Akhil Jobanputra

Born and raised in Canada, Akhil Jobanputra is a student, performer, teacher, and curator of Indian classical music. He started his journey at the age of three with various local teachers, and received direction from Pandit Jasraj. He currently trains with Dr. Pandit Arun Dravid and Pandit Arijit Mahalanabis, learning the nuances of dhrupad and khayal, and occasionally receives guidance from Pandit Sanjeev Abhyankar. Akhil's music encapsulates elements of self-introspection, personal narratives, metaphysical beliefs, and artistic expression. His repertoire features a mix of centuries-old traditional compositions as well as a range of contemporary pieces, including his own, and is informed from the Jaipur-Atrauli, Agra-Atrauli, Mewati, Dagarbani, and Gwalior gharanas (traditional socio-musical lineage systems). He has performed across Canada, the US, India, and the U.K. with recent performances for 'Chaar Prahar Festival 2020' (Viewcy.com), and for 'Parāśakti: The Flame Within' (Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, Canada) - a unique production conceptualized and co-directed by Akhil. As an educator, he teaches students of diverse backgrounds under the Kalāvāṇī Institute, enriching Vancouver’s South Asian traditional arts and culture ecosystem. At the age of twelve, Akhil founded the Indian Classical Music Society of Vancouver (ICMSV). Since then, he has curated a series of initiatives and events geared at increasing awareness, accessibility, and education around Indian classical music.