Vidushi Jyoti Hegde

Vidhushi Jyoti Hegde is the first and only woman player of Rudra Veena in the world. She is an accomplished Rudraveena and Sitar artiste from Khandarbani Gharana.   Rudraveena is world heritage instrument protected and promoted by the UNESCO. The Rudra Veena or the Been is considered the great grandfather of all stringed instruments in the Indian subcontinent.

Jyoti Hegde was born and brought up in Sirsi – a small town in Karnataka’s Uttar Kannada district. She pursued her learning in Music from a very young age of 12 and it was at the age of 16 she started her first encounter with music when she decided to take up training in sitar as a university subject. She is a Grade-A artist of Rudra Veena and Sitar with the All India Radio and regularly sought after for concerts. The Rudra veena was an instrument surrounded by much superstition and folklore about the many difficulties faced by its practitioners and absolutely no woman was ever allowed in those patriarchal times to even touch it, let alone play it. So it was by passing through the fire of many hurdles, superstitions, immense difficulties and opposition that Jyoti ji finally managed to move ahead persevering and unflinching in her one minded pursuit, to fully love and cherish the Rudra Veena.

Jyoti Hegde has performed on various stages all over India, being a rare lady artist who can play both Sitar and Rudraveena. Presently now sought after internationally she has performances taking her to various corners of the world.

Aurangabad - Mahagami Gurukul Mahatma Gandhi Mission Sangeet Academy

Bangalore - Sri Surabharathi Sanskrit AND Cultural Foundation

Newcastle - Rudraveena Concert

London - Darbar Festival

Birmingham - Rudraveena Concert

Leicester - Rudraveena Concert

Leeds - Rudraveena Concert

Miraj - Miraj Urus

Delhi - The Meastro and His Music III - Presented by Vageshwari Foundation, at Indian Habitat Centre

Abu Dhabi - Sitar and Rudraveena concerts organized by Anubhooti

Delhi - Dhrupad Festival in the memory of Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Khan Dagar & Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar

Pune - Rare Instrument festival at Lalit Kala Kendra, Gurukul, University of Pune

Mumbai - Parampara Kal aur Aaj – held by Soma Ghosh, Jugalbandi – Jyoti Hegde (Rudraveena) & Siddharth Banerjee (Siddha Veena)

AIR Dharwad - National Program in All India Radio – Ravivasariya Sangeet Sammelana

Jaipur - International Dhrupad Dhamar Trust , Rasamanjari Sangeetopasana Kendra, Bhramapuri Jaipur

AIR Dharwad - Akaashwani National Program

AIR Dharwad - Prasarbharati All India Radio Festival - Sitar recital

Pune - Malhaar Aavishkar , (Usha Swapna concert)

Nashik - Memorable Moment – 75th birth anniversary Usha Mangeshkar – Mahila Vidyapeetha College

Ujjaini - Sadhbhavana Sammelan Parmapoojya Maouni Baba Janmotsav

Jaipur - International Rudraveena Festival

Mumbai - ‘Parampara’ Madhu Murchchana, jugalbandi – Jyoti Hegde (Rudraveena) & Dr.Rajeshwar Acharya(Vocal) Varansi

Kundgol-Karnataka - Sawai Gandharva punyatithi

Gwalior - Tansen Dhrupad Samaroh