Srimushnam Raja Rao

Srimushnam V. Raja Rao is an Indian mridangam (drum) player. Born in Tamil Nadu, 1955. Descended from a family of court musicians, he began playing as a child. Subsequently a student of Shri Kumbakonam M. Rajappa Iyer. Trained in Carnatic vocal music with teachers including Sarvashri Papanasam Sivan, Calcutta Krishnamurthy, and Mayuram Vaidyanatha Iyer. Also plays the kanjira (tambourine) and morsing (Jaws harp). Headed the Carnatic Music department at the University of California, Berkeley, USA from 1975-1978. He has won a number of awards and honours including the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi award.