themselves playing the accompaniment in most of the concerts. First concert in Madras (1918) Chembai's first concert in Madras was in 1918, at the Triplcane Sangeeta Sabha. Rasikas who had heard about the young vidwan were keenly looking forward to the event and the sale of tickets was very brisk. As the concert was about to begin, the hall was filled to capacity, with a large number restless listeners not able to gain entrance. This rose to a clamour as the concert started and the organisers had finally to keep the entrance doors open to pacify everyone. The concert, featuring as sidemen Govindaswamy Pillai on the violin, Azhagunambi Pillai on the mridanga and Dakshinamurthy Pillai on the kanjira, was an impressive effort. First concert with Chowdiah and Palghat Mani Iyer (1924) T.Chowdiah, was a violinist who invented the seven-stringed violin and became a very popular exponent in it. Chembai met him in 1924 at the house of a common friend, and became good friends. Chembai had been discussing music avidly with him at their first meeting when it developed into a musical challenge between them, at the end of which both recognised the other's proficiency. Chembai performed with Chowdiah in the Jagannatha Bhakta Sabha. It was in this concert that Chembai had introduced young Palghat Mani Iyer (who was to become one of the great mridangam players) to a discerning audience. At a similar concert in 1926, he had also introduced Palani Subramaniam Pillai, disciple of Pudukottai Dakshinamurthi Pillai. Inaugural performance at Madras Music Academy (1927) The annual meeting of the Indian National Congress was held in a different city every year. In 1927, it was held in Madras. Music concerts were arranged in the sidelines of the meeting, where it was decided that an institution to promote classical music in south India should be started in Madras. Thus the Madras Music Academy was born, and Chembai was one of the singers who were invited to give the inaugural concerts. See also Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar Carnatic Music South India Kerala Indian Classical Music References Carnatic music Chembai