Faculty

Faculty Directory

Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music has a rotating faculty of accomplished musicians from all over the world so students get to study with different sets of faculty during each Semester. SAM’s unique rotational faculty concept maximizes the students’ learning experience to make it as broad musically and culturally as possible.

Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music’s distinguished faculty includes Composers of Oscar Winning Films, Grammy Award nominees, MacArthur Fellows and some of the most in-demand professional musicians in the world that perform and record with the world’s biggest names in music. Our faculty has performed or recorded with such luminaries as Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, A.R. Rahman, Coldplay, Journey, Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding, Illayaraja, Peter Gabriel, Eddie Palmieri, Toumani Diabate, Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, Victor Wooten, Joe Satriani, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Elvin Jones, Steve Coleman, Angelique Kidjo, Vijay Iyer, Jason Moran, Babatunde Olatunji, Umayalpuram Sivaraman, Airto Moreira, Trilok Gurtu, Iva Paposov, Husnu Senlendirici, Stanley Clarke, Kenny Barron, Joshua Redman, Branford Marsalis and many others.

Since its inception in July 2010, around 80 musicians from 24 countries have taught in the Diploma Program.

Summer 2024

Graciela

Graciela Chin A Loi, a Stockholm native of Surinamese descent, inherited her passion for music from her father, Don Pancho Chin A Loi, a prominent figure in Scandinavian Cuban salsa and Caribbean music.
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Voice

Manukrishan

Manukrishnan, born in Kochi, Kerala, hails from a family deeply rooted in traditional Carnatic Music. He began his musical journey at five under his father's tutelage in Carnatic vocals and later learned Mridangam
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Guitar

Jakob Zimmerman

Jakob Zimmermann, born in 2000 in Bludenz, Austria, is a pianist, composer, and producer currently studying at Jazzcampus Basel, Switzerland. His debut album "Resistance" by Jakob Zimmermann Trio was released in 2021.
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Piano

Dr. Sreyas Narayanun

Born on 10th November, 1967, Sreyas Narayanun is a “TOP RANK“ Graded Vocal Musician of AIR & DD Chennai and has been giving regular performances in all prestigious sabhas & organisations all over India & abroad.
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Carnatic Voice

Umayalpuram Mali

Umayalpuram Mali, an accomplished mridangam artist, honed his craft under the tutelage of Sri Kumbakonam Rajappa Iyer and Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman.
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Konnakol

Lucas Baret

Lucas Baret, originating from Réunion Island, embodies a fusion of diverse musical influences, with jazz and world music forming the foundation of his artistic identity. Graduating from the prestigious Centre des Musiques Didier Lockwood, he honed his skills under the mentorship of renowned figures like Romain Pilon, Louis Winsberg, and Pierre Perchaud.
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Guitar

Spring 2024

Natalia Kordiak

Natalia Kordiak is a singer, improviser, composer. She was nominated for the award of the Polish Phonographic Academy "FRYDERYK 2020" in the PHONOGRAPHIC DEBUT OF THE YEAR - JAZZ category.
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Voice

Alexandre de Orio

Alexandre de Orio holds a bachelor degree in Music (guitar). He has three postgraduate degrees: Language and Music Structuring, Higher Education, and Guitar. He is currently the Music Director of School of Rock GRU and professor at the Rock Post Graduation at FASM (College). Alexandre has taught courses at the Yamaha Music School in Brazil.
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Guitar

Mateusz Szewcyzk

Mateusz Szewcyzk is a highly skilled bass player with 14 years of experience in both acoustic and electric bass, showcasing versatility across genres like acoustic jazz and fusion. Notable albums featuring him include "Between" (Marcin Pater Trio), "Another Brooklyn" (Sam Levin Trio), and "Nothing But Trouble" (Marcin Pater Trio).
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Bass

Nirvan Athreya

Nirvan Athreya - a musician based in Hyderabad, India, has amassed over ten years of global experience collaborating with award-winning artists and working on various film and multimedia projects. A graduate of Berklee College of Music (Class of 2020) and an Asia Tour Scholarship Awardee, Nirvan's career spans a diverse range of roles in the music industry...
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Piano

Vishnu Reddy

Vishnu Reddy is a drummer from Chennai, India. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has learned under virtuoso drummers such as Dave DiCenso, Ralph Peterson, Phil Maturano, Henrique de Almeida, James Murphy and many more.
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Drums

Dr. Sreyas Narayanun

Born on 10th November, 1967, Sreyas Narayanun is a “TOP RANK“ Graded Vocal Musician of AIR & DD Chennai and has been giving regular performances in all prestigious sabhas & organisations all over India & abroad.
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Carnatic Voice

Umayalpuram Mali

Umayalpuram Mali, an accomplished mridangam artist, honed his craft under the tutelage of Sri Kumbakonam Rajappa Iyer and Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman.
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Konnakol

