Roopa Mahadevan

Roopa Mahadevan is a sought-after second-generation Indian classical and crossover vocalist in the American diaspora known for her powerful and emotive voice, versatility, and community spirit. Roopa collaborates with musicians in jazz, R&B/soul, improv, and world traditions through her ensemble Roopa in Flux, directs innovative choir Navatman Music Collective, and accompanies leading Bharathanatyam/modern dancers. Roopa often invokes dance/theater to brings critical commentary, humor, and authenticity to her work as well. Roopa received Carnatic training under Asha Ramesh and later Suguna Varadachari through a Fulbright scholarship to India. She has performed at Music Academy during the December festival in Chennai, Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, which titled her “Kala Ratna,” Carnegie Hall, MET Museum, Joe’s Pub, Baryshnikov Arts Center, Chicago Cultural Center, Lincoln Center, Hollywood Bowl, and more. She is a soloist on Christopher Tin’s Grammy Award-winning album Calling All Dawns, and works with several cutting-edge ensembles, including Brooklyn Raga Massive. Roopa has been a resident at Banff Center for Arts and Creativity, Hedgebrook, Ryder Farm, and MASS MOCA, and Joe's Pub. Under a grant from Creative Work Fund, Roopa is currently developing new Carnatic compositions with violinist-composer Sruti Sarathy to share untold stories of South Asian diasporic life. A music educator as well, Roopa loves spreading joy, creativity, and tradition to the young and uninitiated.