Nirmala Rajasekar

Nirmala Rajasekar began her training in Veena at age 6 in Chennai from well known practitioners such as Sri Deva Kottai Narayana Iyengar and Smt. Kamala Aswathama. After moving to Bangalore, she learned at the Gana Mandira School in Basavangudi Smt. G Chennama and Smt. E. P. Alamelu.

At this time, the violin Vidwan Sri A. D. Zachariah guided her, and she began her career as a soloist at age 13. Later in Chennai, she was guided by the revered veena vidushi Smt. Kalpakam Swaminathan with whom she continues to study. Her vocal Gurus are Sri B.Sitarama Sarma and Sri T.R. Subramanyam.

Rajasekar has performed in many prestigious venues such as the United Nations and Carnegie Hall, New York City, USA; Northrope Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN; Walker Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN; BBC, London, England; Kongresshaus, Zurich, Switzerland; Musee Rietberg, Zurich, Switzerland; Bali, Indonesia; Music Academy, Chennai, India; Naradha Gana Sabha, Chennai, India; Chembur Fine Arts, Mumbai, India; Bangalore Gayana Samaja, India and the Ravindra Kalakshethra, Bangalore, India.

Nirmala is the artistic director of the school Naadha Rasa, Center for Music. The words 'Naadha Rasa' means the 'essence of tone.' Her school brings Carnatic Music around the entire state of Minnesota, from the famous Minnesota State Fair to the local libraries.

Nirmala also teaches Carnatic Music in many schools and colleges around the world. She has judged numerous music contests around America.

Nirmala has received much recognition for her contributions to the music world, for not only performing and teaching Carnatic Music, but also for introducing it to other art forms in the world. Today, she is one of the leading veena artists.