Ragini Shankar
Born into a family with a musical lineage spanning seven generations, Ragini Shankar began training in Hindustani (North Indian) classical music on the violin at the age of four under the guidance of her grandmother, Padmabhushan Dr. N. Rajam, and her mother, Dr. Sangeeta Shankar — both renowned violinists.
Gifted with exceptional musical ability, Ragini has developed a distinctive style, mastering the Gayaki Ang technique—a revolutionary approach pioneered by her grandmother that translates vocal nuances onto the violin with remarkable accuracy, tonal depth, and technical finesse.
She made her public debut at the age of 11 and has since performed at prestigious music festivals across India, North America, Europe, the UK, and Southeast Asia. Known for her collaborations across diverse genres, she and her sister, Nandini Shankar, were signed by Decca Records US (a division of Universal Music Group) for their ensemble, Taraana.
A recipient of the Aditya Birla Kala Kiran Award and the Jashn-e-Youngistan Award, presented by the Vice President of India, Ragini continues to shape the future of Indian classical music. She teaches at the Rajam School of Violin and was previously on the faculty at Whistling Woods International – School of Music. She has also shared insights on Indian music through Talks at Google and TEDx, earning recognition as one of the most promising figures in the field today.