Faculty
Get trained by some of the best musicians
The faculty at World Music Conservatory consists of thorough professionals and industry stalwarts who have not only years of teaching experience, but also who’s been performing on the big stage.
Our Masters
Mr Gopi, World Percussion
Gopi was born in a family of musicians, his father being a Mrudangam (Indian percussion instrument) player.
Even as an infant, Gopi showed keen interest in music and used to accompany his father to temples, concerts where he played the cymbals.
He, later on, went to formally study and play the Tabla. This gave him a firm foundation and confidence to experiment with other percussion instruments from different parts of the world.
He has a wide collection of percussion instruments that he has acquired while traveling for performances all over the world. In his musical journey, he has been fortunate to learn under the eminent guidance of Gurus like Pandit Suresh Talwalkar & the percussion maestro Trilok Guru.
Today he is considered to be one of the most accomplished percussionists in the World Music category.
Smt Vidushi Sangeetha Srikishen, Carnatic Vocals
Vidushi Sangeetha Srikishen a Carnatic vocalist and an entrepreneur, began her musical journey at the tender age of 5 when she used to lead SAI BHAJANS at various religious gatherings along with her mother, a violinist.
Inspired at a very young age, she went on to learn music and during her musical journey, she had the great opportunity to be tutored by some of India’s finest musicians.
She is a postgraduate in Music from the Mysore University.
Vidushi Vidhya Natarajan, Veena
Dr. Vidya Natarajan is a distinguished Veena artist and accomplished vocal teacher, known for her deep commitment to the Carnatic music tradition. She received her initial training on the Veena under the guidance of the eminent Veena exponent Dr. Suma Sudhindra.
Her academic pursuit in music culminated in a Ph.D. from Bangalore University, with a thesis titled “Veena and Its Scientific Aspects”.
Dr. Vidya has been featured in numerous prestigious performances, including Pancha Veena concerts during the Madras December Season, Ramanavami festivals, and Gokulashtami celebrations. Notably, she was part of the 25 Veena concert ensemble, under the tutelage of her mentor Dr. Suma Sudhindra.
In addition to her performances, Dr. Vidya has contributed to music education through workshops, seminars, and by managing the music school for Vidushi S. Sowmya and Shashikiran, under the banner of Carnatica—a prominent institution promoting Carnatic music.
Her talent has been recognized through competitions at the Academy of Music in both Chennai and Bangalore. She is currently pursuing advanced musical guidance from Smt. Bhagyalakshmi Chandrashekaran, a top-grade artist of All India Radio (AIR).
Vidwan Mahesh Kumar Heroor, Hindustani Vocals & Harmonium
Hailing from Heroor in Gulbarga, Shri Mahesh Kumar Heroor is widely regarded as one of the most promising young Hindustani vocalists from Karnataka.
An accomplished exponent of Hindustani Classical and Light Classical music, he is known for his soulful renditions and commanding vocal presence.
Shri Heroor received his rigorous training in the revered Guru–Shishya Parampara under the legendary Sangeet Shivayogi Ubhaya Ganaacharya Dr. Pandit Puttaraja Gavai. His music reflects the depth of this lineage, characterized by technical mastery and emotional depth.
Over the years, he has performed at numerous prestigious music festivals and organizations across the country, earning acclaim for both his classical and semi-classical presentations.
Currently, Shri Mahesh Kumar Heroor serves as a faculty member at the World Music Conservatory, where he has been training students in both classical and light classical forms for the past two years, nurturing the next generation of musicians.
Subhasis Bhattacharya, Guitar and Saxophone
Mr. Subhasis Bhattacharya is a versatile musician with over 20 years of experience in guitar, piano, tabla, and vocals, serving with the Musicians & Administration wing of the Indian Air Force.
He holds formal training in music from Kolkata University—Sangeet Ratna in Hindustani Vocal, Senior Diplomas in Tabla and Keyboard, and 5th Grade Guitar and Theory of Music (Western) from Trinity College London. He is also an accomplished solo saxophonist in both Western and Hindi styles.
Mr. Bhattacharya has performed across India and internationally in countries including France, Italy, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
He has collaborated with renowned music bands, contributing to song composition and lead guitar arrangements.
He was honored with the Best Performance Award by the Indian Air Force for his exceptional vocal and guitar skills.
Suneesh Thomas, Piano, Western Keyboard, Western Violin
Suneesh Thomas is basically from Kerala-Kannur.
He is a pianist and violinist par excellence and has over 20+ years of experience in music as a performer.
He has completed his post-graduation in Sociology and also completed 8th Grade from Trinity College of London. He has pursued his music training from Communication Training Institute - Bangalore.
He has worked in the Air Force for 20 years as a musician, and also with renowned conductorcise composers and performed in countries like Finland, Germany, Malaysia, Thailand, Srilanka and many more countries.
He has trained more than 2000+ students and has created stage performers at many schools and is associated with the Delhi Symphony Society.
He composes and arranges music for the Symphony Orchestra.
He is happy working in World Music Conservatory as a faculty from the past 3 years.
