Meet Our Team
Chitravina Ganesh
Founder and President
Chitravina Ganesh, world-record setting slide instrumentalist and vocalist, is the grandson of the legendary Gottuvadyam Narayana Iyengar. He stormed into the world of carnatic music even at the tender age of two and a half. Trained by Chitravina maestro Narasimhan (his maternal uncle), Ganesh was able to identify and render around 225 Ragas and 175 Talas and answer numerous other technical questions with ease.
Ganesh also had the rare privilege of learning from Sangeeta Kalanidhi T Brinda for a few years and is among the best chitravina performers in the country today. In May 2004, he set a record for the longest concert by any slide instrumentalist in the world by playing non-stop for 32 and half hours in Chennai, India. A top rank artiste of All India Radio and Doordarshan, Ganesh has performed in tandem with Ravikiran as Asia Brothers and also accompanied top notch artistes like Smt T Mukta, Dr Balamuralikrishna in several concerts and recordings. He participated in numerous festivals across the world and worked with world musicians to perform fusion concerts. Ganesh presented his talent playing chitravina as a substitute to vocal in various Dance Melodies.
Ganesh is also a highly competent vocalist and teams up with his cousin, K N Shashikiran, to present vocal duet concerts as ‘Carnatica brothers’. He has toured the world extensively and performed in major venues all over India, USA, UK, Europe, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New zealand and the Middle-East. He also holds the world record along with Shashikiran, as the first vocal duo pair to perform non-stop for 24 hours. Ganesh is highly passionate about teaching Carnatic music and various instruments. He have many disciples across the world.
Ganesh has also been featured as a vocalist and chitravina artiste in melodic ensemble, Vintage Virtuosos. Some of his albums include Music of the world (released in France), Resonating Ragas, Sixth element, Samarpanam, Navagraha Krtis and Rama Vaibhavam Bahu daari. Ganesh played chitravina instrument in many Regional movies recordings. Ganesh is invited by many universities such as Cleveland, Michigan and Oakland University School of Music to be a guest faculty to teach music during his visits to US.
Ganesh also plays Hawaiian guitar and has given many Jazz and fusion concerts all over the world. He has shown a flair for composing as well, having already created few varnams, krtis, tillanas and a few instrumental pieces. He has bagged several awards such as Yuva Kala Bharati (Bharat Kalachar, Chennai), Gandharva Vidya Dhara (Irai Pani Manram, Chennai), Best Pallavi Award (Music Academy, Madras), Best concert Award (Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai and Music Academy Chennai ), Best Pallavi Concert Award on the Chitravina (Karnataka Gana Kala Parishad), Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer Award and the Asthana Vidwan of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, to name a few.
Vidya Venkatesh
Director of Operations and Treasurer
Vidya Madhavan (a.k.a Vidya Venkatesh) currently holds the distinguished position of Lead Quality Assurance Automation Engineer at Ithaka Harbors, where she contributes her expertise to the development and maintenance of JSTOR.org—an esteemed online academic database renowned worldwide for its extensive usage.
With a scholarly background encompassing an M.Phil. and M.S. in Science, Vidya's prior experience as a Molecular Biology Research Specialist at the prestigious University of Illinois at Chicago is marked by her notable contributions to the field, including the publication of articles in esteemed journals and reports. Additionally, she served as a Visiting Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Bharathiar University, further augmenting her academic achievements.
Demonstrating her versatile capabilities, Vidya made a prodigious transition to the realm of Computer Science, acquiring a Post-Graduate Diploma in Computer Science (PGDCA), which led her to embark on an 11-year tenure at JSTOR, where she consistently delivers an exceptional performance.
Outside her professional pursuits, Vidya indulges her passion for the arts, finding solace in activities such as painting, music appreciation, and engaging with cultural events within the Greater Detroit area. Additionally, she has occasionally been a student of Carnatic music as well.
In her role as the Director of Operations at GFA Global, Vidya has played an integral role in advancing the organization's mission to support and promote diverse artistic forms. Her efforts have provided a platform for countless undiscovered talents to showcase their skills, and under her astute leadership, GFA successfully hosted its inaugural full-day, in-person event in the United States. In addition, her efforts resulted in GFA’s streamlined switch to a virtual platform.
Currently, Vidya resides in Canton, Michigan, where she shares her life with her husband and two children.
Dr. Jayanth Keshavamurthy
Secretary
Dr. Jayanth Keshavamurthy is a radiologist in Augusta, GA and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Augusta University Medical Center and Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center Downtown Division. He received his medical degree from Bangalore Medical College and has been in practice 25 years. He specializes in cardiac CT & MRI, thoracic imaging, and ultrasound.
He is a passionate supporter of carnatic music.
Venkatesh Ramu
Strategic Business Advisor
Venkatesh Ramu is a highly accomplished Senior Program Manager at Stoneridge, Inc., where he leverages his extensive expertise to drive strategic initiatives and deliver exceptional results. With a distinguished career spanning esteemed organizations such as Eaton, Corp. and Cooper Standards, Venkatesh brings a wealth of industry knowledge and a proven track record of success to his current role.
Having earned a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University, Venkatesh possesses a deep understanding of complex technical concepts and their practical applications. Additionally, he holds an M.B.A. from the prestigious Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University, solidifying his strong business acumen and strategic mindset.
Venkatesh's profound insights and business acuity make him an invaluable asset to GFA, where he will contribute his valuable input to foster further growth and advancement. His ability to identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities will undoubtedly propel the organization to new heights of success.
While Venkatesh's professional accomplishments are exceptional, he also places great importance on personal fulfillment. He enjoys traveling, which not only broadens his horizons but also provides valuable cultural experiences that enrich his perspective. Additionally, Venkatesh cherishes spending quality time with his family, recognizing the importance of maintaining a balanced and harmonious personal life.
With his unique blend of technical expertise, business acumen, and dedication to personal growth, Venkatesh Ramu continues to make a significant impact in his professional endeavors while fostering meaningful connections in all aspects of his life.
Vaibav Ramu
Cultural Outreach Intern
Vaibav Ramu is a freshman at the renowned University of Michigan, distinguished by his exceptional academic achievements, diverse talents, and profound commitment to community service.
Guided by the esteemed Vidwan Chitravina P. Ganesh, Vaibav showcases his artistic talent as an international performer of Carnatic music. He has mesmerized audiences with his vocal and keyboard performances, performing over 75 concerts during the prestigious Indian Margazhi Season. His exceptional musical abilities have earned him several accolades and the privilege of performing at the esteemed Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana. In total, Vaibav has amassed an impressive record of over 90 concerts, solidifying his reputation as a versatile and captivating musician.