Sudha Subbaraman is a versatile singer, trained for several years in Indian classical music.  Sudha received her initial training in Carnatic and is currently a senior student of Smt. Swati Panda (Raganjali school of Music) for Hindustani vocal.

Sudha has been trained and mentored by Vidushi Arati Ankalikar Tikekar and also has taken occasional Dhrupad lessons from Padmashri Gundecha Brothers. She has  actively performing in the Boston area with several local bands and is at ease singing genres from Hindustani classical/semi-classical/devotional to light, contemporary, Bollywood music.  She has composed a couple of singles and meditational albums which are available on soundcloud and YouTube. She has directed choirs and music programs as well.

Sudha is also trained with a vocologist, Heather Lyle, NCVS as a Voice Coach and certified Vocal Yoga®️ instructor and currently gives holistic voice and music training for children and adults to groom them as singers, actors and performers. 

Sudha is a Structural Engineer. She has worked on analysis and seismic retrofit of multi-storied buildings and bridges when she had a career as Structural Engineer.  Currently she is actively looking to work on accessible and ADA compliant housing, and senior housing development.  

I started singing since my school days. Like any typical South-Indian family growing up in Bombay, I grew up listening to MS Subbalakshmi, Madurai Mani Iyer and Hindi Film music on VividhBharati.  I was initiated into Carnatic music with informal lessons from my sister, Shanti Subbaraman.  I have performed in school and college bands and won several prizes back then.  I did take a break from serious music for 6-7 years and then decided to pursue training in Hindustani music after I moved to the Boston area.   

I have been a student of SwatiJi - Smt. Swati Panda (Raganjali School of Music) since 2004 learning Hindustani Classical vocal.  

Since 2015, I am extremely fortunate to be trained and mentored by Vidushi Arati Ankalikar TikekarJi.  My quest for learning different styles of music inspired me to also take Dhrupad vocal lessons from the esteemed Padmashri Gundecha brothers - I had an opportunity to perform with a locally formed Dhrupad choir group at the Learnquest music conference in Spring 2018 and 2019. 

In December 2018, I directed a musical fundraiser show called Surmayee Shaam with a live band of seasoned and professional musicians and it received great success.  

I have always been intrigued by voice science and the movement of voice as such, so I have also trained with a vocologist, Heather Lyle, NCVS from Los Angeles.  I completed a Vocal Yoga®️ certification course taught by Heather Lyle and I am now also a Vocal coach and Vocal Yoga®️ Instructor.  I teach voice and Hindustani classical vocal lessons for kids/teenagers and singers/actors or anyone exploring voice.  My goal is to help anyone bring out their authentic, resonant voice forward. 

In summer 2019 I had the opportunity to be selected as one of the 11 new IndianRaga music fellows for a Boston fellowship program.  I got to lead music projects based on pure classical music.  I had an opportunity to work with vibrant young kids and adults trained in Indian music.

I worked on 3 projects.  I have been in love with Raag Maru Bihag ever since I started learning it from my Guru Vidushi Arati Ankalikar.  The detailed alaaps and gayaki nuances she taught me made me want to try out singing one of the traditional compositions she taught me.

The song "Jaagu Main Saari Raina" is a traditional bandish in Drut Teentaal, originally composed and sung by Vidushi, SwaraYoginee Dr. Prabha Atre.  The goal was to present this in a succinct but effective manner bringing the soulful "viraha" essence of the raag yet attempting to engage the listener.  As a fellow, we are required to collaborate. So I structured the song to be divided interactively as a jugalbandi between me and my co-singer, the talented Priya Bondre from Seattle.  We have a young talented sister-brother duo accompanying us, Harlene Bains on the violin and Jesraj on the tabla.

What is special about this video release is that this is my very first Hindustani Classical recording. My very first jugalbandi collaboration and my first attempt at leading and designing a classical-based composition for a YouTube release.  I learned a lot - first off when you learn a raga, making a 5-minute presentation that brings its essence is really when you learn the most, as it challenges you to experiment with alaaps, taans, rhythm and laya play and usage of the best pieces of the raga to keep the attention of the listener.  When I learned Maru Bihag from AratiJi, there was a time I was so much in love with the raag that I used to think and hum in Maru Bihag.  What a Guru gives the shishya is the ability to find a lifetime journey with a raga, a music presentation is just a sprinkling of the vast material a student learns from their Guru. 

This traditional music presentation video is a humble attempt by us IndianRaga music fellows to capture the essence of the early night romantic raag Maru Bihag. 

 The piece starts with a short Maru Bihag signature phrase alaap accompanied on the violin- the characteristic intonation of Rishabh with a kanSwar of Shadaj. M'G (S)R~~~S. , and then picks up in a Madhyalaya to Drut tempo, with interactive jugalbandi-style alaaps between the vocalists and the violin.  The essence of Maru Bihag's longing "Viraha Rasa" and soulfulness is highlighted with nuances and variations in the refrain.  The dramatic piquant yet alpa prayoga (minimal use) of Shuddha Madhyama SM, MG is delicately sprinkled in a soulful alaapi. The second line "Rasiya Man Laage Na Mora" explains how the protagonist is missing her beloved, and has no interest in things. Dynamics and interactive soulful movement between voice and violin brings the essence of the raga with improvisational renditions of alaaps and crisp synergistic taans.

IndianRaga Fellowship is a program offered to avid musicians, dancers, and vocalists who have progressed well in their learning to present their art form on the Internet through IndianRaga.  There is a tight selection process - you have to audition by sending in a recording of a performance.  I participated in the Hindustani vocal category as I have now been learning for over 15 years. I was fortunate to be selected among 11 new entrants in the music category.  The process after selection involves pitching different project proposals to the IndianRaga selection team for approval.  Once a project idea is approved, a project leader takes on the task of designing the project (song or dance) in an original fashion incorporating some newer elements to the existing tradition.  I led 2 projects -1 pure classical in Maru Bihag and 1 Sufi and was team member of 1 project in Bhimpalasi.  My Guru Arati AnkalikarJi mentored me and groomed me with my vocals. The fellowship program is a 4-day meet up - mine was in Boston.  By then the projects were all planned and practised, and all we did was live rehearsals.  I worked with a vocalist Priya Bondre from Seattle and a brother-sister duo Harlene and Jesraj Bains on the violin and tabla.   It was a great learning experience for me. 

I am actively composing songs and working on singles towards an EP.  One song in Bhoopali was composed by AratiJi and we are working on the song and arrangement.  I have also composed a different composition in Bhimpalasi and another song that I am envisioning kids to sing.  

I hope to do a few concerts as well later this year - this time being ambitious to try a mini-tour with my musician team. 

I am also teaching more students as a voice coach and music teacher, so it is helping me learn a bit more everyday!