Visiting Faculty
Sridevi Josyula
Hailing from a family of Musicians, Sridevi was initiated into Carnatic Vocal by the influence of her father, Late. Sri. Rekapalli Srinivasa Murty, a musician, writer, composer and connoisseur of Carnatic Music. Sridevi’s mother Smt. Mahalakshmi is an avid music lover and homemaker. Sridevi received her formal training from eminent Gurus late Sri. V. Srirama Murthy and the late Sri. P. Bapu Rao. She completed a diploma in Carnatic Music with distinction under the able guidance of late Sri. V. V. L. Narasimha Rao. She is privileged to learn Annamacharya and Ramadaasu compositions from Sangeetha Kalanidhi late Sri. Nedunuri Krishnamurthy. Currently she is taking advanced training from Saptagiri Sangeetha Vidwanmani, Sri. Malladi Suribabu. She has performed in various music organizations and temples in India. She has been giving thematic concerts and special concerts in the United States at various temples and cultural organizations for the past 25 years. Her thematic concerts of Daasa Sahitya and Annammacharya Keerthanalu are being very well received by audiences. Sridevi’s approach to music is based on the soul of the raga, with bhava and sahitya given utmost priority. She has received positive acclaim for her variety of repertoire and sensitive approach to rendering kritis. She is a Graded Artist in All India Radio. Sridevi was awarded several prizes and commendations from a number of prestigious organizations, sabhas from India and US, including most recently Telugu Cultural Association, Houston Ugadi Puraskaram, 2022. Following her father’s footsteps, Sridevi is actively involved in the propagation of Carnatic music, especially among the second-generation immigrants. She is a well-recognized teacher, and connoisseur of Carnatic music in the greater Houston area. Sridevi is the founding member of Swarabharathi, a Rasika group, established (2009) to promote Indian Culture and Music. Sridevi has been the chief organizer of Vaggeyakarotsavam (annual music festival celebrating Telugu Composers) in Houston. Currently she is the Secretary for Classical Arts Society of Houston. By profession, Sridevi works as a Finance Lead in Baker Hughes, Houston-TX and holds an MBA in Finance. She is married to Kanth V. Josyula, Ph.D., a R&D Executive and blessed with a son, Mukund Josyula, who is also a well-recognized Carnatic Violinist.
Brindha Ganesh
(Carnatic Vocal)
Brindha had her initial training from her mother and aunt. Her Periyamma, as she calls her aunt endearingly, was her inspiration as the former was a singer, a composer and a disciple of Swami Dayananda Sarawathi Swamigal. An important composition in her aunt's repertoire is Srimad bhagavad Geetha Isai malai. She summarized each chapter of Bhagawat Geetha in one krithi. This was published by Arsha Vidhya Gurukulam and blessed by Swami Dhayananda Saraswathi. Brindha has been learning from Guru Vidushi Smt. Rajarajeswari Bhat, Vidhushi Smt. Kruthi Vittal and Vidushi Smt. keerthana Bhat for about a decade now. She is also fortunate to have learnt from great Gurus in Music camps - Vidwan Lalgudi Sri. G.J.R. Krishnan, Vidwan Neyveli Sri. Santhanagopalan, Malladi Brothers and Vidwan Chitraveena N. RaviKiran. Brindha learnt Thevaram and Thiruvasagam from Trichy Malaikottai oduvar - Sri Balasubramanian during her undergraduate days. She is currently learning Thirupuggazh from Smt Padma Subramaniam (direct shishya of Guru Raghavan ji). Brindha is a Software Professional holding a master's Degree and is the dear mother of two beautiful daughters. She enjoys volunteering and teaching music during her free time.
Dr Praphul Joshi
(Mrudangam)
Praphul Joshi is a musician trained in Carnatic music and hails from family of musicians. He is well versed in mrudangam, tabla, vocals, and conducting music ensemble. He learnt music from his mother Vidushi Bhaiya Lakshmi, and from Anoor Anantha Krishna Sharma. Currently, he runs Joshi Academy of Music (JAM) in The Woodlands.
