Neyveli B Venkatesh

Neyveli B.Venkatesh was born on 22.12.1963. His training in Mridangam was started at the age of seven under his father Sri. A.S. Balaramanan. His first stage performance was at the age of ten. He underwent advanced training in Mridangam under Sri.P.P. Venkatesan and Sri Ramanathapuram M.N. Kandaswamy Pillai.

Neyveli B.Venkatesh has accompanied all frontline musicians in most of the major sabhas, Music Festivals held in Madras, throughout India and Abroad. He was an artiste and staff member of the Cultural Department of Neyveli Lignite Corporation (Government of India Enterprise). He is an “A” grade Artiste in All India Radio in Mridangam and has set a record of playing the Mridangam for 28 hours continuously at Neyveli in 1986. He has toured extensively as detailed below.

1994, toured Africa to accompany several artistes

1995, was invited to London to accompany the violin Maestro L. Subramaniam, Dr. Grapelli and the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the famous Royal Albert Hall.

1995/96, invited to South Africa by Sruthi Laya Gnana Nilayam to give lecture demonstrations and advanced training in Mridangam

1996, invited to Switzerland by Mandala – Haus – Centre for promoting Indian Art and Culture, Zurich for Talavadhya concert, workshop and advanced training in Mridangam and Kanjeera.

1997, accompanied Saxophone Maestro Kadri Gopalnath at Singapore, organized by Singapore Indian Fine arts society.

- invited for two months to South Africa by S.V.E.T.T. sabha to give advanced training and lecture demonstrations

- toured Maldives Island to accompany Violin Maestro’s Ganesh and Kumaresh on the occasion of 50 years independence celebration of India, sponsored by Government of India.

- Accompanied Flute Maestro Shashank on his concert tour to Italy, Denmark, Norway and Switzerland.

1998, three months concert tour with flute Maestro Shashank through Italy, Denmark, Belgium, Holland, France, Germany,USA,Canada, Switzerland and Austria partially sponsored by I.C.C.R.

- 20 days concert Tour with Mandolin U.P. Raju through Switzerland and France

- participated in the grand fusion concert of Shashank’s south Indian ensemble with American Jazz group in Getty hall, Los Angeles, organized by national music arts foundation, Washington.

- Invited by Bayerische Musik Acakedemie , Marktoberdorf, Germany to participate in the World International Rhythm Festival, conducted workshops in South Indian Percussion gave concerts together with Hakim Ludin (Afghanistan), Luis Conte (Cuba), Famadou Konate (Guinea), Dave Weckel (USA) , JoJo Mayer (Switzerland), Werner Schmitt (Germany) and Ed Thigpen (USA).

1999, Jan: performed in 4 major cities in Australia accompanying Flute artiste Shashank (Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin and Canbara)

Feb : invited to South Africa to conduct advanced training

June : Grand Jazz Fusion concert tour in Germany, with violin Maestro Ganesh and Kumaresh and Multi percussionist Hakim Ludin.

Aug : invited to Canada by Mridangam Shesthiram to accompany Nadaswaram Maestro Ganamoorthy from Srilanka

2000, invited to London and Europe to perform Fusion concerts with world renowned Saxophone artiste Even Parker and Saxophone Maestro Kadri Gopalnath sponsored by the Indian Embassy.

- toured to America and Canada with mandolin artistes U.P. Raju and P. Nagamani sponsored by Kalalaya

- Toured to Netherlands and Geneva with Violin maestro Lalgudi G.J.R. Krishnan and Smt Vijayalakshmi sponsored by ICCR.

2001, toured to America and Canada to accompany Mridangam for Vocal artiste Malladi Sreeram Prasad and Ravikumar.

- toured to Australia to accompany Violin Maestro Ganesh and Kumaresh.

2002, Toured to Switzerland and Canada to give advance training in Mridangam

- toured U.K. and Slovenia to accompany a grand Fusion music concert of Saxophonist Kadri gopalnath with Western Saxophonist Evan Parker organized by Asian Music Circuit – London

- toured Germany, Switzerland and France to accompany Ganesh and Kumaresh Violin duet.

2003, Toured to Russia – Riga (Latvia) to participate in the Saxophone festival to accompany Saxophone Maestro Kadri Gopalnath and Kadri Rameshnath.

- Feb :- toured Germany and France to accompany Saxophone Maestro Kadri Gopalnath and Kadri Rameshnath.

- Apr to June :- toured to U.S.A ,Cananda and London to accompany Violin Maestros Ganesh and Kumaresh

- Jul & Aug participated in the Indian Music Festival held in Spain, France, Germany and Switzerland to accompany vocalist Sanjay Subramaniam.

- Sep & Oct, participated in the Thiagaraja Festival held in France. Toured to France and Switzerland to accompany Veena artiste Padmavathi Ananthagopalan.

- Oct to Dec, toured to France, Germany and Switzerland along with Mandolin U.P. Raju and Nagamani.

- The cassettes and CD’s released so far accompanied for Jayanthi-Veena, Kadri Gopalnath – Saxophone, Nedanuri Krishnamoorthy – Vocal, Sanjay Subramaniam – Vocal, U.P.Raju – Mandolin and an solo CD named Layamadhuryam.

2004, Feb, toured to Brussels to attend the Rhythm Festival

- March to May toured along with Sanjay Subramaniam to America, Canada And Europe.

- June and July toured along with Saxophone Kadri Gopalnath and Janardhan to Europe.

- Sep to Nov toured along with Violin Maestro’s Ganesh Kumaresh and Veena Jayanthi to France , Germany and Switzerland.

2005, Feb toured to Germany, Switzerland, France along with Vocal artiste Sanjay Subramaniam

- Mar to May, toured along with Violin Maestro’s Lalgudi G.J.R.Krishnan and Smt. Vijayalakshmi to America , Canada , Germany, France and Switzerland

- June , Toured to America to accompany World renowed Vocal Artiste/ Play Back singer Thiru K.J.Yesudas

- Jul & Aug , invited by Mridangam Shesthiram , Canada to give advance Training in mridangam.