UTSAV LAL ‘Raga Pianist’
www.utsavlal.com
The Artist:
17 yrs old, Indian Piano prodigy, Utsav Lal, has been making waves in the International Concert circuits with his unique piano playing style & his mesmerizing, original expression of Indian Classical Ragas on the Piano.
Utsav's musicality has drawn universal appeal and transcended boundaries procuring appreciation from Western classical, Indian Classical, Jazz and World music groups across the world.
Currently based in Dublin, Utsav Lal is One of India's Youngest Concert Pianists. Having undergone advanced training as a Jazz & Western Classical Pianist ,Utsav drew his inspiration at an early age from Indian Music, breaking traditional barriers, to be one of the first Indian musicians to draw on the "Power of Indian Classical Ragas on the Piano". At the age of 16, India’s leading record label Times Music released Utsav’s debut Piano Album titled "Piano Moods of Indian Ragas"(Sept 2008). The young pianist has performed over 100 solo piano concerts of Indian music at worldwide prestigious venues & music festivals and endeared himself to music lovers earning the unique title of "Raga Pianist.”
Awards and Recognitions received:
Named as "Young Steinway Artist " on the coveted worlwide artist roster of Steinway & Sons (feb 2010); Featured in the Indian Limca Book of Records 2007 for musical achievements & for being the youngest performer at The Times Festival 2006; Metro Eireann Media & Multicultural Award (MAMA) Award 2008; Young Achiever Award 2008-Rotary Club, Chennai; Saraswati Award 2007-International Cultural Centre Trust, Gurgaon; Hall of Fame-Delhi Public School, New Delhi. Owen Walsh Perpetual Piano Cup 2009 Ireland; Dublin Institute of Technology- Gold Medal Junior Repertoire 2008; Newpark Stanley Piano Cup 2007. Utsav Lal has championed multiculturalism in the UK & Ireland through his music. With performances of Indian music at various concert venues, national television, churches and music festivals, Utsav was nominated by Embassy of India, Dublin, and the Festival of World Cultures, for a MAMA Award in the Individual category for outstanding work towards the building of a multicultural Ireland and was the youngest winner ever of the MAMA Awards in its ten years of running. Also, nominated by the Milap Festival Trust & Surdhwani (both leading arts and culture organizations) for the GG2 Young Achiever Diversity awards 2009 in the UK.
Charities & Causes supported:
Fund raising and support performances for various charities/organizations - World Mercy Fund, Telethon People in Need, Holy Ghost Fathers, Rotary Club Industrial Society Chennai, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Spastics Society, National Association for the Blind, The Bridge Foundation Kolkata, Ireland Vinayaka Temple Trust, Doras Luimni. Artist association with Daniel Pearl Foundation. Tribute performances for Daniel Pearl World Music Days in 2008 & 2009.
Cultural Ambassador at World events & Festivals:
World Harmony Run-Ireland chapter 2009; Asia On The Edge Festival 2008-Singapore; Festival of World Cultures 2007 & 2008- Ireland; Taj Festival 2008-Manchester,UK; Laya Festival 2007 & 2008-Ireland; “Into the Light” World Music Concert series 2008-Leeds,UK; Asia Pacific Cultural Week 2007- Berlin; One World Music Evening-2007; Bahaar Utsav-Spring Festival 2008-Wolverhampton, UK; World Refugee Day 2007-Ireland.
Currently invited to present ‘Ragas on the Piano’ at Novara Jazz Festival -May 2010 in Italy , Steinway Hall, London –Sept 2010.
Extensive print & electronic media coverage received:
Featured by leading dailies, Radio and TV Channels in India and worldwide. India Print dailies: The Times of India, The Economic Times, Deccan Chronicle, The Statesman, Deccan Herald, The New Indian Express, The Hindu, The Hindustan Times, Mid-day, Newsweek, Gurgaon Explorer, Mail Today, The Afternoon, The Asian Age. MetroNow, DNA Newspapers, The Telegraph, The Pioneer. India Print magazines: Time Out-Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Rave India, The Week, India today, The Teenager, International Indian, Every Tuesday. India Television channels: NDTV 24/7, Aaj Tak, Times Now, DD news, India TV, Sahara Samay. News 9, Total TV, Channel 7, Zee News, IBN News. India radio channels: Radio Mirchi, World Space Radio.UK: BBC- WM, BBC Hindi Services, BBC- Asian Network, Surtarang Broadcast, The Eastern Eye. Ireland: The Irish Times, Gazette group of newspapers, Southside people, Lifetimes, City Wide News, Metro Eireann, RTE National television. Netherlands: BOS radio. Singapore: The Strait Times, MediaCorp Radio 938LIVE featured on Devika Misra show. Internet: Extensive presence and coverage on the internet. Music sites, blogs, news websites. Artist Website www.utsavlal.com , Performance clips www.youtube.com
Workshops conducted:
Utsav was invited by India’s leading Music house –Furtados to conduct multi-city workshops titled “Breaking Boundaries” in July-Aug 2009, whilst on a performing concert tour in the country. In Oct 2009, he also conducted workshops at The Irish Academy of World Music & Dance, University of Limerick. Workshops focused on sharing of learnings & experiences with improvisation, performance and the confluence of Western-Indian-Jazz styles.