Shobana Srinivasan
(Carnatic Vocal)
Shobana Srinivasan is Carnatic music vocalist, teacher and enthusiast. She graduated as a Computer Science Engineer from Anna University, Chennai. She worked as an Oracle Consultant in Dubai prior to migrating to the US. She also has a Masters degree in Business Administration in Strategic Management from the University of Houston - Victoria. Her musical journey began at the age of 8. She has had the privilege and abundant blessings to learn from great gurus and senior musicians. Her gurus include Veenai Vidushi Smt. T. Moham and All India Radio artist Smt. Krishnaveni. After moving to the USA she had the acquaintance of Vidushi Smt. Rajarajeshwary Bhat. She trained under her for almost 8 years. She is currently undergoing advanced training with Kalaimamani Smt. Vidya Subramanian, under the esteemed Lalgudi bāñi (lineage). Shobana is the founder and director of Ahiri Music Academy located in Sugar Land, Texas. She has performed many solo concerts in Chennai, Houston and on global platforms such as Malaysia International Carnatic Music Festival, Music of Madras, etc. She and her students regularly perform at the local cultural events such as the Tyagaraja Aradhana by Spicmacay of Texas A&M University, Global Organization for Divinity. Heights Kid's Day of Music and more. She conceptualised and conceived Dhwani, an educational presentation on the theory of Carnatic Music, designed and presented by her students. She has collaborated with artists from various streams of art, music & dance.
Lavanya Madhavan
(Carnatic Vocal)
Lavanya Madhavan is a passionate Carnatic vocalist with classical values that continues to grow in her. She has received in depth training in Carnatic vocal music from an early age of 3 and is currently taking advanced level training from Kalaimamani Smt. Vidya Subramanian, a direct disciple of Lalgudi Jayaraman. Her previous Gurus include Smt. Bhavani Iyer, Kalaimamani Saraswathi Lakshmanan, Nellai Sri Krishnan, Dr. Rukmani Ramani and Kalaimamani Dr. Vasantha Srinivasan. She has also conducted workshops on Shyama Shastri’s Swarajatis / attended various training and workshops conducted by many music stalwarts. Lavanya has extensive experience teaching students in person as well as online. She has also sung for many dance arangetrams in Portland, working along with other musicians and dancers. Lavanya has won many awards and her concerts have been featured in many temples, reputed events and sabhas both in India and US such as Cleveland Aradhana, Trinity Day Celebration 2025, Houston, TX, December Music Festival – Gayathri Fine Arts, Mylapore, Ranjani Sabha, Nanganallur, Kannanur Muneeswaran Kovil, Kerala, Paravur Mookambika Sangeetha Mandapam, Portland Balaji Temple Margazhi Utsavam, Kalakendra, Hindu Temple of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago, Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyyaru Dec fest, Ayodhya Mandapam – Chennai, Parvathi Temple – Bangalore, Thiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja festival, AIR – Tirunelveli, Tiruchendur Subramanya temple, Nellai Kanthimathi amman temple, Srivaikuntam temple, Dikshitar-Beethoven festival 2015 in Madison, Wisconsin, SIFA California, Vedic Center of Greenville, Indian Music Society of Minnesota(IMSOM) and Minnesota Tamil Sangam to name a few. Her online Facebook live concerts have also been featured in Live4u music and Kala Prashala. Lavanya has also collaborated with World fusion music and her recent solo Bharathiyar song cover (Aasai Mugam Marandhu Poche) in You tube video received appreciation and more than 200K views. She is a graded artist of All India Radio, and has won awards for music from organizations. She still continues with her passion to learn and teach music both online and in-person.
Madhura Sriram
(Carnatic Vocal)
Madhura Sriram is a rising freshman at the University of Texas at Austin. She has been learning Carnatic music from Vidushi Smt. Rajarajeshwary Bhat and Vidushi Smt. Kruthi Bhat for the past 15 years. She completed her vocal arangetram in 2019 and has since performed concerts both in the U.S. and during the Margazhi Music Season in Chennai. She has received recognition in several competitions over the years, notably winning the Concert Competition at the 2025 Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana.