Carnatic vocal teacher serving the Seattle Eastside
Indian classical music lessons in Bellevue with Archana V. Bennur
Archana V. Bennur is a Carnatic vocalist and Indian classical music teacher based in Bellevue, Washington. A graded All India Radio artist and University of Mysore gold medalist, she teaches private vocal lessons and group classes for serious students who want refined technique, repertoire depth, and confident performance preparation.
Based in Bellevue, WA. Private lessons and group classes serve students from Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, Seattle, and nearby Eastside communities.
Carnatic classical vocalist, teacher, and graded All India Radio artist.
Profile
Rooted in a traditional classical music lineage
Born into a family of traditional classical musicians, where the heritage of authentic classical music has been passed from generation to generation, Archana V. Bennur is the granddaughter of Swaramurthy V.N. Rao, grandson of Vainika Shikhamani Veena Sheshanna, the well-known erudite musician of Mysore.
Bellevue and Seattle Eastside Carnatic music classes
Private lessons and group Indian classical music classes
Private vocal lessons
Individual Carnatic vocal instruction for students who want focused attention on sruti alignment, voice culture, repertoire, manodharma, and performance preparation.
Group classes
Structured group classes for students learning together, with attention to fundamentals, compositions, listening, discipline, and confident recital preparation.
Advanced coaching
Advanced coaching in raga bhava, kriti presentation, sangati development, phrasing, stylistic detail, auditions, competitions, exams, and high-level musical growth.
Recent
New teaching work and student performances
Seattle area teaching
Indian music teacher for the Consulate General of India in Seattle
Archana V. Bennur was recently hired as the Indian music teacher for the Consulate General of India in Seattle, continuing her work teaching private lessons and group classes for students who are building strong foundations in Carnatic music and Indian classical repertoire.
Group class
Student recital videos
Student singing videos from the group class recital are now available, so families and prospective students can hear the progress, preparation, and musical training from her classes.
Group class recital
Student performance clips
Recent group class recital videos show students singing together and preparing repertoire through Archana's Carnatic music classes.
Group class recital
Student performance from Archana V. Bennur's group Carnatic music class recital.
Open on YouTubeGroup class recital performance
Another student performance from Archana V. Bennur's group Carnatic music class recital.
Open on YouTubeTeacher performance
Archana sang at the group recital after her students asked her to share a song.
Open on YouTubeVideos
Selected YouTube performances
Utsav, Ragamala, Seattle
A short performance clip of Archana Bennur at Utsav, a music festival conducted by Ragamala in Seattle.
Raga Chandrajyoti
A Krishna Gana Sabha performance featuring Raga Chandrajyoti.
Tyagaraja Aradhana, Redmond
A Vedic Temple performance from Tyagaraja Aradhana in Redmond.
Ramanavami Concert, Mysore
A concert clip from Bidaram Krishnappa Ramamandira, Mysore.
Musical resume
Training, education, and performance experience
Highlights
- Numerous Carnatic classical performances on television channels and All India Radio.
- Master of Music, College of Fine Arts, University of Mysore, Karnataka, India, with Gold Medal for first rank and highest marks in both year I and II.
- Bachelor of Music, Madras University, Chennai, India.
- Graded artist from All India Radio.
Training in music
Archana had her initial training from her mother, Dr. Rama V. Bennur, and further training under Vid. Neela Ramgopal, Vid. Rajashree Aravind, and Dr. R.N. Srilata. She also learnt from Vid. S. Sowmya in Chennai and is currently learning from Vidushi Koviladi Kala.
Performance profile
Archana has given concerts on prestigious platforms including:
- Shanmukhananda Fine Arts, Mumbai
- National Center for Performing Arts, Mumbai
- South Central Cultural Zone, Nagpur, in the Yuva Sangeetotsav, Vaizag
- Tata Institute for Fundamental Research, Mumbai
- GML Cultural Academy Ananya, Bangalore
- State Sangeeta Nritya Academy, Bangalore
- Mysore Association, Mumbai
- Shri Ranjini Sangeetha Sabha, Dombivili, Mumbai
- The Bangalore Gayana Samaja, Bangalore
- Young Musicians Conference of Sri Thyagaraja Gana Sabha, Bangalore
- Young Artists Music Festival, Malleswaram Sangeetha Sabha, Bangalore
- Department of Kannada and Culture, Bangalore
- Ganabharathi, Mysore
- Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore
- Town Hall of Madikeri, Coorg
- ISKCON Bangalore
- Shastapreeti Celebrations, Nurani, Palakkad, Kerala
- Kumbhabishekam in Vadakantara, Palakkad, Kerala
- Tirupati Brahmotsavam, Tirumala
- VDS Academy, Chennai
- Navaratri Utsav, Dharmasthala, Karnataka
- Sri Rama Seva Mandali, Chamarajpet, Bangalore
- Sheshadripuram Rama Seva Samithi, Bangalore
- Girinagar Sangeetha Sabha, Bangalore
- Malleshwaram Ramamandira, Bangalore
- R.T. Nagar Sangeetha Sabha, Bangalore
- Nadasudha, Hubli
- Broadcast on All India Radio Bangalore.
- Telecast by Doordarshan, Udaya, E-TV, and Ice TV channels.
Awards and recognition
Recognized across leading music organizations
Aryabhata Award
Recipient of the Aryabhata Award, 2003, awarded for outstanding young artistes.
Bharatha Bharathi Puraskara
Awarded for her performance at the Young Artists Music Festival held by Malleswaram Sangeetha Sabha, Bangalore, in 2000.
Pratibhakankshi Award
Awarded for outstanding performance at the Sri Ramanavami Sangeetotsava, Sri Rama Seva Mandali, Chamarajpet, Bangalore, in 2003.
Scholarships and prizes
- Senior level music scholarship from the State Sangeetha Nrithya Academy twice.
- First prize in the senior level classical music competition conducted by Sourabha, Bangalore, in 1998.
- First prize in the state level competition on Annamacharya compositions conducted by Nadopasana of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam in 2000.
- First prize in the state level classical music competition conducted by Indian Institute of Music and Arts.
- First prize in the television-based music competition Sangeetha Sambhrama, conducted by Doordarshan, Bangalore.
- Second prize in the state level concert competition, Nadasudhaa Shimoga, Karnataka, in 2000.
- Second prize in the D.K. Jayaraman Memorial Competition of Chennai held at Bangalore in 2001.
All India competition
Won first prize in Karnatic Senior Vocal at the All India competition held by Navya Nataka Samithi in Hyderabad and had the opportunity to sing and receive the trophy from music maestro Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna in 2004.
Additional recognition
Also won several prizes in competitions conducted by organizations such as Bharatiya Vidya Peetha, Vasavi Vidya Peetha, and Vijayanagar Sangeetha Sabha.
Contact
Ask about Carnatic music lessons in Bellevue
Inquire about private lessons, group classes, and recital preparation. Share the student's background, current repertoire, goals, and any upcoming auditions or performances.
Email: archana.bennur@gmail.com
Phone: 425 372 6956
Service area: Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, Seattle, and nearby Eastside communities
Students: Advanced intermediate through pre-professional
Email Archana