(the spoken rhythms of South India) titled The Art of Konnakkol. Trichy Sankaran is also an avid world class clinician, and has performed workshops and clinics internationally. He has collaborated with top ranking drummers and percussionists, such as Steve Smith, Peter Erskine, and Giovanni Hidalgo, among others. Sankaran is also the founder and artistic director of Kalalayam, an institution dedicated in cultivating the nuances and techniques of the Pudukkottai style of percussive embellishment. He has successfully trained many South Asian and North American students on the mridangam, kanjira, ghatam, tabla, and other Western percussion instruments. He was the pioneer in starting the Thyagaraja Festival in Toronto which has flourished into an annual event hosting a series of concerts featuring top ranked musicians from India, identifying and promoting talented youth in North America and endowing scholarships to students pursuing a career in music. International tours Sankaran has performed far and wide at major festivals in India, Southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and North America. With over half a century of concert experience in Carnatic music, he has accompanied over five generations of musicians. Awards As a performing artist of international repute, Sankaran has received numerous honours and awards. The titles include: Sangeetha Kalanidhi (Madras Music Academy, India) Sangeet Nataka Academy Award from the Government of India Tala Kalai Arasu (Bharati Kala Manram, Toronto) Laya Sikhamani (Bhairavi, Cleveland) Nadha Laya Brahmam (Bharathi Vidya Bhavan, Trichy) Tala Vadya Prakasa (CMANA, New York) Sangeetha Choodamani ( Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai)(1984) Viswa Kala Bharathi (Bharat Kalachar, Chennai) Mridanga Kala Shironmani (Percussive Arts Centre, Bangalore) Asthana Vidwan (Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Kanchipuram) OCUFA teaching award (Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Association, Canada) He was also nominated as the Professional of the Year by the executive committee of the Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Toronto. He has received the prestigious Palghat Mani Iyer Award from the Percussive Arts Centre, Bangalore, the Chowdiah Memorial Award from the Karnataka State, and Sri Pazhani Subramania Pillai Award from the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. In 1998 he received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of Victoria, in British Columbia, Canada, for his achievements in the academic and professional fields. He has also held honourable positions at The Glenn Gould Foundation and Canada Council. Work with ensembles In addition to his usual traditional settings, he has performed with gamelan, jazz, electronic, and African music ensembles, and