Academy of Music Chowdiah Utsava 2026 to offer visitors more than a melodious experience

It is going to be the ‘Chowdiah Utsava 2026’ this time round, according to veena artiste Suma Sudhindra, who is also the secretary, Academy of Music. “For the first time, our music fest will be an Utsava expanding far beyond the auditorium to offer a vibrant, multi-sensory visitor experience. There will be lobby-concerts, morning concert specials, ‘Roots & Crafts,’ offering traditional crafts and handlooms, a Sangeeta Mela on November 14 and 15, which will be free for all, and the Café Chowdiah,” says Suma.

The morning sessions will include inter-school/institution competitions, storytelling sessions, unique instrument showcases, workshops, and the Swara Tank tech-meets-classical-startup showcase, she says.

Featuring the KK Murthy Memorial Music Festival and the Academy of Music Chowdiah Awards, this immersive five-day cultural celebration will also feature the presentation of awards on November 15, during which the Chowdiah Award will be bestowed on vocalist RK Padmanabha, and the Pratibha Puraskar on Hindustani artiste KS Vaishali. The Yuva Puraskar will be given to flautist Amith A Nadig and the Institution Award to the Sri Guruvaayurappan Bhajan Samaj Trust, at the same event.

The evening programmes which begin at 5.30pm will feature concerts by Amith A Nadig, Carnatic vocalist Spoorthi Rao, vocalist Rahul Vellal and the disciples of RK Padmanabha. The later events beginning at 7pm are ticketed concerts that will include performances by Vijay Prakash, RK Padmanabha, a fusion concert by Rahul Sharma and Asin Khan (Manganiyar), a Carnatic and contemporary fantasy blend by Suma Sudhindra and Manasi Prasad, and a jugalbandi by flautist Shashank Subramanyam and Hindustani vocalist Jayatheerth Mevundi. 

The Academy of Music Chowdiah Utsava takes place from November 11 to 15 at Chowdiah Memorial Hall. Morning sessions free, with tickets for 7pm concerts available on BookMyShow.