Fall 2023

Natalia Kordiak

Natalia Kordiak is a singer, improviser, composer. She was nominated for the award of the Polish Phonographic Academy "FRYDERYK 2020" in the PHONOGRAPHIC DEBUT OF THE YEAR - JAZZ category.
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Voice

Sveinbjörn “Bjössi” Klütsch

Bjössi Klütsch was born and raised in a musical family in Bamberg, Germany. His musical journey started in his early childhood on violin, which he played throughout his time at a music-based high school.
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Guitar

Adriano Sambatti

Sambatti started to play his bass when he was nine years old playing with regional artists, churches and others. Sambatti moved to São Paulo city where met tone of the greatest bass players, Celso Pixinga, and started studying with him, focusing on instrumental music such as: jazz and own compositions.
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Bass

Nikolai Mishchenko

Nikolai Mishchenko is an award winning pianist and composer, currently based in Boston, MA. He attended the Berklee College of Music under Full Scholarship and graduated with the degrees in Piano Performance and Film Scoring...
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Piano

Vishnu Reddy

Vishnu Reddy is a drummer from Chennai, India. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has learned under virtuoso drummers...
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Drums

Abbas Razvi

Abbas Razvi's interest in sound began in 2007 when he joined his first band, Skrypt, and his career in sound began in 2009 when he joined SAE...
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Audio

Dr. Sreyas Narayanun

Born on 10th November,1967, Sreyas is a “TOP RANK “ Graded Vocal Musician of AIR & DD Chennai and has been giving regular performances...
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Carnatic Voice

Aravind Bhargav

Aravind Bhargav, a passionate, Vibrant, South Indian Carnatic Classical Mandolin Performing artist, has been learning...
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Carnatic Mandolin

Umayalpuram Mali

Umayalpuram Mali learnt the art of playing from Sri. Kumbakonam Rajappa Iyer and Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman....
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Konnakol

Summer 2023

Karina del Mar

Karina del Mar is a musician, educator and all around artist from Puerto Rico. Her musical career has been focused on the entrepreneurial development of artists and music companies...
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Voice

Siddharth Gautam

Siddharth Gautam started his musical pursuit as a youngster in school, learning tabla and playing mostly in school functions...
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Guitar

Nikolai Mishchenko

Nikolai Mishchenko is an award winning pianist and composer, currently based in Boston, MA. He attended the Berklee College of Music under Full Scholarship and graduated with the degrees in Piano Performance and Film Scoring...
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Audio

Sonic Shori

Born and raised in Delhi, Sonic Shori is a highly accomplished musician who has made a name for himself in the Indian music scene. He began his musical journey by studying at the Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music...
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Bass

Vishnu Reddy

Vishnu Reddy is a drummer from Chennai, India. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has learned under virtuoso drummers...
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Drums

Abbas Razvi

Abbas Razvi's interest in sound began in 2007 when he joined his first band, Skrypt, and his career in sound began in 2009 when he joined SAE...
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Audio

Umayalpuram Mali

Umayalpuram Mali learnt the art of playing from Sri. Kumbakonam Rajappa Iyer and Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman....
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Konnakol

Dr. Sreyas Narayanun

Born on 10th November,1967, Sreyas is a “TOP RANK “ Graded Vocal Musician of AIR & DD Chennai and has been giving regular performances...
Read More

Carnatic Voice

Aravind Bhargav

Aravind Bhargav, a passionate, Vibrant, South Indian Carnatic Classical Mandolin Performing artist, has been learning...
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Carnatic Mandolin

Spring 2023

Aditi Malhotra

Aditi Malhotra is a vocalist and composer from New Delhi, India. With an early background in Hindustani Classical Music, and later influences....
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Voice

Tomas Murmis

Currently based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and working as a composer, guitarist, arranger, orchestrator, and producer for the realm...
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Guitar

Joel Lyssarides

Lyssarides began taking piano lessons at the age of 4. Instead of going the traditional way with classical training he instead early on began...
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Piano

Vishnu Reddy

Vishnu Reddy is a drummer from Chennai, India. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has learned under virtuoso drummers...
Read More

Drums

Abbas Razvi

Abbas Razvi's interest in sound began in 2007 when he joined his first band, Skrypt, and his career in sound began in 2009 when he joined SAE,...
Read More

Audio

Umayalpuram Mali

Umayalpuram Mali learnt the art of playing from Sri. Kumbakonam Rajappa Iyer and Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman....
Read More

Konnakol

Dr. Sreyas Narayanun

Born on 10th November,1967, Sreyas is a “TOP RANK “ Graded Vocal Musician of AIR & DD Chennai and has been giving regular performances...
Read More

Carnatic Voice

Aravind Bhargav

Aravind Bhargav, a passionate, Vibrant, South Indian Carnatic Classical Mandolin Performing artist, has been learning...
Read More

Carnatic Mandolin

Fall 2022

Patricia Ramon

Patricia (Patti) Ramon is a professional musician, singer-songwriter, and teacher. She earned a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music...
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Voice

