Somashekhar Jois

🪔 About

B.R. Somashekar Jois, widely known as Konnakkol Somashekar Jois, is an internationally acclaimed exponent, performer, composer, and educator of Konnakkol, a vocal percussive art form within Carnatic music. Hailing from Bengaluru, India, he is recognized for his sonorous voice, exceptional clarity, unmatched speed, and intricate rhythmic artistry. Somashekar Jois began his musical journey at the age of six, learning Mridangam from veteran K.N. Krishnamoorthy. He later specialized in Konnakkol, an ancient language of Carnatic percussion syllables, which he passionately devoted himself to learning, performing, and popularizing. His mentors include K.N. Krishna Murthy, Amrit N, Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma, K.V. Prasad, and B.C. Manjunath. Somashekar Jois is credited as the first Konnakkol artist in Karnataka and the second in India to achieve an 'A' Grade from Prasar Bharati All India Radio. He is also a Mridangam artist, vocalist, music composer-programmer, radio trainer, audio engineer, and theatre personality. Driven by his passion to reinstate Konnakkol to its past glory, he resigned from a successful career in radio. He founded the World Konnakkol Academy in Bengaluru, dedicated to the propagation of this 5000-year-old South Indian vocal percussive tradition. Through the academy, he conducts workshops and offers courses, with students in India, the UK, and the US. Konnakkol, as an art form, is cherished by musicians, dancers, and enthusiasts alike, and is integral to the rhythmic understanding in Indian classical dance forms like Bharatanatyam and Nattuvangam. Awards & Honours: 'A' Grade.