About Dr. Krishna Vageesh
A life in Carnatic music shaped by tradition, scholarship, broadcasting, performance and cultural service.
Rooted in a distinguished musical tradition
Belonging to the renowned Tiger Varadacharya school of music, Dr. Vageesh grew up in an environment rich in music, Sanskrit and traditional values.
He was initiated into music at an early age by his maternal aunt, Sangeethavidushi H. S. Mahalakshmi of Mysore, a respected Carnatic vocalist who gave him systematic vocal training and helped shape his musical foundation.
Alongside his natural flair for music, he completed a degree in science from Mysore University and later pursued postgraduate studies in music at the University College of Fine Arts, Mysore, where he topped the examination and won the coveted gold medal.
A prize winner in music competitions at inter-school, college and university levels, Dr. Vageesh was recognised as one of the best youth artistes of Karnataka. He also won honours in competitions conducted by leading institutions including Bangalore Gayana Samaja, Karnataka Ganakala Parishat and The Music Academy, Chennai. As a first-prize winner in the All India Radio music competition, he was directly placed as a graded artiste of AIR and later rose to become a Top Grade artiste of All India Radio.
He earned his doctorate in music from Delhi University for research on the aspects of Mantra, Tantra, Yantra and Agama in the compositions of Muthuswami Dikshitar, under the guidance of violin maestro Prof. T. N. Krishnan. He also holds a first-class postgraduate diploma in Public Relations and Management from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
After an early professional stint as a senior chemist in the research division of a multinational company, he joined All India Radio in 1980 as a Programme Executive (Carnatic Music) through the UPSC selection process. Over a distinguished 34-year broadcasting career, he served in senior roles including Deputy Director General, Music & Archives, and later as Consultant (Music) at the Directorate General, All India Radio, New Delhi.
Dr. Vageesh also served as Station Director of All India Radio, Tiruchirappalli, for nearly six years between 2002 and 2007. Across performance, composition, scholarship, broadcasting and teaching, his work reflects a sustained commitment to the classical values and devotional spirit of Carnatic music.