B I O

Praised as a “percussion wizard” by Presto Classical, Pirashanna Thevarajah is recognized by the world music and Indian classical community for his great command over instruments such as Mridangam, Kanjira, Ghatam, and Morsing, as well as the art of Indian spoken rhythm, Konnakol.

 

After years of studying and performing his art with his guru Sri M Balachandar, Pandit Ravi Shankar invited him to perform in the “Concert for George” at the Royal Albert Hall in 2002 alongside artists such as Anoushka Shankar, Eric Clapton, Jeff Lynn, and many others. The concert later became a Grammy-award winning album. 

 

Pirashanna then became an integral ensemble member in Ravi Shankar’s world tours up until his final concerts in India, America, and Europe. To this day he performs and records regularly with Anoushka Shankar, and has appeared on many of her Grammy-nominated albums.

 

Pirashanna has performed in such prestigious venues and festivals such as the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Carnegie Hall, Barbican Centre, Vienna Konzerthaus, Salle Pleyel, Hollywood Bowl, Paris Philharmonic, Prague Spring Festival, WOMAD, Glastonbury Festival, and London’s BBC Proms. His collaborations to date include classical and contemporary artists such as Pandit Ravi Shankar, Anoushka Shankar, Mandolin U. Shrinivas, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Aruna Sairam, Nitin Sawhney, dancer Akram Khan, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash, Talvin Singh, Karsh Kale and many others.

 

Today, from his home in Sydney, Pirashanna’s career echoes his desire to continuously nurture his artistry. He is persistently investigating new sound worlds and opening his mind to different cultures’ musical traditions whilst staying true to his Indian Carnatic heritage.

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