Nandini Shankar

Nandini Shankar is a gifted and established Indian violinist who has astounded audiences around the world with her unparalleled playing and exceptional ability to infuse the violin with the very essence of the Gayaki Ang technique. From her childhood, Nandini displayed an extraordinary talent for music and began her rigorous training on the violin at the young age of three under the tutelage of her illustrious grandmother Padmabhushan Dr. N. Rajam and her mother, the highly accomplished and visionary Dr. Sangeeta Shankar.
By the age of eight, Nandini had already given her first public performance, and by thirteen, she had given her first solo performance, marking the beginning of her meteoric rise to prominence in the world of Indian classical music. Since then, Nandini has been a frequent performer at some of the most prestigious Indian classical music festivals, including the Sawai Gandharv Mahotsav, the Dover Lane Music Festival, the Saptak Festival of Music, the ITC Sangeet Sammelan, and the IMG, captivating audiences with her impeccable technique and emotive playing.
Nandini's talent and skill have also taken her on tours to over 20 countries, and she has even performed at the world-renowned venues like Carnegie Hall in New York City, Théâtre de la ville in Paris and The Esplanade in Singapore, solidifying her reputation as a premier musician on the international stage. In addition to her musical talents, Nandini is academically proficient as well, holding a Chartered Accountancy degree and an M.A. in Music from SNDT University.
In addition to her solo performances, Nandini is also a part of various collaborative projects, such as "Sakhi," an initiative led by the renowned Indian classical singer Kaushiki Chakraborty, and "inStrings," a fusion band formed by her mother, Dr. Sangeeta Shankar. Nandini also performs in the special family ensemble "Three Generations on the Violin" with her mother, grandmother, and sister Ragini, showcasing their musical heritage and legacy.
Nandini's versatility and creativity have led her to explore different genres of music, and she has released 9 singles and an album, with her fusion experiments receiving immense appreciation and critical acclaim. Nandini Shankar and her sister Ragini have been signed by Decca Records US, a part of Universal Music Group for a full-length music album for their musical ensemble 'Taraana’, fusing elements of timeless Indian Classical music with contemporary cutting-edge 21st century production punctuated by their virtuosic violin interplay. Alongside her husband, the renowned Carnatic fusion musician Mahesh Raghvan, she also composes and writes music, further fortifying her reputation as a true musical polymath.
Her contributions to the world of Indian classical music have been recognized, and in 2018, she was awarded the ‘Jashn-e-Youngistan’ award by the Vice President of India. Nandini Shankar is a musician of the highest caliber, and her future promises to be even more accomplished and illustrious.