The Madras Music Academy on 24 July 2016 announced that it has chosen versatile violinist A. Kanyakumari for its coveted Sangita Kalanidhi Award for the year 2016.
•    Kanyakumari was unanimously named for the award by the Executive Committee of the Academy.
•    Avasarala Kanyakumari is a violinist from South India who specializes in Carnatic music.
•    She is a native of Vijayanagaram, Andhra Pradesh.
•    She has been living in Chennai for more than 40 years.
•    She had her initial training under Ivaturi Vijayeswara Rao.
•    She created seven ragas under the title Saptadri, seven names of Lord Venkateswara of Tirupati.
•    Sangita Kalanidhi is the title awarded yearly to an expert Carnatic Musician by the Madras Music Academy.
•     This honour is considered one of the highest awards in Carnatic music.
•     In 2015, vocalist Sanjay Subrahmanyan was awarded with the title.

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