->Arunram: /* Biography */

2021-09-30T21:20:32Z

Biography

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{{use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Chong Chiu Sen
| image = Chong Chiu Sen.jpg
| genre = [[Carnatic music]], [[Indian classical music]]
| occupation = Vocalist
| native_name_lang =
| website = [https://www.facebook.com/saimadhanamohankumar Chong Chiu Sen] on Facebook
| native_name = 张秋胜
| alias = Sai Madhana Mohan Kumar
| instrument = [[Harmonium]]
}}

'''Chong Chiu Sen'''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-01-13|title=8 Talented Foreigners Who Are So Good at Indian Classical Music They Would Put Many of Us to Shame!|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/81965/foreigners-indian-classical-music/|access-date=2020-12-04|website=The Better India|language=en-US}}</ref> is a Malaysian-born Chinese Carnatic vocalist.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Facing the Music - Articles {{!}} CENDANA|url=https://www.cendana.com.my/library/our-library/articles/facing-the-music|access-date=2021-02-14|website=www.cendana.com.my}}</ref> He was an apprentice of [[Carnatic music|Carnatic]] musician [[D. K. Pattammal]] who also adopted him as her god-grandson<ref>{{Cite web|last=Warrier|first=Shobha|title=This Chinese sings in Sanskrit|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2005/aug/25spec1.htm|access-date=2020-12-04|website=Rediff|language=en}}</ref> and named him '''Sai Madhana Mohan Kumar'''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DK Pattammal {{!}} A Loving Teacher|url=http://www.dkpattammal.org/ChongChiuSen.html|access-date=2020-12-04|website=www.dkpattammal.org}}.</ref>

==Biography==
Chong was introduced to [[Carnatic music]] through [[Bhajan]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Bliss of Bhajan Offerings at Thy Lotus Feet|url=http://media.radiosai.org/journals/vol_12/01OCT14/bhajan-competition-02.htm|access-date=2020-12-04|website=media.radiosai.org}}</ref> He started formal training in Bhajan singing under the tutelage of Datin Shanthi Jagadeesan and R. Vatsala in Malaysia. Chong was interested in both, playing the [[Pump organ|harmonium]] and singing Bhajans. He learned to play the harmonium from Sri Jullius Tan Teck Joo and continued Bhajan training with Vijayalakshmi Kulaveerasingam.

Subsequently, he studied [[Bharata Natyam|Bharatha Natyam]] under [[Usha Srinivasan]] and started learning the [[veena]] under Sangeetha Kala Acharya, [[Kalpakam Swaminathan]]. He had an opportunity to meet [[D. K. Pattammal|D.K Pattammal]] at her home and sing for her. His rendition of [[Mahaganapati|Maha Ganapathim]] in [[raga]] [[nattai]] convinced her to accept him as her student. She later adopted him as her god-grandson and name him Sai Madhana Mohan Kumar.

After 2006, Chiu Sen continued his music lessons under Pattammal's granddaughter, [http://www.dkpattammal.org/Gayathri.aspx Gayathri Sundararaman]. In Malaysia, Chong is guided by Smt. [[Visalakshi Nityanand]] and his friend Shri Kamalakiran Vinjamuri has been helping him in various aspects of music. In 2021, he sought guidance under Shri N. [[Vijay Siva]] to continue the Patantaram of the DKP-DKJ School of Music.

==Major performances==
* On 21 November 2013, he performed during [[Sri Sathya Sai Baba]]'s 88th birthday celebration in Puttaparthi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theprasanthireporter.org/2013/11/chiu-sens-carnatic-concert-and-sssihms-anniversary/|title=The Prasanthi Reporter: Chiu Sen's Carnatic Concert and SSSIHMS Anniversary…}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/131122/news-current-affairs/article/malaysian-chiu-sen-enthrals-carnatic-music|title=Malaysian Chiu Sen enthrals with Carnatic music|work=deccanchronicle.com/}}</ref>
* On 1 January 2006, he performed in the 79th Annual Conference of [[Madras Music Academy|The Music Academy]] in Chennai.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/story/?file=%2F2006%2F8%2F7%2Fmusic%2F14744548&sec=music|title=Archives|website=The Star}}</ref>
* On 12 November 2005, he performed during the 32nd National Festival Spirit of Unity concerts for the Universal Integration Committee. [https://www.sathyasai.org/files2013/20131024BirthdayCelebrations.pdf]
==Awards and recognition==
* In 2019, Chong received the title ‘GAANA GANDHARVA’ bestowed by ICC & Temple, Memphis, TN, USA.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vocal Concert by Chong Chiu Sen|url=https://carnaticamerica.com/event/vocal-concert-1085/|access-date=2020-12-04|website=Carnatic America|language=en-US}}</ref>
* On 10 March 2018, Chong was the recipient of The Outstanding Person Award for Promoting Culture given by AIKYA Oneness through music | Global Adjustments Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Musical notes for future leaders|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2018/mar/11/musical-notes-for-future-leaders-1785565.html|access-date=2020-12-04|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
* On 27 November 2015, he received an award from Padma Vibhushan Pandit Jasraj for the Pt. Jasraj — Rotary Club of Hyderabad Award for Cross Cultural Understanding in Hyderabad.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/151128/entertainment-tvmusic/article/%E2%80%98connecting-through-music%E2%80%99|title=Connecting through music|last=NAIDU|first=JAYWANT|date=2015-11-29|newspaper=deccanchronicle.com/|access-date=2016-10-06}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Carnatic music]]

Chong Chiu Sen - Revision history

->Arunram: /* Biography */