Rahul Vanamali

Rahul Vanamali is a Chennai-based percussionist, arranger, and educator specializing in mallet percussion instruments such as marimba and vibraphone, alongside drum set performance. With over fifteen years of experience, he is recognized as one of the few practitioners in India focused on Western classical and contemporary percussion practices, contributing to their growing presence in the country.

He trained at the KM Music Conservatory, earning a diploma in Percussion Performance, and later completed a Bachelor of Music in Orchestral Percussion Performance from the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, Montréal. His performance work includes appearances at major venues such as the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) and the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), along with orchestral and ensemble collaborations in India and abroad.

Vanamali has worked with artists including A.R. Rahman and Louiz Banks and is actively involved in both solo and collaborative projects, including contemporary percussion recitals and cross-genre performances. Alongside his performance career, he contributes as an educator with initiatives like the Sunshine Orchestra and engages audiences through digital platforms, presenting percussion-based interpretations of diverse musical repertoire.