Sangeetha Kala Vibooshini, Smt. Jayashree Varadarajan, is the founder and director of Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandir School of Fine Arts (SRLKM), established in 1983. Smt. Varadarajan is a dedicated and multifaceted teacher with an extensive background in music and musical education. Her own training started in Carnatic vocal music from her mother, Smt. Ramamani Iyengar, and continued under the expert tutelage of her maternal aunts, Ganasaraswati, Karnataka Kalashri, Smt. G.V. Raganayakamma and G.V. Neela.

Smt. Varadarajan is a teacher, composer, poet, dancer, and director. She holds a proficiency degree in Carnatic vocal music with distinction of receiving first rank along with a gold medal for the state of Karnataka, senior degrees in Bharathanatyam, veena, and Sanskrit, as well as a diploma in Drama and Theatre. Smt. Varadarajan has composed over two hundred songs in five languages, set numerous poetic works to music, and has released a series of books titled " Lessons in Vocal Music", designed for any student of music. In addition, she spearheaded the presentation of Carnatic music as a novel operatic story-telling experience, immersing the listener in a visual and musical feast - a performance style now replicated by many artists around the world (funded in part by the Santa Clara County Arts Council).

Smt. Varadarajan is the recipient of many notable titles and awards. To name just a few, such honors include Sangeetha Vidushi, "Acharya Shri" from Jaya TV, Maximum Media and Bairavi Fine Arts, “Sri Guru” from India Parent, “Haridasa Ganakala Kushale” from R.K.P. Balaga USA, and the coveted "Best Teacher" award from Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana in 2012, which recognizes an educator who has contributed immensely to the propagation, teaching, and development of the Indian arts in North America. In addition, she is the recipient of the "Artists Fellowship” award from the California Arts Council, and was nominated for the “Woman of Achievement” award for her contributions to the field of music. She has been a master artist for three years, training senior student apprentices to showcase their talent, in partnership with the Alliance of California Traditional Arts (ACTA).

To add to an already illustrious background in the arts, Smt. Varadarajan is also a microbiologist and botanist with master's degrees in both fields, and has several publications to her name.

Over the past 36 years, SRLKM has grown to be a foremost respected school of vocal training, music theory, and music performance. The mission of Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandir School of Fine Arts is to enrich lives by imparting a thorough knowledge of Carnatic (South Indian Classical) Music to all students regardless of background. From its inception in 1983, SRLKM has provided the highest quality of music education through theory, practice, and enrichment workshops within intimate class settings. Students are offered one-on-one attention from the teacher at regular intervals as well as performance opportunities year-round. The school strives to create individuals who are aware, inquisitive, knowledgeable, and appreciative of Carnatic music. The multi-dimensional, holistic teaching of this ancient art form goes beyond mere singing to developing aware, caring, and disciplined citizens of the world.

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