Upendra Chivukula, deputy speaker of New Jersey State Assembly last week honored eminent South Indian classical instrumentalist and Mridangam exponent Tiruvarur Vaidyanathan with the New Jersey Assembly proclamation for his service and promoting Carnatic music abroad.

The Citation said Vaidyanathan, born in a family of percussionists, began training at the age of six from his grand father and uncle and through his inherent sense of rhythm, disciplined practice and urge to excel in the art of playing Mridangam were showcased in concerts even when he was a high school student.

He had performed in leading venues such as Lincoln Center in New York and Kennedy Center in Washington DC. He formed a symphonic ensemble Vibrations which performs multiple genres of music on a global level as well as promotes music through his position as Faculty Member of SIFAS in Singapore and as a mentor of young musicians who established the Tiruvarur Talavadya Vidyalaya in Chennai, the official proclamation added.