The Artiste

Clement Vedanayagam Sasthriyar, fourth and last child of Durairaj Bagavathar Vedanayaga Sastriar and Mrs. Susila Vedanagam, born August 22, 1970, is a violinist and composer. He is a seventh generation Sasthriyar, a direct descendant of Vedanayagam Sasthriyar, 1774 -1864 of Thanjavur, poet-lyricist, court poet in the palace of Serfoji II, a poet and writer with 133 books and over 500 lyrics to his credit.

Clement began taking violin lessons early and by the age of 12 was serious about the instrument, learning both Eastern (Carnatic) and Western classical music. He links his early musical experience with accompanying his father on his ministerial tours and singing, a major factor in developing his skills with the guitar and his voice. He attended Anitha School, Vepery, and went on to college at Madras Christian College, Tambaram, majoring in commerce. While there, he played for a brief stint in a rock band named Burn for six years, attending music festivals all over India, until they finally disbanded in 1997.

As a freelance musician, Clement has enjoyed a particularly busy and varied musical career over the past 30 years as a soloist and composer, performing as soloist in his chosen genre in India and across international borders, including tours of Singapore, Malaysia, the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia. He has recorded seven instrumental gospel music albums, the Tuning with Clement series, as well as other vocal and instrumental music albums. As an orchestral player, he started initially as violist and violinist for the Madras Guitar Ensemble, and more lately is the principal violinist with the Madras String Ensemble. Over the past year, Clement has been involved in his band, the GAMAZ, which is mainly focused on promoting awareness and reviving the heritage of indigenous hymns.

Clement resides in Purasawalkam, Chennai. He has two elder sisters, Esther Georgina and Sarah Angenlia, and an elder brother Jeyaseelan Jebaraj. He married Elizabeth Monica in 1996. A son, Sudarshan Isaac, was born to Clement and Monica in 1996, followed by a daughter, Karishma Abigail, in 1998. He continues to live and work in Chennai.