Trichy Sankaran has long been active as a top-flight performer, both within his Karnatak tradition, and in collaborations with noted musicians and ensembles in the New Music, World Music, and Jazz fields. Throughout the years, Sankaran has performed with many top traditional Karnatic artists in North America. He is the foremost among mrdangam players who has elevated the drum to the rare status of a solo instrument. He has given numerous solo recitals on mrdangam and kanjira throughout North America and abroad.

Sankaran’s contribution as a performer goes far beyond his more traditional side, however. It is as a collaborator, bringing his unique approach and formidable training to bear on the situation, that he truly shines. His numerous performances in the New Music/World Music contexts include Nexus, The Evergreen Club Ensemble, World Drums, Sound Pressure, Drum Hear, etc. Sankaran has also made forays into the jazz world, performing with such luminaries as Anthony Braxton, Charlie Hayden, Ed Thigpen, Steve Gadd, and others. In the traditional settings, Sankaran has performed jughalbandhis (special combos) with tabla masters such as Shanta Prasad, Zakir Hussain, Swapan Chaudhri, Sharada Sahai, and others.

Sankaran has performed at virtually all-major music festivals in Canada. His willingness to continually go beyond the boundaries of his own extensive training, and to contribute his expertise and profound musicality to many performance situations in many idioms, have added greatly to the Canadian cultural fabric.