NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble

@IIENUS NUSIIE

Through the practice and performance of music that has its roots deep within Indian culture, the NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble (IIE) provides an open and inclusive environment to stage cultural dialogues with a diverse range of genres across the world.

Since its founding in 1987, IIE has explored a variety of themes that form the basis of traditional Indian music ranging from the evolution of music in the Indians sub-continent to religion and socio-political dialogues in the South Asian region.

IIE is made up primarily of four musical sections – percussion, plucked strings, violin, keys and vocals – with members also proficient in other instruments such as the flute and ukulele. This range of instruments allows IIE to perform music that is representative of the ethnic diversity within India, from the Hindustani music of North India to the Carnatic music of South India. IIE continues to champion the traditional art form within the context of world music through grounding themselves in the pure rudiments of Indian music while experimenting and exploring with fusing the old and the new. By blending Eastern and Western instrumentation and influences, IIE hopes that a bold new sound can be brought forth that reflects the vibrant identity of modern Asian youth today.

Key Past Events

2023 NUS Arts Festival, Inter/change, a collaboration with NUS Chinese Dance
2022 NUS Arts Festival, Bodhi – The Awakening
2021 Concert, Varnajalaam: Shades of Indian Music
2019 Boundless, Esplanade Recital Studio
2018 I Am, Esplanade Recital Studio
2017 30th Anniversary Concert, The Raga Journal
2016 ExxonMobil Campus Concerts highlight, Made in India
2014 NUS Arts Festival, Chudar, a collaboration with NUS Indian Dance
2014 Annual concert, Yatra: A Journey of Man and Music

Awards and achievements

2018 Production of the Year for I Am, Tan Ean Kiam Arts Awards

Nawaz Mirajkar

Music Director and Resident Conductor

Born on 18th November 1976, in Pune, India, Nawaz Mirajkar hails from a proud lineage of musicians. From the tender age of seven, Nawaz began playing the tabla under the tutelage of his father Ustad Mohammad Hanif Khan Mirajkar.

In 1988, Nawaz was awarded a “national scholarship” by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, by the Government of India. He trained as a musician and a tabla player and graduated with the “Tabla Visharad” degree (First Class) in 1994.

Nawaz joined the Temple of Fine Arts, Singapore as Head of Percussion since 1996 and is also an adjunct faculty member at the Music Faculty of the School of the Arts (SOTA). In 2020, Nawaz joined the National University of Singapore (NUS) as an Artistic Director (Indian Instrumental Ensemble). Nawaz has played a significant role in spreading traditional Indian music across different age groups and races in Singapore.

Nawaz believes that marrying classical integrity with sound technique and unconstrained creativity is the key to artistic excellence. Although classically trained, Nawaz’s versatility as a musician has resulted in forays into contemporary fusion music, collaborating with many renowned artistes from around the world. He has also played an active role in representing Singapore in the global arts scene. Given the cosmopolitan environment of Singapore, Nawaz continues to draw inspiration from Western, Oriental and Indian elements to fuel his creative process. Nawaz hopes to bring the art of the tabla and percussions to greater heights by continuing to re-invent and experiment while keeping the traditions alive. He also aspires to create a new musical genre that fuses Asia’s rich musical heritage and give it a modern edge so as to appeal both to the youth of today as well as mature traditionalists.