Luca Nikolau

Luca Nikolau (Lucas dos Santos Nikolau) is a Brazilian guitarist and music teacher. He lived for more than 7 years in the US and had the
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Guitar

Vatsal Bakhda

Classically trained pianist, Vatsal studied under Roshen Gazder, LRSM for over 10 years, and Suddhaseel Sen (Ph.D. in Musicology) for 2 years...
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Piano

Vishnu Reddy

Vishnu Reddy is a drummer from Chennai, India. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has learned under virtuoso drummers...
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Drums

Madipakkam Suresh

Madipakkam P. Suresh, A top grade Mridangam artist started learning mridangam from eminent teacher Kumbakonam...
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Konnakol

Dr. Sreyas Narayanun

Born on 10th November,1967, Sreyas is a “TOP RANK “ Graded Vocal Musician of AIR & DD Chennai and has been giving regular performances...
Read More

Carnatic Voice

Aravind Bhargav

Aravind Bhargav, a passionate, Vibrant, South Indian Carnatic Classical Mandolin Performing artist, has been learning...
Read More

Carnatic Mandolin

Abbas Razvi

Abbas Razvi's interest in sound began in 2007 when he joined his first band, Skrypt, and his career in sound began in 2009 when he joined SAE,...
Read More

Audio

Summer 2022

Patricia Ramon

Patricia (Patti) Ramon is a professional musician, singer-songwriter, and teacher. She earned a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music...
Read More

Voice

Alexandre de Orio

Alexandre de Orio holds a bachelor degree in Music (guitar). He has three postgraduate degrees...
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Guitar

Vatsal Bakhda

Classically trained pianist, Vatsal studied under Roshen Gazder, LRSM for over 10 years, and Suddhaseel Sen (Ph.D. in Musicology) for 2 years...
Read More

Piano

Vishnu Reddy

Vishnu Reddy is a drummer from Chennai, India. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has learned under virtuoso drummers...
Read More

Drums

Umayalpuram Mali

Umayalpuram Mali learnt the art of playing from Sri. Kumbakonam Rajappa Iyer and Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman....
Read More

Konnakol

Dr. Sreyas Narayanun

Born on 10th November,1967, Sreyas is a “TOP RANK “ Graded Vocal Musician of AIR & DD Chennai and has been giving regular performances...
Read More

Carnatic Voice

Aravind Bhargav

Aravind Bhargav, a passionate, Vibrant, South Indian Carnatic Classical Mandolin Performing artist, has been learning...
Read More

Carnatic Mandolin

Spring 2021

Harini Iyer

She is a recording and performing vocalist and an educator currently based out of Chennai. Her voice and her musical inclination...
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Voice

Denis Stern

Known for his learnings under master musicians such as Philippe Catrine, Al di Meola, Pat Metheny at the Rimon Jazz school
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Guitar

Ron Cha

Ronojit Chaliha aka. Ron Cha is a Jazz Pianist who trained in Western Classical Piano initially and crossed over to Jazz and improvised music
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Piano

S. Karthikeyan

Karthikeyan did his Sound engineering in MGR Govt Film And Television Institute. He worked as a Music Arranger in the Tamil...
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Production

Jaikar Harinath

Jaikar is a sound designer and also plays keys. He is an audio engineering graduate from SAE Institute. His expertise...
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Sound Designer

Nishadan

Nishadhan, the founder and keystone music director of COFFEEWOLF RECORDING STUDIOS based...
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Audio

Vishnu Reddy

Vishnu Reddy is a drummer from Chennai, India. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and has learned under virtuoso drummers...
Read More

Drums

Umayalpuram Mali

Umayalpuram Mali learnt the art of playing from Sri. Kumbakonam Rajappa Iyer and Sri Umayalpuram Sivaraman....
Read More

Konnakol

Dr. Sreyas Narayanun

Born on 10th November,1967, Sreyas is a “TOP RANK “ Graded Vocal Musician of AIR & DD Chennai and has been giving regular performances...
Read More

Carnatic Voice

Aravind Bhargav

Aravind Bhargav, a passionate, Vibrant, South Indian Carnatic Classical Mandolin Performing artist, has been learning...
Read More

Carnatic Mandolin

Spring 2020

Patricia Ramon

Patricia (Patti) Ramon is a professional musician, singer-songwriter, and teacher. She earned a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music...
Read More

Voice

Denis Stern

Known for his learnings under master musicians such as Philippe Catrine, Al di Meola, Pat Metheny at the Rimon Jazz school
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Guitar

David Loubeh

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, 12/08/1972, started studying classical piano at 7 years old, and made his first public concert at 12 years old.
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Piano

Lukas Mantel

Playing piano since his childhood, he made his first steps toward performing on drums at the age of sixteen. Playing a wide range of musica
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Drums

Nishadan

Nishadhan, the founder and keystone music director of COFFEEWOLF RECORDING STUDIOS based...
Read More

Audio