Dr. S.Ramanathan will preside over the Music Academy conference this year and receive the title of Sangita Kalanidhi from that body. What sets him apart from most other musicians is that he is as keen a listener as he is a performer, as keen a scholar as he is a practitioner, as keen a student as he is a teacher, and as keen an innovator as he is a conservator. In short, he represents a rare combination.