Dr. Shyam Sundar Dage, Indo Western Keyboard
Dr. Shyamsundar Dage, based in Bangalore, is an accomplished Indo-Western Keyboard specialist with over two decades of teaching experience.
He has trained more than 3,000 students in popular Indian music, including film songs, patriotic pieces, and light music.
Dr. Dage has worked with Taal Music for four years and performed with renowned orchestras such as Zemkar Melodies, Jai Melodies, and Sangeeth Saurabha and leads his own orchestra, Cini Star Music Group.
We are proud to have him as a valued Indo-Western Keyboard Faculty member at the World Music Conservatory for over 15 years.
Mr Amar Gulecha, Guitar
Amar Gulecha, born and raised in Bangalore, is an accomplished vocalist & guitarist with over a decade of playing experience and dedicated teaching. He holds a Grade 8 certification from Trinity College London.
Over the years, Amar has mentored more than 700 students, preparing them for performances and guiding them through Trinity guitar exams. His teaching spans a wide range of genres, including rock, hard rock, pop, blues, western classical, heavy metal, and more.
Beyond teaching, Amar is an active performer and session guitarist. He regularly plays with bands and participates in live shows throughout Bangalore. As a versatile musician, he has collaborated on numerous music projects and has been composing and recording original music for the past three years.
In addition to guitar, Mr. Gulecha has also been playing the violin for three years. He has been a part of the faculty at the World Music Conservatory for over seven years, where he continues to inspire and nurture young musicians.
Mr Shivatej Manohar, Guitar
Shivtej Manohar is a seasoned guitarist with over 10 years of playing experience and teaching expertise. He began his musical journey under the guidance of Mr. Ramnath Sharma, building a strong foundation in guitar. He further advanced his skills through self-study and by attending masterclasses, including workshops with renowned guitarist Andy James.
Shivtej is trained in both Western and Indian classical music and teaches guitar across all levels—ranging from beginner to Grade 8—under the Trinity College London syllabus.
In addition to teaching, he is an active composer and a performing member of the rock band Arha. He also works as a session guitarist for various music directors in the Sandalwood (Kannada film) industry.
Vidwan Srimanth Neelur Badiger, Tabla
Vidwan Shri Srimanth is a distinguished Tabla artist. He began his musical journey at the young age of 12, developing a deep passion and dedication to the art of Tabla.
His foundational training was under the revered Guru Shri Vidwan Puttaraj Gawai, with whom he studied rigorously for 14 years, mastering the intricacies and discipline of the Tabla tradition. Shri Srimanth has also completed his SSLC education, balancing both academics and music during his formative years.
He has been recognized for his talent and contributions to music with prestigious titles, including "Tabla Chatura" in Raichur and "Tabla Vidwan" in Koppal.
Shri Srimanth has showcased his artistry across almost all Indian states, performing on prestigious platforms and cultural festivals. He has had the honor of accompanying many renowned artists from various musical genres, earning acclaim for his adaptability, rhythm, and artistic sensitivity.
Smt Gayathri Mohan, Film & Light Music
Gayathri Mohan is a distinguished vocalist trained under Guru Sri & Smt. Venkata Rao (Chitradurga). She holds an M.A. in Music from Bangalore University.
With over 5,000 performances across India, she has shared the stage with many renowned & legendary singers, P B Srinivas, S P Balasubramaniam, Dr Rajkumar, to name a few - from the Kannada film industry. A recipient of the prestigious Aryabhatta Award (2003) , Gayathri has also made her mark as an anchor on various TV channels, including the popular Madhura Madhuravee Manjula Gaana on Chandana.
For the past 30 years, she has trained hundreds of students in Bangalore and beyond—many of whom now perform in live shows and appear as successful television artists.
Hariharan, Drums
Hariharan is a seasoned drummer with over 15 years of experience, having discovered his passion for percussion at the age of six.
Proficient in a wide range of instruments—including the drum kit, djembe, congos, bongos, chenda, thavil, and rhythm pad—he began performing on stage by age 8.
Trained under John Solomon at the Sharma Institute of Fine Arts, he completed his grade exams from Trinity College London. For the past three years, Hariharan has been sharing his expertise as a drum teacher.
He is also a music composer and producer, contributing to projects for artists, short films, documentaries, and album releases.
Megharanjini, Hindustani Vocal
Megha Raniini is a well-acclaimed Hindustani classical vocalist known for her versatility in light music and film music. Born into a musical family, her mother, Dr. Suparna Ravishankar, is a leading Veena artiste and Bharatanatyam dancer, while her father, Ravishankar R, is a singer and music patron.
Megha's musical journey began at age four, and she received training from her grandfather, Vidwan Sri Ivattur Ramamurthy, and later from Pandit Venkatesh Godkhindi and Pandit M V Hegde.She has won numerous awards, including the Sangeeta Nritya Academy award, and holds a CCRT scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, Delhi.
Megha has performed in over 1000 stage shows, trained more than 300 students at her institution 'Ranjini Kalakendra,' and released Kannada and Bhajan albums.
She has collaborated with notable artists like Padmashree Hariharan and Rajesh Krishnan and leads her music band 'Yatra.' Megha is also an engineering graduate in Biotechnology from PESIT and has senior training in Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music.