Vikash Maharaj
Vikash Maharaj | |
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Vikash Maharaj | |
Background information | |
Born | July 1, 1957 |
Origin | Varanasi, India |
Genres | Indian classical music, jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician, Philanthropist |
Instruments | Sarod |
Labels | Hammer Musik, Panchnaad |
Associated acts | Prabhash Maharaj, Abhishek Maharaj, Joshua Geisler, Tom Bailey, Vishal Maharaj, WISE GUYS |
Website |
www |
Pandit Vikash Maharaj (born 1 July 1957 in Varanasi, India) is an Indian sarod player and composer. In his childhood, he initially learnt to play the tabla and then discovered and studied the sarod as his preferred instrument. Pandit Vikash Maharaj is an internationally recognized instrumentalist and philanthropist.[1][2]
Life and work
Music
Vikash Maharaj was instructed on the sarod by Sri Rajesh Chandra Moitra of the school of Hindustani classical music Maihar Senia Gharana. In 1976, at the age of 16 Maharaj became the youngest sarod performer to play on All India Radio.[3] He has earned international recognition in Indian classical music, Jazz and Crossover between Indian music and Jazz. Vikash Maharaj regularly tours and participates in international crossover festivals such as the WOMAD, the Diwali festival in New Zealand or the International Leprosy Eradication Festival.[3] During his tours through California, Vikash Maharaj was accompanied by his son and tabla player Prabhash Maharaj.[1]
Vikash Maharaj performed and cooperated with musicians such as Prabhash Maharaj, Abhishek Maharaj, Joshua Geisler, Tom Bailey, Vishal Maharaj or the German a cappella group Wise Guys.[4] On initiation by German music journalist and author Joachim-Ernst Berendt, Vikash Maharaj participated in the crossover Jazz record "Raga" in 1996. The work was composed by Patrick Bebelaar, and participating musicians were Patrick Bebelaar, Frank Kroll, Prabhash Maharaj and Subhash Maharaj.[5] In a second cooperation with Bebelaar, Vikash Maharaj and his son Prabhash contributed to the crossover album "Point of View". "Point of View" was a commissioned composition by the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart and premiered in Stuttgart in 2001.[6][7]
Philanthropy and teaching
Pandit Vikash Maharaj is founder of the Music Institute of Banaras in Varanasi and U.S.A., teaching in the Guru-Shishya Parampara style. Maharaj also founded the philanthropic Panchnaad Trust fostering arts, culture, community and social activism.
Awards and honors
- Karmaveer Puraskar – 2015
- Yash Bharati Award (Uttar Pradesh Govt.) – 2014
- Ambassador of PVCHR (India) – 2014
- Sant Kesava Das Ratna Award (Bihar Govt.) – 2012
- Vidya Bhusan Award – 2007
- Guru Award – 2005
- Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Award – 2001
- Saraswati Award – 2001
- Paharua Award – 2001
- Sarod Shiromani – 1998
- Ambassador of Indian Culture (Germany) – 1997
- Siti Ratna Award – 1997
- Professor of Music (Germany) – 1995
Discography
- Music Ensemble of Benaras (LP) (1983)
- Music Ensemble of Benaras (CD) (1984)
- 10 Years of Music Ensemble of Benaras (CD) (1989)
- Raga (CD) (1996)
- Best of Open Jazz Festival Stuttgart (DVD) (1998)
- Pandit Vikash Maharaj (DVD) (2009)
- Sapna (CD) (2001)
- Point Of View' (CD) (2003)
- Vikash Maharaj (CD) (2006)
- Path (CD) (2009)
- Yaaraa (CD) (2010)
- Holiwater (CD) (2012)
- MAYA(CD) (2014)
- CELEBRATION (CD) (2015)
Social activism
- (Ex)Chairman “Cultural Forum Bachpan Bachao Andolan”
- Chairman “Bhagan Buddha Mahavidyalaya“”, Sarnath, Varanasi.
- Vice-Chairman “People vigilance Committee on Human Rights”
- Director “Panchnaad Group” dedicate to promote Indian Classical Music and Culture.
- Member “Gudia”
- (Ex)Member of United Nations Youth Organization
- (Ex)Member U.P. I.A.S. Association,India.
- Holiwater Project - INDIA/U.K./NEW ZEALAND
- Founder of "Artists against Child Labour"
Founder
- Bhagwan Buddha Mahavidyalaya, Sarnath, Varanasi
- Ganga Mahotsav (Music Festival), Varanasi
- Kashi Vishwanath Mahotsav (Music Festival), Varanasi
- Maha Mrityunjaya Mahotsav (Music Festival), Varanasi
- Panchnaad (International Musical Group), International
- Holiwater Band (A Musical Group dedicated to protect Environment), INDIA/NEW ZEALAND
- Artists Against Child Labor, International
- Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA)
- Musician Against Torture (PVCHR)
References
- 1 2 Deva, Arun. "Sitting Down With: Pandit Vikash Maharaj and Prabhash Maharaj". La Yoga Magazine. BLISS NETWORK, LLC. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- ↑ Trio, Maharaj. "Maharajtrio". www.maharajtrio.com. Prabhash Maharaj.
- 1 2 Raghuvanshi, Lenin. "Pandit Vikash Maharaj: Icon of Banaras Gharana of classical music". Saddarlaq. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- ↑ "Wise Guys Magazin, No.24, April 2013" (PDF). http://wiseguys.de/. Wise Guys. Retrieved 26 August 2015. External link in
|website=
(help) - ↑ "Vita Frank Kroll" (PDF). Frank Kroll. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- ↑ Porter, Lewis. "Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians". Jazz.com. Jazz.com. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
- ↑ "Bebelaar - Point of view". http://www.dml-records.de/. dml-records. External link in
|website=
(help)
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vikash Maharaj. |
- indianweekender.co.nz
- Jazz Beacon Award Ceremony coverage by BeyondChron
- LA yoga sitting down with tradition
- News Wala
- Music Institute of Benares