Accolades
Distinguished honours and recognitions received across a lifetime devoted to Carnatic music, scholarship and cultural service.
Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2024
Presented by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, on 13 August 2026 in New Delhi, according to the artist’s awards document.
A landmark moment in a musical career spanning more than four decades.
Dr vageesh has been performing for over four decades now under the auspices of a number of reputed music organizations all over the country and abroad. He is connected with a number of reputed music and cultural bodies like Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Center for Cultural Resources and Training New Delhi. He has been acting as External Examiner for many universities . Three times winner of Akashwani annual awards for best musical productions. 1)"NAVARAS" 2)"NISHABD" 3)"TANHO AGNI PRACHODAYATH" Dr vageesh is a meritorious composer and has many varnams, kritis and tillanas to his credit.
He has conducted a number of AKHANDA GANA YAGNAMS.. ie 24 hrs non stop musical homage to Sadguru Thyagaraja culminating with the group rendering of the Pancha Ratna Kritis of Thyagaraja besides presenting a number of thematic musical programmes on Purandara dasa, Narayana theertha, musical trinity,tamil music composers etc.
Vageesh has performed in prestigious programmes like Akashwani sangeeth sammelan , National programme Of Music over All India Radio and Doordarshan, Sangeeth Natak Akademi Music Festival, Jugalbandi concert at I C C R, Chembai Music festival at Guruvayoor, Thyagaraja Aradhana Music Festival at Thiruvaiyaru, The prestigious Sankat Mochan Hanumaan Music Festival Varanasi, Narayanatheertha Aradhana festival at Thiruppunduruthi, 'Nada Neerajanam' at Thirupathi besides performing for many well known music organizations all over the country.
Vageesh visited France under the govt of India cultural Exchange Programme and gave concerts. He has been regularly giving inter active Lec-Dem programmes for select audience on various aspects of music like- 'Music Appreciation', An Introduction to Karnatic Music, 'Salient Features of Karnatic Music etc.
Vageesh's performances are marked by deep classical values, exactitude of Shruthi, rich improvisation coupled with appealing devotional fervor, and scholarship of high order.
Prizes, Honours & Awards
Updated from the artist’s supplied “Titles / Honours / Awards” document. Dates and spellings follow that document; entries without a stated year are marked accordingly.
- 2026Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2024
Presented by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, on 13 August 2026 in New Delhi.
- 2026Eswara Gana Tilaka
Eswara Gana Sabha, Payyanur, Kerala.
- 2025Nada Surya
Surya Global Music Akademi, Bangalore.
- 2025Purandara Puraskar
Purandara Pratishtana, Bangalore.
- 2024Sadguru Sangeetha Vidwanmani
Sadguru Sangeetha Sabha, Vijayawada.
- 2024Shyama Shastri Utkrishta Sangeeta Ratna
Shyama Shastri National Music Festival, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
- 2024Dr. M. S. Subbalakshmi Award
Government of Andhra Pradesh.
- 2020Lifetime Achievement Award
Pt. Puttaraja Gavai Pratishtan, Dharwar.
- 2019Sangeetha Kala Praveena
Charubala Trust, Chennai.
- 2019Purandara Puraskar
TTD, Tirumala.
- 2018Sangeetha Vidya Nidhi
JSS Sangeetha Sabha, Mysore.
- 2016Gana Kala Bhooshana
Karnataka Gana Kala Parishat, Bangalore.
- 2015Sunanda Sri
Kurudi Venkannachar Trust, Bangalore.
- 2015Shyama Shastri Sangeeta Ratna
Shyama Shastri National Music Festival, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
- 2015Sangeetha Seva Tatna
Hayagriva & Lok Kala Manch, New Delhi. Spelling retained from the supplied document; please confirm the official title.
- 2013Arsha Kala Bhooshana
Arsha Vidya Gurukulam of Swami Dayananda Saraswathi, Coimbatore. The source places the year on a separate line.
- 2014Maharajapuram Santanam Award
Chennai; cash award of one lakh rupees.
- 2013Nada Vidya Bhoopathi
Nadadweepam Trust, Trichy.
- 2013Arya Bhata International Award
Arya Bhata Cultural Centre, Bangalore.
- 2013Sangeetha Sambhrama Puraskar
Sangeetha Sambhrama, Bangalore.
- 2012Sangeetha Kovida
Gayatri Fine Arts, New Delhi.
- 2012Sangeetha Bhooshana
Sri Ranjani Sangeetha Sabha, Mumbai.
- 2011Kala Deepthi
Sri Thyagaraja Sangeetha Sabha, Mysore.
- 2011Sangeetha Saraswathi
Bhakthi Bharathi Pratishan, Bangalore.
- 2011Karnataka Sangeetha Gana Kalanidhi
Veereshwar Punyashram, Gadag.
- 2010Nada Sevaka
Nadabrahmam, Chennai.
- 2009Rasika Priya Puraskar
Rasika Priya, New Delhi.
- 2009Gayaka Ratna
Sangeeta Samajam, Madurai & KRJ Music School, Delhi.
- 2008Gandharva Vamsha Nidhi
Vansh Akademi, Bangalore.
- 2007Gayaka Kalanidhi
Srirangam Srimad Andavan Ashramam, Srirangam.
- 2006Sangeetha Shastra Praveena
Sri Poundarikapuram Ashramam, Srirangam.
- 2003Pranava Sri
Sri Kantham Sangeetha Sabha, Bangalore.
- 2001Hemmige Ratna
Hemmige Srivaishnava Sabha, Bangalore.
- 2001Karnataka Kalashri
Government of Karnataka, Sangeetha Nritya Akademi, Bangalore.
- 2000Asthana Vidwan
Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.
- 1995Gana Kala Tilaka
Karnataka Music Society, Goa.
- 1987Nadabrahma Kala Ratna
Nadabrahmam Vidyalaya, New Delhi.
- Best Musician Award
The Music Academy, Chennai.
- Maharajapuram Vishwanatha Iyer Award
.
- 1974First Prize in Pallavi Singing
The Music Academy, Chennai.
- 1974M. Music Examination — Topper and Gold Medalist
Mysore University.
Additional distinctions
Tanpura prizes from Bangalore Gayana Samaj and Karnataka Gana Kala Parishat; first prizes in Pallavi singing and Devaranama competitions; and other prizes and medals at inter-school, college and university music competitions.