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Academic Board

Prof. Sumathy Sundar, PH.D., FIMC (Austria)

Prof. Sumathy Sundar, Ph.D. MA(Indian Music), MA (Applied Psychology) and Fellow of IMC University of Applied Sciences, Krems, Austria is a medical music therapist, senior educator and a researcher who  has been researching in the fields of music medicine/music therapy since 2002 with specific emphasis on developing a culturally sensitive approach in music therapy education, clinical practice and research in India. Her vision is  to integrate  Indian traditional healing practices in modern clinical music therapy practice and scientifically endorse these applications by high quality research.  She has been actively engaged in music therapy   education since 2011 and developed the first professional training programs in music therapy in India through the Chennai School of Music Therapy. She also developed the first hospital based music therapy programs from a health sciences university,  Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth based in Pondicherry with plethora of courses  ranging from a one year PG Diploma to Masters degree in Music Therapy eventually leading to a Ph.D. program in music therapy.

Dr. Baishali Mukherjee, MA., Ph.D

Dr.Baishali Mukherjee holds a  PhD in the field of Music Therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder from National Centre for Autism Studies,(Scotland), University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom. MA in Psychology with specialization in Experimental Psychology from University of Calcutta. She is trained in Hindustani Classical Music and Indian classical dances (Bharatnatyam and Odyssey). She is a Senior Faculty and Research Associate at Chennai School of Music Therapy,

She was trained and had a wide exposure in music therapy research and practice from Nordoff Robbins School of Music Therapy, London; Department of Psychology, Edinburgh University, Scotland; and Bangor University, Wales during her course of PhD. She currently serves as a member of the Education and Training Commission of the World Federation of Music Therapy.




Dr. Anasuya Ravikanti MA.,PGDMT., Ph.D

Dr. Anasuya, a medical music therapist with a post graduate diploma in music therapy, is a faculty and research associate at  Chennai School of Music Therapy. She holds a PhD in the field of Yoga and Music from Sri PadmavatiMahilaViswavidyalaya, Tirupati.

Apart from being an accomplished classical Carnatic musician, performer, composer, teacher and researcher, she is also trained in Kuchipudi dance.

She is the Co-Director of SACRED- Sri Annamacharya Center for Research and Expositional Development, which works for preservation and dissemination of Carnatic music tradition andtaking forward the illustrious & unique style of Padmabhushan, Sangitakalanidhi, Dr. SripadaPinakapani.She is the founder Director of SWARAJEEVANI- Center for music therapy, Hyderabad.

Dr. Parin Parmar, M.D., PGDMT, PGDY

Adjunct faculty in Chennai School of Music Therapy. Has an M.D. in Pediatrics and also has a diploma in Allergy & Asthma from Christian Medical College, Vellore.  He has had a brilliant academic career and started playing key-board since the age of 7. He  is a composer of western symphonies and fusion music.  He has published articles in international journals in the field of pediatrics and  has a keen interest in psychology, spirituality and Indian traditions with a scientific perspective. He also has  post graduate diplomas  in 1) music therapy and 2) Yoga

Mr. Vikram Kannan, M.Sc., PGDMT

Vikram Kannan is a medical music therapist with a post-graduate diploma in music therapy and a Master’s degree in counseling and psychotherapy.  Prior to entering the field of music therapy, he was a performing and recording musician, and a music teacher. He started playing the guitar and singing at the age of 15 and has since performed with a varied group of musicians across India. An active interest in meditation, psychology, and music, drove him to music therapy.

Apart from being a faculty in Chennai School of Music Therapy Currently, he practices with a wide range of population which include de-addiction (TTK Hospital - T.T. Ranganathan Clinical Research Foundation), geriatric settings (Atulya assisted living community & Obul Reddy senior nursing home) as well as with children with special needs (The Spastics Society of Tamil Nadu) in Chennai.

Sruthee Balasubramanian, BMS., PGDMT

Sruthee Balasubramanian is a qualified and trained music therapist with a Post Graduate Diploma in Music Therapy. During her internship, she gained experience in a hospital setting focused on various clinical areas such as Orthopedics, Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gyneacology and in Procedural Support. She is a trained carnatic vocalist and has performed in various platforms. Prior to entering the field of music therapy, she worked as a Tax Consultant with Deloitte after completing her Bachelor's in Management Studies. Her keen interest in psychology, music and healing encouraged her to take up music therapy as a profession.