Some recent concerts:
Utsav Lal debuted as a Concert Pianist at the age of 9. With the first solo piano concert in Feb 2002 on the invitation of the International Cultural Centre Trust, Gurgaon, he has given over 100 performances from Feb 2002 till date. Some recent noteworthy concert mentions:
•The National Concert Hall, Dublin, 18th Feb’08: “Piano Power of Indian Ragas” at Ireland’s premier classical concert venue. Special Indo-Irish collaborative composition with Dave Sheridan, traditional Irish flautist, titled-Ragas to Reels.
•‘Bahaar Utsav’, Wolverhampton, 29th Mar. ’08: Concert presented at The Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton on invitation of Surdhwani, UK’s classical arts promoter. BBC Midlands aired a pre-concert interview.
•IWCD 6th May ’08: On invitation by the International Women’s Club Dublin at the French Embassy. Wives of the Diplomatic Corps and other nationalities were given a pre-concert talk to understand and appreciate classical piano music from India.
•Dr. Deepak Chopra’s Talk, 12th April ’08: Invited by Dr. Deepak Chopra to open his workshop with a Ragas performance at The National Concert Hall, Dublin.
•‘Apoorva Ragam’- Sir M.V Rao Concert Hall, Chennai 20th Sept 2008: Invited to perform a fundraiser concert by Rotary Club Industrial Society, Chennai to raise funds for the Ayanbakkam village school project in India.
•“Music for a Maharajah”, 29th June ’08: A tribute concert for Maharajah of Gwalior at the Church of the Ascension in Timoleague, Cork at the Music Amongst Mosaics concert series.
•Festival of World Cultures Aug ’07 & ’08: Performed at this festival in Ireland for two consecutive years. The festival is one of Europe’s largest annual celebrations of cultural diversity. Utsav was one of the youngest musicians to perform solo, with a headlining concert at FWC ’08. A feature write-up and interview was carried in the “Festival Times”.
•Asia on the Edge Festival 2nd Dec ‘08: Bringing together cultures, voices and visions of Asia, invited to perform in the Core Programmes-Child Prodigies at The Chambers, AOTE, Singapore.
•“Into the Light” World Music Concert series- 5th Dec’08: Invited to perform at The Venue, Leeds. The series is presented by SAA-UK and the Leeds College of Music.
•World Harmony Run Concert-3rd Apr’09: Performance at the closing ceremony of Ireland’s World Harmony Run, one of the world’s largest grassroots movements to bring people together and strive to create goodwill amongst people of all nations.
•Music for Mind & Soul, Manchester, 18th Apr’09: Invited by Milapfest, UK to perform for their prestigious afternoon concert series at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.
•Nationwide India Piano Concert & Workshop Tour July-Aug 2009: An extensive Tour titled “Ragas Dance off Piano keys” covering the cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Cochin & Kolkata. Ragas Piano Concerts at each location and a series of Piano Workshops titled “Breaking Boundaries”, on behalf of music house – Furtados.
•Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, 8th Nov’09. Headlining solo concert in Purcell Room at the launch of ‘Music for Mind and Soul’ series by Milap Festival Trust in London. A special collaborative piece included with Sam Comerford, saxophonist.
•‘Indisk Raga Musik’ at Konsert Huset, Goethenburg, Sweden, 13th Nov’09. On invitation of Konsert Huset and Embassy of India, Sweden. Collaborative piece with Kathak dancer Mukti Shri.
Various Live in concert videos are available of Utsav Lal on www.youtube.com and full details on www.utsavlal.com.
To hear NDTV interview of India tour Nov 2007, please visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB2yr3tqNnc
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Contact Person:
Artist Manager: Sangita Lal, 67, Avoca Park, Blackrock
Dublin-4, Ireland. Mob: +353-862252070. Email:sangital@gmail.com
Media Quotes:
….He breathes life into ebony & ivory with a melody that transports the listener into a different world……...…Hindustan Times.
…..Utsav’s music flows spontaneously from within him & when his fingers dance on the piano keys, his music oozes simplicity & sincerity…Economic Times.
..........Lal is a fleet fingered performer whose best moments can be both highly evocative and dazzling.......The Irish Times
……People were blown away by Utsav. Age aside, he is oozing with talent and it’s a joy to behold him caressing a piano like the way he does…..Jackie Leahy, music critic & organizer of One World Music evening.
……Utsav’s stronghold over Indian Raags was evident from his mature performance. The superb finale piece was complete music to the ears...The Asian Age.
..his fingers move across the keyboard as effortlessly as a ballet dancer would traipse across the stage….Mail Today.
…..When Utsav Lal touches the keys of the piano, he not only creates wonderful music, but touches many hearts…..Times of India
…..The sangat of tabla and piano kept the audiences gripped to their seats and left them screaming for more. During the jugalbandi portions in the concert, the two instruments blended in a true form conceiving musical harmony. There were moments when the audiences stood and applauded amid the rendition of ragas to appreciate the works of the young wizards. When 16 year old Utsav Lal plays the piano, he touches many hearts with his soothing music………..Radio & Music review.
………Utsav Lal inventively combines his dual passion for the piano and the Indian Raga & has made it his mission to create a fusion among the two musical styles without detracting from any of their traditional aspects; an endeavor than many before him have found too difficult……… Groove Shark, from the deep end.
….the dashing young pianist had a superb audience in attendance…. ….the charm for the evening was not only the thrill of listening to India’s youngest concert pianist, but the mesmerizing repertoire of music that he presented that compelled many to think how the piano which is considered the backbone of western music, can be used for Indian raags…….Raga to Rock.
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