Meet the esteemed faculty at Los Angeles International Music and Arts Academy, dedicated to providing exceptional music and lessons both online and in-person. Our experienced instructors offer musical lessons in various disciplines, including Indian music and instruments like the vocal, sitar. tabla, flute and many more. With a commitment to excellence, our faculty ensures comprehensive lessons of music through classes, workshops, retreats, masterclasses, seminars, and performances. Whether you prefer online learning or in-person instruction, join us to learn from the best and explore the rich heritage of global music traditions.
RAJIB KAMAKAR
Rajib Karmakar is a Los Angeles based performance artist, composer and educator. Rajib has been performed in many countries including India, USA, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland for Ministry of Spain (Spain), Ottawa Council for Arts (Canada), Boom Festival (Portugal), Festival of India (USA and Canada), NAMM (Los Angeles), Cal Performances (USA), National Arts Center(Ottawa), Straz Center (Tampa) , Castello Di Romeo (Italy), Shrine Auditorium (Los Angeles) and many more.He has played and has been featured in various movies and T.V. shows for Disney, Warner Bros., Sony, Universal, A&E Network and others and also has been an artist in residence for various colleges and universities all over the world. Rajib's versatility and ability has allowed him to adapt his skills and knowledge to his various world music projects with his own creation “Mayur Tantri” -the world’s first double necked sitar. Rajib received his MFA in Music from California Institute of the Arts and currently he is the Artistic director of Los Angeles International Music and Arts Academy.
NEEL AGRAWAL
Neel Agrawal is a world percussionist performing with leading musicians across a wide range of genres. Neel was recognized as an inaugural 2018 "Cultural Trailblazer" by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. Neel has performed with a variety of musicians, ranging from L. Shankar to Lord Huron. He was also selected to participate in “Celebrate the Connections”, an urban arts and education tour of India sponsored by the U.S. State Department, and completed a fellowship at the Harvard Library Innovation Lab for his groundbreaking research on African Drumming Laws. Additionally, Neel was the section leader of the Michigan State University Drumline, where he received two national tenor drumming awards from Percussive Arts Society.
DR. NEELAMJIT DHILLON
North Indian Bansuri, Shehnai, Saxophone and Tabla
Dr. Neelamjit Dhillon is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist composer-performer based in Los Angeles. Skilled in both North Indian classical and American jazz music, he is an educator of great repute and has helped many students achieve their musical goals. Neelamjit has a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies (majoring in saxophone performance) from Capilano University and has also completed a Bachelor of Education degree in Secondary Music Education from the University of British Columbia. He received his Doctorate in Music from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts).
KANDACE LINDSEY
Vocals and Voice Techniques
Kandace Lindsey is a multi-lingual singer-songwriter, and recording artist that brings passionate and inspiring World Soul music to the globe singing in several languages such as Portuguese, English and Spanish. Kandace’s music is a cultural exchange of rhythms and music from all over the world. With very rich cultural influences of Brazilian music, Spanish, Indian, and of course Soul.
Kandace has 4 CD’s and 5 singles released internationally to her credit, and has sang on many other CD’s in collaboration with other global artists.
The mix of cultural rhythms and unique musical identity brought her up for a consideration for a Grammy nomination in 2011 from Recording Academy because of her fiery vocal technique and melodic songwriting abilities.
Kandace has performed globally alongside International stars Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, as a background vocalist. She was asked to be a featured performer with Mr. Anthony in a duet in Spanish for the song ‘Ahora Quien’ on tour for several years having huge performances at Madison Square Garden, and soccer stadiums all over South America & Spain. These musical tours enriched her solo career and helped her find her one-of-a-kind voice conveying her diverse global musical experiences and travels to her fanbase across the globe.
REEWA RATHOD
Reewa has also been featured in a music video alongside Kenny G representing India where she sang in Chinese. The song is called “The Jasmine Flower” which is a traditional Chinese folk song. This was a huge and very prestigious project.One World in Beauty presented by Yue Sai Kan -the international fashion icon. The hour-long event featured some of the biggest names in music, beauty, fashion, and entertainment, honoring Estée Lauder, Wendy Yu, Phillip Lim & Lucy Liu. The music videos.featured artists from all across the globe like Kenny G from USA, Lang Lang who is a world-renowned pianist from China, Eldbjorg Hemsing who is one of the finest and the leading violinists of Norway, the cello-playing prodigy Anna Hu from France and Rosey Chan, a virtuoso musician from London was all a part of it. Reewa was the only vocalist in the video. Most recently, Reewa has recorded ‘Heart of Love’ for the Hollywood movie -a 2nd Chance which released in theatres in Newark, New Jersey, and New York. Reewa’s music is the dream combination of traditional jazz.and ultra-modern 21st century pop, wrapped in a gorgeous vocal instrument, and seasoned. with a huge pinch of soul.
SAUMYA JAIN
Tabla
Saumya Jain is a neuroscientist by profession and a tabla player by passion. Saumya received his early training in tabla while in New Delhi, India and was extremely fortunate to come under the tutelage of phenomenal tabla players of the Punjab Gharana - Prafulla Athalye and Aditya Kalyanpur after moving to the US. Saumya currently resides and performs in the LA area and teaches tabla as a faculty member at the Los Angeles International Music and Arts Academy (LAIMA).
IAN LIPSON
Guitar, Song Writing and Music Theory
Ian Lipson is a Highland Park based composer/producer offering lessons in guitar, bass, songwriting, music theory, and audio production/engineering. Lipson graduated from the Herb Alpert School of Music at California Institute of The Arts, and formerly studied at USC's Thornton School of Music as part of their Music Industry Program. Playing, writing, and performing with bands for over a decade, Lipson has played in a wide variety of musical styles including rock, blues, jazz, pop, folk, country, funk, klezmer, western classical, North Indian classical and free improvisation. He records and produces albums, and has composed scores for motion picture too.
DAVE CIPRIANI
Guitar, Song Writing and Music Theory
Dave Cipriani is a highly accomplished Guitarist, Songwriter and composer. He performs on 7 String Classical and Electric and also on 20 string Indian Slide Guitar . He has produced 4 CD’s and has received awards from the Maryland State Arts Council and the Baltimore Office of Promotions and the Arts. Dave's diverse background include studies with jazz great Charlie Byrd, classical guitarist Christopher Parkening, sitar master Jai Kishor, and Indian Slide guitar pioneer Pandit Barun Kumar Pal, a senior disciple of Ravi Shankar. Dave holds an MFA in North Indian Music at California Institute of the Arts, which included studies with Balkan/classical/flamenco guitarist Miroslav Tadic, Indian masters Ustad Aashish Khan and Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, and classical guitarist Stuart Fox.
BRIAN GRIFFITH
Brian Griffith is a sound artist, bass player and sitar player based in Los Angeles. His music has been performed at Union Station, Palm Springs Museum of Art, UCLA, Otis College, CalArts, and various smaller spaces around the country. He is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Experimental Sound and Composition at California Institute of the Arts.