Born in Vellore, she began her training in Carnatic music at the age of 7. She received her initial training in Carnatic music from Vidushi V R Gajalakshmi and Vidwan Kadalur Srinivasa Iyengar and thereafter under eminent musicians - Sangeetha Kalanidhi T M Thyagarajan, Sangeetha Kalanidhi B Rajam Iyer, Padma Bhushan Shri T N Seshagopalan and Layasimham Chingelpet Ranganathan. She gave her first concert at the young age of 14.

She demonstrated a talent for composing songs at a very young age too. She received the UNESCO Student Award for composing and tuning her own composition, when she was just 17 years old. She continues to compose and has over the years composed and tuned numerous songs/kritis, some of which are listed below.

• Samagana Paripalini – Swarajathi in Kedaram
• Harihara Suthane in Dwijavanti
• Sankarabaranapriyane – a Ragamalika with Ragamudras, in praise of Lord Bala Sardhuleswarar in Gudiyatham.
• Mohanaramanin– another Ragamalika with Ragamudras, on Lord Rama in Ketta Varam Paalayam,
• Shankara Yendraale Podhume in Purvi Kalyani.
• Parindharul Tharumguru in Darbari Kanada
• Kannaara Kaana Venduma in Lathangi
• Thaanaagi Yenakkulle Naanaagi – a Vedantic song in Sama
• Thaazhai madal jaadayodu – an Ambal alangaram in Aanandabhairavi
• Maaran Kanai Meerude – in Purnachandrika
• Mandhamaarudham Veenaai Poguthe – a Song in the Sringara Rasa in Ragamalika
• Kannan En Nenjil – A song in the Sringara Rasa with a flavor of Vedanta – in Pahadi
• Maaye Tripurasundari – in Aandolika

She has received several accolades and awards including the Sangeetha Rathna from the Music Academy, Chennai in 1984. Click here to listen her.

An extremely versatile artist, she has constantly pushed her boundaries in her quest for excellence in the field of music. She has sung in the Tamil Movie ‘Pagal Nilavu’ (1983). The music for this movie was composed by the renowned Music Director Shri Ilayaraja who is known for his musical genius as well as his high expectations from his singers.

Demonstrating another facet of her talent, she wrote and directed a Musical “Naveena Shakuntalam” when she was only 18 years old and received rave reviews from the audiences at Udayam Club, Kolkata. She also handled the cultural activities of Vishranthi, Chennai for a couple of years.

Recognising the need to develop young talent in Carnatic Music, she began devoting her time to teach music from 2001.She completed the Chennai Music Academy’s Teachers Training Certificate Course and stood first in practical, theory and pedagogy in the Music Academy Teachers Training Certificate Course. She is also an empanelled teacher at the Indira Nagar Sangeetha Sabha, Bangalore where she takes week-end classes.

Smt Usha Srinivsan receiving the Teachers Training Certificate Award from Padma Bhushan and Sangeetha Kalanidhi Smt M S Subhalakshmi

To her students, she is a dedicated, sincere and inspiring teacher with the ability to impart knowledge of both theory and practical aspects of Carnatic music. She considers training her students in voice modulation to bring out the best in their voice as one of her greatest strengths.

She approaches teaching in a holistic manner – teaching her students both the techniques of singing as well as other attributes and values that would enable them to grow as individuals and musicians. Aspects such as the various softer aspects of performing, be it stage presence, handling the sound systems etc also therefore form a very integral part of her teaching curriculum. Some of her senior students have started teaching Carnatic music under her guidance.

As her students would vouch, she is a source of inspiration and strength to her students as they learn to navigate the Ocean that is Carnatic Music.

She attributes her achievements to the support of her family comprising of her husband Shri B Srinivasan and her two daughters Shanu Srinivasan and Neesha Srinivasan. Shri BSrinivasan currently heads a leading Management College in Bangalore. Prior to that, he held various offices including President of LML Infotech.