Born in Mysore in a family of musicians , Sukanya had the good fortune of a musician mother Smt Lakshmamma Subbarao  and a direct deciple of Asthana Vidwan Sri Channakeshavaiah, who taught her initial studies in music.

Sukanya continued her studies at Fine Arts College Mysore from University Of Mysore ,where she opted carnatic  Classical Vocal as her main subject . She passed her graduation and post Graduation from the same college in distinction during the years 1971and1973 respectively.

During her college days , Sukanya had advanced studies in music by Profs. V. Ramarathnam and Smt GowriKuppuswamy. Later after college  days she undertook special guidance from Vidushi Nagarathna Sadashiva  for few years.

Sukanya continued higher research studies  in music on  the subject “Contributions of Sri Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar to Karnatac Music” A study – Under the guidance of Prof B.S. VijayaRaghavan and Vidwan V. Nanjundaswamy.  She submitted a voluminous thesis work to University of Mysore for the award of Doctorate degree. As a next step of her reseach works Sukanya did an elaborate study on the subject –Rare  musical instruments in Mysore Palace -and submitted a detailed reporte to the Govt of India which had granted a senior fellowship to this research work.

She is an A grade artist of All India Radio & Doordarshan . She has rendered her concerts in Radio National hook up programmes, Radio Sangeet Sammelan, and National programme of Doordarshan. She has directed and presented many music feature programmes for All India Radio, especially  on Mahila Haridasas. She is also in the audition board of AIR.

Sukanya has perfomed in almost all prestigious sabhas around the country. To mention a few, prestigious The Madras Music Academy (where she was adjudjed as best artist twice in her category),  Bengaluru  Gayana Samaja, Mysore Durbar Hall Concerts during dussherra festivals, Mysore Music Association Mumbai, and many other sabhas at Chennai , Hyderabad , Trivendrum etc.

Sukanya has founded a music instituition Surabhi Gana Kalamandira at Mysore with a branch at Bengaluru through which she is teaching aspirants of music .  She has developed a special skill in conducting music workshops on various Vaggeyakar`s and  Haridasa`s rare compositions which have become very popular.

Apart from her singing talent Sukanya is also a good columnist . She is also a publisher of her own quarterly music magazine “Surabhi Sinchana” since past four years, containing articles on purely music oriented subjects written by music scholars and musicologists as well as students .

Number of audio cassets and Cds have been released in her melodious voice by reputed  music companies like Sangeetha, Lahari,  Bharathiya vidyabhavan Bangalore and others.

Sukanya is receipent of number of prestigious awards and titles to her credit.To name a few: Best junior artist award in the Madrsa Music Academy festivities during the years 1984 and 1986.

Gana kala shree-title  by Bangalore Gana Kala Parishath during the year 1994.

Gana Saraswathi-title by Avni Sringeri Shankar Mutt during  the year 1994.

Prestigious  Karnataka Rajyotsava award  from Govt Of Karnataka during the year 2005 .

Gaanavaridhi-title by Sri M.A. Narasimhachar Music Foundation

Sangeetha Saraswathi- title by Bhakthi Bharathee Prathisthana .

Prestigious Aryabhata International Award-2009 by Aryabhata Cultural Organisation

Hoysala Prashasthi -2010  by Hoysala Kannada Sangha  Mysore   and  many more.

On behalf of all rasikas, Sunaada Radio thanks Dr.Sukanya Prabhakar for generously sharing her invaluable kutcheri recordings with us for the benefit of all rasikas.

Listen to Smt.Sukanya Prabhakar’s  concerts in Kutcheri on Sunaada Radio.