T. Viswanathan

Dr. T. Viswanathan, “Viswa” (1927-2002), was a member of one of the most illustrious music and dance families of South India. His grandmother was one of the finest vina (fretted plucked lute) players of this century and his sister T. Balasaraswati was considered the greatest performer of Bharata Natyam, South Indian classical dance. Viswanathan learned his family's musical repertoire from his mother, T. Jayammal, and studied for over twenty years with the famed flutist T. N. Swaminatha Pillai. He has toured world-wide both as a solo performer and as flute and vocal accompanist to his late sister. In addition to giving lecture-demonstrations throughout the U.S., Viswanathan has taught at Madras University, UCLA, the California Institute of the Arts, and Wesleyan University where he was a full-time faculty member. His extraordinary musicianship has been honored many times, including the highest award in South Indian music from the Music Academy in Madras, and a National Heritage Fellowship given by the NEA in 1992. CCHAP presented a concert led by Viswa’s ensemble in 1998 at Charter Oak Cultural Center.

Source: https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/t-viswanathan

Source: https://magazine.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2003/01/04/leading-musician-t-viswanathan-dies/