A premier home for the performing arts
Founded in 1961, the Academy of Music is dedicated to supporting classical music, dance, and drama, nurturing young talent, and preserving India’s cultural heritage.
Founded in 1961, Academy of Music is a premier cultural organisation dedicated to promoting performing arts. It was founded with a vision to support, encourage classical music, dance and drama and to nurture the latent talent among the youth. It has also endeavoured to create an awareness and appreciation about our rich cultural heritage vis-à-vis classical arts.
For decades now, the violin-shaped Chowdiah Memorial Hall — the first of its kind anywhere in the world — has reverberated with the notes and beats and steps of the best of artists and the applause of enthralled, discerning music and art lovers of Bangalore. The Hall has emerged as a national centre for Music, Dance and Drama, equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems and a most modern air conditioning plant. Surgically clean surroundings, green lawns and a landscaped garden add to the charm of the unique auditorium.
Immortal memorial to an immortal artist
Sangeeta Ratna Mysore T. Chowdiah is an immortal name in the world of music. Chowdiah needs no memorial. Yet as a mark of admiration for the achievements of the seven-stringed violin maestro and in grateful remembrance of the pure joy he gave to music lovers who were mesmerised by the divine swaras that freely flowed from his violin, this hall was visualised by a small group of people in the Academy of Music headed by Sri K. K. Murthy, himself a great connoisseur and patron of pure music. Sri Murthy has a passion for taking on impossible tasks and finds fulfilment in making them possible. Chowdiah Memorial Hall soon took shape in the blueprint in the year 1976.
The dream of Sri K. K. Murthy and friends found enthusiastic support from art lovers, philanthropists, socialites, and politicians. All of them came forward to support the project which was taken up by the Academy of Music.
The Owl Creek Site: A site measuring 240′ × 260′ belonging to the City Corporation was available in G.D. Park Extension. It was called the Owl Creek by the local people. We were able to secure this site through the good offices of Late Sri B. M. Patil, the then Minister for Municipal Administration. Sri K. K. Murthy, the visionary, jumped at the offer and signed a 99-year lease agreement with the Corporation. People who cruise along the elevated Sankey Road (CMH Road) get a grandstand, majestic view of the imposing hall and the beautiful garden around it.
From a Dream to Reality: The hall needed not only a ton of bricks, but tons of bricks, apart from steel, aluminium, wood, glass, marble, machinery, furniture and many, many other things. The money came from the public, Syndicate Bank, Government of Karnataka, City Corporation and many more corporate bodies. The Academy is beholden to Late Sri R. Gundu Rao, the then Chief Minister of Karnataka, for promptly sanctioning a grant of Rs. 20 lakhs in the very first Cabinet Meeting chaired by him as the Chief Minister in the year 1980. The same year the Hall was inaugurated.
A Collective Effort: Architects, engineers, contractors, experts in various fields toiled for four years. Late Sri S. N. Murthy, Architect, designed the hall in the shape of a violin. Thus the dream came true in the year 1980. It stands as a memorial not only to the legendary violin maestro, Sangeeta Ratna Mysore T. Chowdiah but also to the dedication and selfless service of many people behind it.
Medha Hall
The Medha Hall was inaugurated on 18/11/2008 by Sri Mallikarjuna Khargeji, our Chief Patron and the then Leader of opposition in Karnataka Legislative assembly.
This is basically a rehearsal space which could be used for book release, cultural and press conferences, educational and painting exhibition, fitness activities related to dance, social get-togethers, rehearsals, workshops and other related activities for such rentals as decided by the management.
National Honours for Classical Masters
Academy of Music has always been at the forefront to recognise and honour legends of the classical arts. It has presented National awards to such distinguished artists by the President and the Vice-President of the country. Some of the awardees are:
- Dr. M. L. Vasantha Kumari
- Semmangudi Srinivas Iyer
- Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
- Smt. D. K. Pattammal
- Sri Sheik Chinna Moula
- Dr. Padma Subramanyam
- Dr. L. Subramanyam
- Prof. T. N. Krishnan
- Sri M. S. Gopalakrishnan
- Dr. V. Doreswamy Iyengar
- Sri Maharajapuram Santhanam
- Sri M. Chandrashekaran
- Sri Vellore Ramabhadran
- Sri Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
- Dr. Chitti Babu
- Dr. Gangu Bai Hangal
- Sri Mandolin U. Srinivas
- Sri K. V. Narayana Swamy
- Sri R. K. Srikantan
- Sri Umalayapuram K. Sivaraman
- Dr. N. Ramani
- Sri B. V. K. Shastry
- Smt. Saroja and Smt. Lalitha
- Sri Trichy Sankaran
- Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna
- Dr. Kadri Gopalnath
- Pandit Jasraj
- Madurai Vidwan T. N. Seshagopalan
- …and many more legends
Plans for the Future
The Academy has plans for artists, art lovers and students. It has planned to institute scholarships and awards to encourage upcoming talents and promoting performing arts. Also classes are being conducted in Music and Dance at the Academy as a part of imparting knowledge to students. Concerted efforts are being made with involvement of a number of dedicated connoisseurs of music, dance and art to achieve the goal within the shortest possible time.