Career
Lal gave his debut solo piano concert in New Delhi, India at the age of 9 with a unique repertoire of Indian Music compositions. Currently based in Dublin, Ireland and oft referred to as a child prodigy, Utsav is a Western Classical Pianist (ATCL Diploma & Grade 8 from Trinity Guildhall), London as well as a Jazz pianist. Feb 2010, Utsav Lal was officially recognised as a "Young Steinway Artist" and named on the worldwide artist roster of leading piano makers, Steinway & Sons.
Utsav’s strong Indian roots drew him to the Power of Ragas and led him to be one of the first Indian musician's to experiment with Indian Classical Music on Piano. Utsav’s innovative handling of a raga on the Grand piano has blended his diverse musical influences leaving listeners spellbound and has been critically acclaimed. His soulful renditions in traditional Alap jod jhala style expressed with simplicity, sincerity and depth with improvisations set to varied rhythmic percussion have held enraptured audiences. Utsav's Raga Piano Music has earned him the name of the . At the age of 16, India’s leading record label Times Music released Utsav’s debut Indian Classical Ragas Piano Album titled "Piano Moods of Indian Ragas"(Sept 2008)and there-onwards the young artist has released two other solo Indian classical albums titled “Ragas Dance off Piano Keys” & “Ragas Al Pianoforte” which are available on a worldwide distribution.
Featured in the Limca Book of Records, 2007 at 14 yrs of age and the youngest award winner of Ireland’s Metro Éireann Media & Multicultural MAMA Awards 2008 for championing Multiculturalism, Utsav has performed over 150 piano concerts at leading concert venues in India and Internationally. In the recent years at the major cities in India (New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Gurgaon, Jullundhar, Ludhiana, in UK ( Leeds, Wolverhampton, London, Manchester), Ireland (Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway) and at Singapore, Germany & Sweden.
Spellbinding original compositions based on Indian Classical Ragas have endeared Utsav to music lovers of different nationalities and creeds. Over the past decade, Lal has undertaken many initiatives that lend his music to a passionate cause associating with National Association for the Blind, Spastics Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation,World Mercy Fund, Bridge Foundation Kolkata, Telethon People in Need, Rotary Club, World Refugee Day, World Harmony Run-Ireland Chapter, Doras Luimni etc. Utsav has been associated with and has supported the Daniel Pearl World Music days both in 2008 & 2009 with his music talent. In Apr 2012, Lal's India tour was dedicated to raise funds and support the work of NGO’s DREAMZ Home, JOSH & SMILE Foundation.
Lal was member of the Irish band Little Green Cars between 2006-2010 who have performed at major Irish music venues and 'Electric Picnic-2007' festival in Ireland.
In 2008, Utsav was India’s cultural ambassador & presented ‘Ragas on Piano’ concert for ] (Dec 2008) and at The Venue, Leeds, UK for " Into the Light World Music” concert series (Dec 2008). He performed under the Music for Mind & Soul Concert series at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester in Apr 2009. In July-Aug 2009, the young pianist embarked on an extensive Nationwide Piano Workshop & Concert Tour of India .Alongside the Tour, Utsav conducted a series of workshops titled Breaking Boundaries ”. After the hugely successful India Tour, the pianist finished the year with concerts at The National Concert Hall, Dublin -Sept 2009, The Irish Academy of World Music & Dance - Oct 2009,Queen Elizabeth Hall London-Nov 2009 and at Konsert Huset, Gothenburg, Sweden-Nov 2009.
Lal has drawn huge recognition for his Indo-Irish confluence initiative titled “Ragas to Reels” which he first performed at The National Concert Hall-Dublin, Southbank Centre-London & Lyrics Theatre-Belfast and later brought to packed houses on an extensive multi city India tour in Jan 2011"Ragas to Reels" in a unique collaboration with Irish flautist Sam Comerford.
Lal gave his USA debut to a sold out concert at the prestigious John F Kennedy Center of Performing Arts, Washington DC on Mar 13, 2011 under the aegis of the Maximum India Festival which staged the top performing artists from India ranging from rock to ragas and in upcoming concerts will be performing at Kings Place, London (Oct 2012) & at Harivallabh Sangeet Samelan,one of the oldest classical music festivals in India (Dec 2012).
Lal’s musical creativity draws from his advanced training in western classical and jazz at the best international music conservatoires and from the exploration of Dhrupad style under his Guru, Ustad F.Wasifuddin Dagar and instrumental style under violinist mentor Sharat Srivastava.
Various Live in concert videos are available of Utsav Lal on www.youtube.com and full details on www.utsavlal.com.
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