Artists and educators

Samuel J. Dass

Samuel J. Dass is a Malaysian sitarist, composer and educator. He began learning the sitar in childhood under his father and first guru, Jabamalai Dass, and in 2002 continued his training in Pune, India, under the renowned sitarist Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan.

His work as a performer, composer and teacher has helped establish Hindustani classical music in Malaysia. At the 2006 World Championships of Performing Arts in Hollywood he received seven Champion of the World titles, and he was later formally conferred the title “Sultan of Sitar.”

In 2014 he founded SWARA, so that the music he has spent his life learning would have a lasting home in Malaysia.

Pandit L. Shankar

Pandit L. Shankar is widely regarded as one of the great musicians of his generation, held in the highest esteem by his peers. A vocalist and violin virtuoso, he was among the first to bring South Indian music to Western audiences, opening a path that many have followed since. Over a touring career spanning decades, he has earned global acclaim for his award-winning solo work and for collaborations with figures such as Frank Zappa, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Michael Jackson and Madonna.

Since 1980 he has played a ten-string stereophonic Double Violin — the LSD (L. Shankar Double Violin) — which he designed to cover the full range of the orchestral string family. His 1980 album Who’s To Know and Phil Collins’ solo debut Face Value introduced audiences to its sound. His intricate pallavis, with their unusual rhythmic cycles and heard on his acclaimed ECM Records albums, have influenced many musicians, and are part of why he is recognised as an innovator in both Indian classical and world music.

Beyond his classical work, he has released pop, rock and EDM albums, and composed for films, documentaries and television — including Martin Scorsese’s Grammy-winning The Last Temptation of Christ, The Passion of the Christ, the Oscar-winning Born Into Brothels, and the series Heroes and Heroes Reborn.

Prakash Kandasamy

Prakash Kandasamy is a Malaysian tabla artist, composer and educator. He began learning tabla at the age of sixteen at the Temple of Fine Arts Kuala Lumpur under Shri Suresh Ramachandra, and later continued his training in Pune, India, with Ustad Mohammed Hanif Mirajkar.

His work spans Indian classical music, dance, orchestral composition and contemporary collaboration. He was part of the Inner Space artistic collective and co-composed and arranged Tryam, a large-scale Indian orchestral production.

He has taught tabla for more than two decades while continuing to perform in Malaysia and internationally. His contribution has been recognised with honours including the Tokoh Seni Negeri Pulau Pinang, Anugerah Seni Negara, BOH Cameronian Arts Awards, Datin Seri Endon Award for Performing Arts Excellence and the Aryabhatta International Award.

Alagendra Mahendra

Alagendra Mahendra is a Malaysian Carnatic violinist, vocalist and educator. He began vocal training at the age of four under the late Vijayalakshmi Kulaveerasingam, took up Western classical violin at eight, and at fourteen began studying Carnatic violin under his guru, Shri Sriram Sheshadri.

He has performed in kutcheris and accompanied Malaysian and international vocalists, othuvars and dancers, as well as taking part in larger artistic productions.

Alagendra has also pursued advanced vocal training under Shrimathi Visalakshi Nityanand, and that vocal grounding shapes his sense of melody, phrasing and accompaniment on the violin. At SWARA he teaches students to develop both their technique and their understanding of Carnatic music.

Aravind Sharma

Aravind Sharma is a Malaysian percussionist and educator specialising in the mridangam and kanjira. He performs regularly within Malaysia’s Carnatic music community, accompanying vocal, violin, veena and dance performances.

Accompaniment calls for rhythmic precision, close listening and sensitivity to the main performer, and that is what he teaches. At SWARA he covers the foundations of tala, technique and accompaniment, helping students develop a clear and confident sense of rhythm.

Ammu Varma

Born in India, Ammu Varma began her musical training there before continuing her work as a performer and teacher in Malaysia. She has studied Carnatic vocal music and veena under Shrimathi Devi Vasudevan and Shrimathi Rajalekshmi Anil, as well as mridangam.

Her experience across voice, melody and rhythm gives her teaching a broad foundation. At SWARA she teaches Carnatic vocal music, helping students develop their voice, repertoire and understanding of the tradition, and she performs in SWARA’s concerts, productions and community programmes.