BIO

Chiranjeeb Chakraborty is one of the top ranking vocalists of Indian classical music of his generation. He is able to demonstrate a high degree of creativity and versatility in bringing to life a wide-ranging musical repertoire consisting of pulsating ancient Dhrupad music and sublime songs of light classical music, as well as contemporary fusion styles and classical ragas. His music sparkles with the very rare combination of virtuosity with classical purity, along with a deep sense of artistic aesthetics.

Training:

From a tender age, Chiranjeeb has received musical guidance from the acclaimed veteran musician Late Pandit Nidan Bandhu Banerjee of Rampur and Gwalior Gharanas. He did Masters in Khayal from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata.
From 1993 onwards, he has been associated with the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, as a student under the eminent vocalist Late Pandit Arun Bhaduri.

From 1997 to 2001 he remained attached as a teacher with Shrutinandan, a musical institution of Kolkata founded by Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty. He has also received guidance and talim from Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty. He has also learnt Carnatic vocal music from maestro Padma Vibhushan Late Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna.

Musical Journey:

Chiranjeeb’s blending of the styles of Rampur, Gwalior and Patiala/Kasur Gharanas has particularly been appreciated by the music circles in India and abroad. His tonal quality, exercise process, presentation and ability of control of sur (pitch) and tala (rhythm), has drawn special attention from music lovers.

As a vocalist, he has performed at many major music festivals throughout India and abroad. He is currently living in London where he successfully composes and directs music for many musical projects in both Europe and India. He has worked with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (London) as a lecturer for the B. Mus. Degree course under the auspices of Trinity College of London. He is currently a guest faculty at the Rotterdam Conservatoire (Codarts), Netherland for Indian Music.

Chiranjeeb Chakraborty’s performance elicits his mastery on each note of music and together with his mesmerizing voice creates magic. Unlike traditional classical singers, Chiranjeeb believes in modernizing music as is reflected in many of his projects like “Raag Se Dhun Tak”, “Raga- Sphere with R D Burman” where he fuses Bollywood music with classical. His zeal in experimental music brings out a nascent freshness in Indian Classical Music which enchants the audience.

Awards and Accolades:

  1. Eastern Eye ACTA Award for Traditional Music, 2021
  2. RCOG recognition of exceptional contribution to Indian Music, 2019
  3. ‘Fellow’ in Indian Vocal Music (FTCL) by Trinity College of London, 2007
  4. National Scholarship by Government of India, 1993

Major Performances:

  • Durham Spring Festival, Durham – March 2020
  • November Music Festival, Netherlands – November 2019
  • Uttaran (Ascent), Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London – September 2019
  • ‘Woh Shaam Kuch Ajeeb Hain’: A musical celebration of 25th anniversary of R DBurman, Regents Hall, Oxford Street, London – July 2019
  • BBC Radio 3 Programme, December – 2018
  • Mawazine Festival, Rabat, Morocco – 2018
  • Festival Printemps Des Arts De Monte-Carlo, Monaco – 2018
  • Blue Plaque Ceremony for Sister Nivedita, Wimbledon, London – 2017
  • Bangla Music Festival, Wimbledon Library, London – 2017
  • ‘Soundwaves’ – Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London – 2016
  • ‘Jugalbandhi’- Royal College of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, London – 2015
  • ‘Ragasphere with R D Burman’, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London – 2015
  • ‘A Page of Madness’ – Musée Des Confluences, Lyon, France – 2015
  • Tyagaraja-Tansen Festival – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – 2015
  • Brighton Music Festival with Talvin Singh, Brighton – 2014
  • ‘Raag Se Dhun Tak’, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London – 2014
  • Music festival, Jaipur 2014
  • Poetry Concert – Southbank Centre, London – 2013
  • London Jazz Festival, Rich Mix, London – 2013
  • Geneva Music Conservatory – 2009
  • Amir Khan Samaroh, Indore – 2009
  • West Bengal State Music Academy Conference, Kolkata – 2008
  • Prachin Kala Kendra, Chandigarh – 2007
  • HCL Concert at Habitat Centre, Delhi – 2006
  • London Thames Festival – 2005
  • Bhubaneshwar Music Circle, Orissa, India – 2005
  • Nehru Centre, London (Surdhwani production) – 2004
  • Concert in memory of Radhika Mohan Maitra, Kolkata – 2003
  • Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London – 1998
  • Music Conference at Raipur, MP, India – 1992

Press excerpts:

WIMBLEDON GUARDIAN: One of the world’s finest classical Indian singers will be performing in Wimbledon this Saturday (November 4, 2017).

THE TELEGRAPH: A remarkable presentation of Bhairavi Thumri, after a long time. 

THE STATESMAN: Haridas Sangeet Sammelan, in collaboration with Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, presented young performers at Rabindra Sadan. One of them was Chiranjeeb Chakraborty, who showed promise in his Khayals in Ragas Bageshri and Jayajayanti. His style in performance proves his good exercise in talim and riyaz.

THE TIMES OF INDIA: The most promising vocalist of his generation, gifted with an enviable range of vocal chords and who renders the most intricate musical passages with ease.

THE TRIBUNE: A melodious voice that seldom falters on any note or in any pitch is the greatest asset of Chiranjeeb, a pride of Bengal.

INDIAN EXPRESS: Tremendous vocal range and most complex tans, as well as his innate sense of artistic unity, received thunderous applause.

ANANDA BAZAAR: The presentation of Raga Malkauns by Chiranjeeb Chakraborty is comparable to any great vocalist. One composition of Ustad Asique Ali Khan of Patiala Gharana delivered by Chiranjeeb received appreciation.