Dr. Pappu Venugopala Rao is a renowned and respected personality in the fields of music and dance. He has been conferred the titles of “Sangita Samrat” and “Sangita Sastra Visarada” as well as “Natya Kala Sagara” and “Natya Kala Visharada”. Dr Pappu Venugopala Rao holds three masters in Telugu, Sanskrit, English, a PhD in Sanskrit and Telugu and D.Litt in Indology. He worked with the American Institute of Indian Studies from 1978-2010 and retired as Associate Director General. Dr Pappu Venugopala Rao has delivered about 50 lecture demonstrations on various topics on Music & Kuchipudi Dance with Vempati Chinna Satyam in India and abroad. As Chair Content committee of Indian Music Experience, he guided the music content of IME Bangalore. As Secretary of the Music Academy Madras since 2008, he has translated five volumes of Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini. He is the Editor of the Music Academy Journal and has crafted syllabi for the Advance School of Carnatic Music. He is a member of Sangit Natak Akademi. He has been the Academic Council Member of Kalakshetra and Visiting Professor, guiding the syllabus structure and formation of the new courses. He is the Advisory Board member of Nartanam quarterly journal on Indian Classical Dances and Sruti Monthly magazine of Dance and Music. He has authored and co-authored a number of books and has many titles to his credit for his contributions to music, dance, literature and spiritualism.