Classical Indian Music Percussion Maestro,
Prabhash Maharaj, a 15th
generation musician from the widely respected Benares Gharana heritage, has
been playing the Tabla since the tender age of two. He is the oldest of
three sons in his family, and is the son of Sarod Maestro Pandit Vikash
Maharaj. Prabhash’s maternal grandfather is Late Pandit Kishan Maharaj, and his
great grandfather is Late Pandit Kanthe Maharaj. Prabhash received his early education on Tabla
from his grandfather and guru Pandit Nanhku Maharaj,
a highly acclaimed master musician in the tradition, as well as a master
teacher and very important role model for Prabhash to follow for years to come. Prabhash Maharaj received numerous awards and scholarships for his prolific
artistry and dedication throughout all of his childhood, which included six
gold medal awards and two scholarships from the Government of India. Such
accomplishments led Prabhash to pursue his career and education to the next
milestone, to follow into the footsteps of his beloved grandfather and Guruji
Nanhku, as a dedicated percussionist, maestro, preserver and promoter of the
Benares Gharana music heritage and traditions. Prabhash was already touring
internationally as a professional percussionist, since the age of 19. Prior to
crossing over into the international music scene, he was already performing and
collaborating professionally in India. Additional professional training was given to him
by his father and
also Guru Pandit Vikash Maharaj, who took on to further teach Prabhash more
elements of live performance and the music business during launched tours as
independent international Classical Indian and World Music artists. Most
concerts are performed in duet and also in ensemble performances that include
collaborations with Prabhash’s two brothers along with their father, as well as
with other classical and contemporary musicians, during local tours in India
and international tours. Prabhash has been recently collaborating with artists of different
music genres, providing for a broader exploration of his music style from
classical to fusion, experimental, jazz, and other contemporary genres, still
radiating and maintaining the music style of his tradition, simultaneously
delivering a hue of melodic beats and rhythms, finding a chemistry within his
traditional style and other music styles, crossing over the India classical
traditional into the world music contemporary, and has found the treasure of
both musical worlds, as East meets West, from traditional Indian Classical to
World percussionist, but still deeply connected with his traditional style of
the Benares Gharana as 15th generation ambassador
of this musical
heritage. Amongst the many awards and titles Prabhash has received, are the title
of Tabla Maestro, granted to him by United Nations Youth Organization, followed
by numerous awards and titles from different organizations worldwide. Prabhash
has collaborated with several artists, which include Tom Bailey (Thompson
Twins), Missy Higgins, Bic Runga, John Handy, James Pinker, Isaac Tucker, Pattrik
Bebelaar, John Ellis, Frank Kroll and many more. Prabhash collaborated in the documentary film Holiwater as composer and
percussionist for the film’s music soundtrack and score, accompanied by his
father on Sarod. He has also performed at numerous music festivals worldwide,
some of them being WOMAD Taranaki New Zealand, Splore Festival, Diwali Festival
New Zealand and Dhaka Fest. Prabhash has also travelled to collaborate in musical
projects and
social work to countries like U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Singapore,
in addition to working locally in India. Prabhash has recently produced and directed several music cd’s and
dvd’s with his father and has travelled to different part of world to offer
charity social work to support causes in India for environmental, children,
women, and the elders. His father is a social activist in the community of
India and Prabhash also holds experience as a philanthropic worker, and is
directed by his father to support social causes through his social services
organization in Varanasi, India. Prabhash holds a PhD. Alumni Candidacy in Musicology
from University
Grand Commission of India. He is a Masters Degree Graduate in Tabla Percussion
from Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarth, India and a Masters Degree Graduate in
Sociology from M.G.K.V.P. University, Varanasi, India. |
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