LAKSHAY MOHAN, SITAR & AAYUSH MOHAN, SAROD
The first musicians to represent India at the Grammy Museum Los Angeles, brothers Lakshay Mohan & Aayush
Mohan who play the Sitar and Saros respectively, have gained immense following for their duet recitals on the international concert scene. Their unique amalgamation of Sitar & Sarod has won them critical acclaim and the duo has been hailed as 'harbingers of Classical music' by India Today. Mohan Brothers are known for being able to connect to all kinds of listeners while preserving and incorporating traditional repertoire and techniques in their playing. Their unique style of playing Jugalbandi has enabled them to emerge as trendsetters in taking classical music to the mainstream. After listening to them in 2012, Bharat Ratna Pt. Ravi Shankar, decided to launch them in the United States under the Ravi Shankar Foundation. Being the only long standing classical duet of two different instruments, their Sitar-Sarod duet is always one of the most awaited events for music lovers. They have appeared on popular television shows like 'Good Day New York' on FOX TV, USA and have given several TEDx Talks to spread cultural awareness amongst youth.
They have been performing globally since 2009 and some of their prominent performances include Symphony Space New York, Berklee College Boston, Abbey Theatte Dublin, David & Dorthea Garfield Theatre, San Diego ; Learn Quest Music Conference Boston, Central Conservatory of Music China, Sawai Gandharva Festival Pune, Gunidas Sangeet Sammelan Mumbai, Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan Jalandhar, Saptak Festival Ahmedabad, Vishnu Digambar Jayanti Samaroh Delhi, All Bengal Music Conference Kolkata, Ganga Mahotsav Varanasi, Taj Mahotsav Agra, Serendipity Arts Festival Goa and many more.
They were initiated into classical music at a tender age by Pt. Balwant Rai Veema, seniormost disciple of Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar. Lakshay & Aayush have studied respectively from Pt. Uma Shankar Mishra and Padmabhushan Sharan Rani. They have also studied extensively from Pt. Tejendra Narayan Majumdar. Studying from two generations of Gurus has enabled them to imbibe the intricacies of the Senia-Maihar Gharana.
They have given lecture-demonstrations at universities like Wayne State University, Detroit and the University of the Arts, Philadelphia. They recently emerged as talented composers when their composition which amalgamated Indian Classical and Western Classical styles was applauded by connoisseurs in India and abroad. This collaboration titled the 'Golden Symphony' was performed to packed audiences at major concert venues in India like Siri Fort Auditorium (Delhi), The Nehru Center (Mumbai).
Their album 'Hidden Harmony' was nominated for the Best Classical Instrumental album at the Global Indian Music Academy Awards in 2016. The duo have appeared on popular television shows like the Good Day New York show on FOX5 TV, USA. The brothers were felicitated by Lok Sabha Speaker Smt. Meira Kumar and Sh. Shatrughan Sinha on the 75th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Litterateur and Parliamentarian Late Dr. Shankar Dayal Singh in 2012.
The All India Radio invited them to perform for a special broadcast on the occasion of United Nations International Broadcasting Day. Reviews of their concerts have been published in all leading newspapers and magazines such as Los Angeles Times, India Today, The Times of India, Hindustan Times, Asian Age, The Hindu, Deccan Herald, The Sunday Standard, Indian Express, New Observer Post and many more.
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“They impressed with their serious musical attitude and no-nonsense approach. It was particularly satisfying that they made no attempt to play up to the gallery by showing off unnecessary virtuosity though their taiyyari and neat phrasing was there for all to see.”
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our journey
Lakshay & Aayush were born in a family where there was no musical background. Their father was not a professional musician, but played the Sitar and since early childhood they had an atmosphere conducive to music at home. This is what made them inclined towards Indian Classical Music and inspired them to learn this art. Thus with their sheer dedication and devotion they reached a phenomenal level of mastery in their respective instruments which has not only left connoisseurs & critics but musicians also spellbound. For the kind of passion and perseverance they both had, it wasn't unusual for them during their childhood years to travel to Kolkata frequently for taking music lessons and across the country for attending music concerts. On the academic front Lakshay holds a Bachelor's degree in Physical Sciences from the St. Stephens College, Delhi and Aayush holds a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics & Economics from the University of London.
What We've Achieved
Some of our most cherished accomplishments!
Nominated for Best Classical Instrumental at the Global Indian Music Academy (GIMA) Awards 2016 for the album 'The Hidden Harmony'
Became the youngest Indians to be featured on India's leading music label TIMES MUIC in 2014 for the album The Majestic Court
Became the first Indians to perform at the Grammy Awards Museum, Los Angeles in 2015.
Were invited by the All India Radio to perform for a special broadcast on the occasion of United Nations International Broadcasting Day in 2009.
Were the only North Indian instrumentalists to be invited to perform at World's largest South Indian Music Festival in Cleveland, USA - the Thyagraja Festival in 2015