic Music, Part 5 for www.sawf.org
Contact Address : 123 Meadow View Lane Lansdale PA 19446 USA Phone : (215) 310 1783 Cell : (484) 994 9322 Email : kiranavali@hotmail.com     kiranavali@gmail.com