Carnatic classical music vocalist Sandeep Narayan reversed the aspiration game. He had his initial introduction to the art form from his mother, Smt Shubha Narayan. His strong interest, even at a young age, led him to Chennai at the age of 11, where he took a year off of school and instead trained from one of the masters of Indian classical music, Shri KS Krishnamurthy.Educated and trained in music in LA, he moved to Chennai to perfect his craft. Breaking into the classical music circuit in Chennai with an American accent and a western sensibility wasn’t a cakewalk, but his talent won over critics and criticism. He now has his sights fixed on the world music arena with feet firmly rooted in the classical music ethos.

Sandeep has received many titles and recognitions. Most recently, he was awarded the prestigious “Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar” from Sangeet Natak Akademi, the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India. He is also the recipient of the “Kala Ratna” title from the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana in April 2019, Yuva Purandara Award from Indranagar Sangeeth Sabha, Bagalore in January 2019, the Best Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi Award from The Music Academy Madras 2017, “Isai Arasar” title from Trinity Fine Arts 2017, “Shanmukha Sangeetha Shiromani” from Sri Shanmukhananda Sangeetha Sabha, Mumbai in 2016, and the Best Concert & Vocalist Awards from The Music Academy Madras five years consecutively from December 2010 to December 2014.