Faculty

TRICHY SANKARAN

MA (Madras)
Professor: Ethnomusicology and Performance
Department of Music, York University

tsank@yorku.ca

Professor Sankaran is an award-winning teacher and master percussionist specializing in the South Indian drum, the mrdangam. The author of a textbook on South Indian classical drumming, he is credited with having raised the mrdangam and kanjira to the status of solo instruments.

Trichy Sankaran appears in solo performances and broadcasts both in India and the West, as well as performing regularly with his group, Trichy's Trio, and other Karnatak artists in North America and on concert tours in India. He also performs frequently with jazz, electronic and African music ensembles, and is well-known for his compositions for Toronto's contemporary gamelan ensemble, The Evergreen Club. He has concertized on four continents with Nexus and World Drums, and has played in numerous individual collaborations with artists such as Anthony Braxton, David Rosenboom, Pauline Oliveros, Charlie Haden and others. His recordings include Laya Vinyas (1990), Sunada (1993), Lotus Signatures (1997) and Ivory Ganesh Meets Doctor Drums (1998).

Professor Sankaran has earned numerous awards for his achievements as artist and teacher. He is the recipient of the OCUFA Award given by the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations for teaching excellence, and the Professional of the Year Award given by the  Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce for artistic excellence. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music by the University of Victoria, B.C. in 1998 in recognition of his contributions to music in Canada and abroad. In December 2005 he was honoured at a special celebration in Mylapore, Chennai, India, for his service to Karnatic music through his contributions as a global performer, composer, musical collaborator, scholar, teacher and cultural ambassador over the past five decades.

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