Vidwan and Guru Dr. Shiv Kumar Bhat is a multi talented musician, teacher, vedic scholar, and composer.

Shivkumar one of the senior disciples of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Shri Neyveli Santhanagopalan. Having been raised in a family of Vedic scholars in Karnataka, Shri Shiv kumar Bhat breathes the essence of our spiritual heritage with which our arts are closely entwined. Shiv Kumar has also been trained under Sangeetha Kalanidhi Padmabhushan Shri B. Rajam Iyer, where he has learned many unique compositions such as Rama Nataka Kritis, rare Dikshitar compositions, and Tiruppavais. 

As a performer, Shri Shivkumar Bhat has performed concerts in many Sabhas, organizations and festivals across India and the USA. His concerts were also featured in Margazhi Music season in Chennai. He is a graded artist of the All India Radio.  

In addition to being a coveted Carnatic music Guru with students in the USA and India, he is an ardent Harikatha exponent who views Carnatic music as a means to spiritual identity. His melodious voice, and unique style of Harikatha presentations are as thought-providing as they are humorous, informative, and enrapturing! Shivkumar’s Harikathas are well known to be thorough with modern and logical thoughts, yet highlighting the values and greatness of our scriptures and epics, which imparts a promising bridge for youngsters of Indian origin connect back to their roots. 

As a teacher, Shivkumar has trained numerous students and his students perform concerts regularly. Many of his students have imbibed his mellifluous voice that can travel through three octaves effortlessly. Shivkumar is fluent in many languages. In 2014, he received a Ph.D in Sanskrit from the University of Mysore. Pt Shivkumar is a house-hold name for several families of Indian origin in the Great lakes area and Bay Area, where he has contributed to the community well being through his services as a musician, teacher and Vedic Guru.

Vidushi and Guru Smt. Kasthuri Shivakumar is one of the prime disciples of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Shri Neyveli R. Santhanagopalan. 

As a concert artiste, she has performed widely in India and North America and is no stranger to music festivals all over the USA. Her live, thematic and online concerts stand testimony to her commitment to learning, educating and promoting Carnatic Music. With a Masters Degree in Carnatic Music from the University of Madras and several years of rigorous training from great teachers at the Madras Music Academy, Guru Kasthuri has devised curricula and taught for over 2 decades at the International Academy of Indian Music, an organization founded by her and her husband Vidwan & Guru Shri Shiv Kumar bhat. Having lived in Chennai, Michigan Lakes, and CA Bay Area, Kasthuri is a well-known name; she is sought after and consulted as an educator and an artiste on musical productions, community events, and festivals. A noteworthy aspect of her music is the influence of Sangeetha Kalanidhi Shri B. Rajam Iyer, from whom she has learned many rare and valuable compositions while contributing to several of his educative projects for the Madras Music Academy.

Kasthuri is highly respected in Carnatic music circle primarily not only for her contributions to educative projects for students and rasikas of North America, but also for her enthusiasm in collaborating with all peers and seniors on musical projects that enable amateur artistes. Kasthuri is a highly sought-after Guru and is a torch bearer of the Neyveli bANi. She has prepared some of the finest concert performers, especially in North America. She is one of the key coordinators to the Epic Choir in Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, a creation of Shri Neyveli Santhanagopalan.

As one of the prime disciples of Sangeetha Ratnakara Sri Neyveli Santhanagopalan, Hari has not only been groomed in the traditional and rich paataantharam but also continues to imbibe best practices of performing and teaching this advanced art. As an apprentice teacher in his teens, Hari enjoyed teaching junior students of Neyveli Sir. This sowed the seed for Hari to teach several students later. Today, he has earned a unique identity and is one of the most sought-after teachers today, especially for young and curious minds. Through Sri Paduka Academy, which he founded and Acharya Ratnakara Guru Sri Neyveli Santhanagopalan inaugurated in 2002, he has inspired several students to pursue their passion for Carnatic music. He aims to grow the rasika in each of his students. 

Performance is a desirable byproduct that everyone enjoys! Along with Vivek and other Neyveli Gurukulam teachers, Hari has formalized several unique learning and voice techniques. These techniques have developed several students to not only perform short concerts on their own, but also appreciate the nuances and subtleties, theoretical structure & complexity, and the rich heritage that our academic learning is built on today. Hari has the blessing of close associations with many senior performers and teachers in India and in the bay area – this has helped Hari continue to grow in learning, teaching, performing and appreciating this deep art form.