NAWAZ
MIRAJKAR
About
Artistic Director | Classical Musician
Creative Collaborator | Innovative Educator
As a Singapore-based Indian musician coming from a long line of tabla players, Nawaz Mirajkar has always believed in composing and performing music that reflects the complexity of his identity. Since moving to Singapore in 1994, he has worked with many Singaporean and International musicians and percussionists to bring this belief to life. His art and passion represents a true performance style celebrating the confluence of performer and the audience. Thus, reaching a wider audience through such interactive performances. His current aim is to bring this unique confluence of music - celebrating both Indian classical music and Chinese, Malay, and Western art forms - to as many people as possible through performances, workshops, and instruction.
Awards & Accolades
Tabla Visharad (First Class), Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal
1994
Guinness World Record for a non-stop 27-hour drumming marathon
2001
Young Artist Award (Music) by the National Arts Council, Singapore
2011
Kalashri Yuva Award (Pune)
2017
Pandit Deepak Chowdhury Memorial Award (Kolkata)
2020
Teaching & Mentorship
Head of Tabla Department
Temple of Fine Arts, Singapore
Adjunct Faculty
School of the Arts (SOTA), Singapore
Founder & Mentor
Sattva Youth Ensemble, Singapore
Founder & Mentor
Swarhythm Singapore
Principal Tutor
National University of Singapore (NUS) Indian Instrument Ensemble.
Heritage
Born in 1938 to a musical family, Ustad Mohammad Hanif Khan Mirajkar, son and disciple of Ustad Mehboob Khan Mirajkar, also studied with his brother, Ustad Abdul Khan Mirajkar, and Ustad Jahangir Khan of Benares, learning rare compositions. A full-time tabla teacher since 1986, he received awards including "Laya Vadya Ratna" (2002), "Kala Shree" (2000), "Rajiv Gandhi Puraskar" (1997), and "Gaurav Padak" (1994). Trained in Purab Gharana with knowledge of all Gharanas, he has a unique style, with senior students like Dr. Rajendra Durkar, Nitin Kulkarni, Prakash Kandaswamy, Vickneshwaran Rainakrishnan, and his son, Nawaz Mirajkar, now tabla teachers at Temple of Fine Arts International.
