Pandit Vikash Maharaj

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.

• Life and work : 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. 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.

During his tours through California, Vikash Maharaj was accompanied by his son and Tabla player Prabhash Maharaj.

Vikash Maharaj performed and cooperated with musicians such as Prabhash Maharaj, Abhishek Maharaj, Joshua Geisler, Tom Bailey, Vishal Maharaj and the German A Capella group Wise Guys.

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. 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.

• 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).

On his Birthday, Hindustani Classical Music And Everything wishes him a long, healthy and active musical life ahead