Poovalur Sriji
POOVALUR SRIJI a prolific composer, performer, educator, an ‘A’ top grade artist recognized by All India Radio, studied South Indian Classical music from his father P.A. Venkataraman. For over three decades Poovalur has performed with the leading artist from both South and North Indian Classical traditions. Since his move to the United States Poovalur has performed and recorded with artists such as Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Bela Fleck, Mark O’ Connor, John Bergamo, Glen Velez to name a few. Poovalur has composed several pieces portraying the South Indian idioms. Poovalur has received several awards from leading institutions, and the album Tabula Rasa, where he has composed and performed with Bela Fleck, V. M. Bhatt and J.P. Chen was nominated for a Grammy. He is the founding member of the group ‘Brahmah’. He found and directs the ‘SNEW’ and the ‘South Indian Cross Cultural Ensemble’. He is currently a faculty at the University of North Texas. He has taught at Calarts and the San Diego State University.