Carnatic Veena Concert by Vidu. Smt. T. Veena Gayatri Raj

Name: Carnatic Veena Concert by Vidu. Smt. T. Veena Gayatri Raj
Start: 2026-05-31T18:00:00-05:00
Location: 12030 Independence Parkway, Frisco, TX

Schedule

Sun, 31 May, 2026 at 06:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

12030 Independence Parkway, Frisco, TX | Frisco, TX

The Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple invites you and your family to the Carnatic Veena Concert by Vidu. Smt. T. Veena Gayatri Raj accompanied by Chi. Chidatma Datta Chaganti on Mridangam
Smt. T Veena Gayatri Raj is a seventh-generation Veena player from the illustrious Vadali family of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh — a lineage that has kept the art of the Veena alive for over two centuries. Born in Tirupati to Sri. Vadali Venkata Ramana and Smt. Vadali Savita Rani, both accomplished Veena virtuosos and Telugu and Sanskrit scholars, Gayatri was steeped in music from the very beginning. She began her formal training in Veena and vocal under her parents at the age of six, and has since grown into one of the most recognized Veena artists in the South Indian classical music world.
A graduate of Andhra University with a specialization in Veena, she is recognized as a Graded Veena Artist by All India Radio, Chennai — one of the highest distinctions for classical musicians in India.
Gayatri’s artistry spans a wide musical landscape. She is a seasoned performer across Carnatic classical, devotional, film background music, and East-West fusion genres. Her YouTube albums have garnered a large and dedicated following, with releases including Veena Vibes (Parts 1 & 2, devotional and Carnatic), Spicy Strings (a confluence of western and Carnatic classical), Cine Vibes (cinematic songs from the golden era), and Fusion Strings (a classical fusion video album).
In the Tamil and Telugu film industries, she has worked as a professional cine recording background music player and collaborated with acclaimed music directors including A.R. Rahman, Anirudh, and Taman. She has also performed alongside legendary vocalists such as P. Susila, S. Janaki, and Chitra for devotional albums and film projects, and rendered Veena for the Annamaya Paataku Pattabhishekam devotional album under Music Director Sri. Vasurao of Chennai.
Her television appearances include performances on Sun TV, Surya TV, Pudhigai TV, Gemini TV, Vendhar TV, SVBC Channel (as part of the Annamayya Sankeertanarchana program of Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam), and Rupavahini in Sri Lanka.
Gayatri has taken Carnatic music to audiences across the globe, performing in Germany, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the UAE, the United States, Thailand, and at the United Nations offices in Nairobi, Kenya — including a special Yoga Day concert organized by the Indian High Commission. She has also performed at the SGS Ashram in Mysore with the blessings of Swami Ji, and has led and conducted 18 Veena concerts for the Andhra Social Cultural Association in Chennai and at Surya Kala Mandir, Kakinada. Her US Tour 2025 took her to temples and cultural centers across Atlanta, Bloomington, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nashville, and Detroit.
Her performances and profile have been featured in major publications including Sakshi and Andhra Jyothi (Telugu newspapers, Chennai edition) and German press during her European tour.
Committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians, Gayatri runs Ragalaya, a music school from her home, where she makes Carnatic music accessible and joyful for young learners.
In 2014, she was honored with the Nadaranjani Award by the Kalaranjani Foundation, Chennai.
Chidatma Datta Chaganti is a passionate mridangam artist rooted in the Carnatic music tradition. Upon the instructions of Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, Chidatma began his training at the age of six under Guru Rudrapatna Shankar Ramesh of Mysore, a disciple of the legendary maestro, Guru Karaikudi Mani Sir. From a young age, Chidatma showed a keen interest in percussion, and his dedication has led him to win prizes from prestigious organizations and festivals like the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana and ICMDA, earning accolades from both peers and Gurus alike. Chidatma has also had the honor of accompanying senior musicians, including Vidwan Kunnakudi Balamuralikrishna in a concert at the prestigious Nada Mantapa in Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Mysuru. Chidatma continues to pursue his passion for rhythm while studying Computer Science at the University of Texas at Dallas.