Violinist Aishu Venkataraman will perform her program, “Divine Strings: Music of South India,” at East Tennessee State University on Friday, March 28, at 7:30 p.m. in Mathes Hall.
Born Aishwarya Venkataraman in California, she began her training in Suzuki violin at age two, and at four branched out to the Carnatic (South Indian) style of music under violin maestro T.N. Krishnan. She released her debut CD, “Divine Strings,” at age nine.
At 13, Venkataraman became the youngest student ever accepted into the Berklee College of Music, where she is studying jazz performance and holds a full scholarship. In addition to her studies, she maintains a rigorous concert schedule and has been featured on NPR’s “Crossing East” series.
“In Aishwarya nature seems to have treasured a worthy successor to the current four violin giants: T.N. Krishnan, Lalgudi G. Jayaraman, Parur M.S. Gopalakrishnan and M. Chandrashekhar. Watch her evolution with love and care,” the Star of Mysore wrote during her seven-concert tour of India in 2006-07.
Her father, Vinod (V.R.) Venkataraman, a native of Bombay, is a professor of applied mathematics and a professional mridangam (South Indian percussion) player who has performed with many legendary Indian performers. Her mother, Srividya Venkataraman, from Madras, is a family physician practicing medicine in Long Beach, Calif.
This concert is sponsored by the ETSU Department of Music. Admission is $5 for the general public and $2 for senior citizens and students with ID.
For more information. visit Venkataraman’s Web site, www.divinestrings.com.

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