Makhal

Maestro Michael Rupam Makhal (ALCM) is an Educator, Western Classical Violinist, Conductor, and Music Composer from India. He is an Associate of the London College of Music – University of West London in Music Literacy (Music Composition). Michael was born in a musical family in Kolkata. Ananta Makhal, his father, was an eminent Educationist, Social Worker, Violinist, and the Conductor of the Calcutta Chamber Orchestra and Oxford Mission School Orchestra.

As a conductor, Maestro Michael Makhal has been performing with his professional Symphonic orchestra for esteemed public and private events for the last 15 years. Michael is a lifelong educator and evangelizes the importance of music education among kids and adults.

Maestro Makhal is among the few Conductors from India who regularly perform in Europe and whose compositions have premiered on several prestigious occasions in the US, the UK, Hungary, Italy, and India. Michael is an internationally known composer, he is known for Indian Raga-based orchestral compositions, which have been performed in important fests and concerts. One of his latest works ‘Sangram’ has had the selection to perform at the Luci Della Ribalta International Festival in Italy by the festival orchestra in 2023. He composes mainly ensemble pieces for solo and chamber orchestras.

In 2018, Michael founded the Indo-European Youth/Chamber Orchestra –  which is probably the first India-based Western Classical & Intercultural Music Orchestra to perform in Europe. The Indo-European Youth Orchestra performed in Budapest, Hungary at the Danube Palace on 18th August 2019 creating a historic moment for India under the leadership and baton of Maestro Makhal. The orchestra had its 2nd concert at the Festetics Palace on 14th August 2022, and also, at the Amrita Sher-gil Cultural Center (ASCC) – The Embassy of India in Budapest, Hungary under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav on 13th Aug 2022. In 2023, the widely admired orchestra performed for the 3rd Grand Budapest Concert at the prestigious Royal Palace of Gödöllő on 14th August 2023. In 2023, the 4th Grand Budapest Concert was held once again at the Royal Palace of Gödöllő before a packed hall and learned audience on 14th Aug 2024. IEYO continued to present a special performance at ASCC in the Embassy of India in Budapest, Hungary. The Program Director and Co-founder of IEYO is Sudeshna Makhal, she is also a Cello student and wife of Maestro Makhal.

​Michael is among very Indian composers who write music for International orchestras and artists. Michael’s specialty, he composed music on Indian Raaga and traditional Folkstyle for Western Classical orchestras and musicians. One of his landmark works  ‘1947 Summer of India’ for Cello Solo and String Orchestra had its World Premiere in Italy at the 8th Luci Della Ribalta International Festival in Narni, on 29th August 2018. This is the first time the Italian Festival performed an Indian composer’s work. Michael’s composition Ancient India had its premiere at the prestigious Bob Jones University, in the United States of America. His number of original pieces have been world premiered in the Grand Budapest Concerts in 2019 and the following years as well as with the Indo-European Youth Orchestra.

Michael speaks about the 1947 Summer of India: “The piece is partially based on the structure of Raag Bhoopali and presents the essence of Free India and the Joyful environment around the whole Nation in 1947. This is very rare for Indian Folk-styled music which is written for Western Classical Music Orchestra. That is the specialty of my work and the purpose of my composing career – to compose Indian Classical Music based on Raga and Indian folk rhythmic music for Western Musicians and Orchestras under sonatina, ensemble, chamber and symphony orchestra structure. I want to make Indian Classical music style accessible to Western Musicians and anyone can perform with ease just how they play classical music.”

Michael’s first notable success came as a Western Classical Music Composer when he won the selection to represent the Indian Commission at the Commonwealth Games 2014 as a Composer. He was chosen by ‘The Scokendia Ensemble’ (Glasgow Cultural 2014) through an International contest and commissioned professionally to compose/write a fresh piece for the ensemble, which he named The Spirit of India and had been performed during the Commonwealth Games 2014 at Glasgow – Scotland in several venues, having its World Premiere at the prestigious Stevenson Hall on 25th July 2014.

If we rewind to Michael’s past: He performed his first concert at the age of 11 in a Calcutta Church and débuted as a soloist at the age of 15 performing the Vivaldi concerto for two Violins in A Minor. At the age of 17, he became a member of the Delhi Symphony Orchestra, becoming the youngest member of the most prestigious Symphony Orchestra in India. In addition to being regular with the Delhi Symphony Orchestra, Michael appeared with the East-West Orchestra, the Mathieson Music School Orchestra, Bangalore School of Music Orchestra, Calcutta School of Music Orchestra, as well as the Opera Concert – ‘The Fakir of Benaras’ presented by the Neemrana Music Foundation. In 2007, he participated in the prestigious event Asia Orchestra Week and represented India through the Delhi Symphony Orchestra. Presenting as the first Indo-Sri Lanka Goodwill Orchestra, the group performed a concert at the Tokyo Opera City concert at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, conducted by Maestro Hikotaro Yazaki.

In 2012, Michael formed his contemporary orchestra for public and private events, which is among the very few professional orchestras in India and the first one to be available for all kind of private events. The ‘Michael Makhal Symphony Orchestra’ has been performing around the country in esteemed private concerts, also in abroad by performing at Atlantis Ballroom in Dubai- UAE. Michael’s objective is to make Western Classical Music fully accessible to the common people in India. He believes Indian music lovers have a sophisticated sense of music and can adopt other musical and cultural traditions – Western Classical Music is very well praised by contemporary India and will have a bigger audience in the coming days.

 ​As a composer for original music in films, Michael did quite a few projects. His recognition came when Indian filmmaker Jennifer Alphonse’s short film ‘Strangerssss’ was selected at the Cannes in 2014 for World Premiere, which was scored by Michael. Well-known Indian actor Pitobash Tripathy took the lead role. The film received a number of national and international awards since 2014.

Michael is also an avid traveler, he often flies off with his wife Sudeshna to see the World, which he believes has a huge influence on his musical endeavors!