Indo-European Orchestra is the first Indian Chamber Orchestra that performed in Europe under the baton of Indian Conductor Maestro Michael Makhal
The Indo-European Youth Orchestra is brought together fifteen young Indian musicians from different parts of India, US and UK for the Concert in Danube Palace at Budapest, Hungary. The concert and workshop project took place in Budapest from 13th Aug to 18th Aug 2019 culminating with a Gala Concert on 18th Aug at the Danube Palace hall under the baton of internationally known Indian composer and conductor Maestro Michael Makhal. Out of fifteen members, twelve young talents was selected from Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore for the concert and two Indian-American members from Tallahassee Florida, the USA, also, one Indian-Portuguese member from the UK. The musicians are in the age group of 13 to 36 and a blend of students and young professionals. The Indo-European Youth Orchestra had six professional Hungarian musicians in all the section of the orchestra – 1st Violin, 2nd Violin, Viola and Cello. IEYO had also invited a group of Hungarian students to join our orchestra, making it a true event of spreading the message of friendship through music.
Indo-European Chamber/Youth Orchestra is a unique Orchestra from India, formed by Internationally known Indian Conductor and Composer Michael Makhal. The orchestra was launched at the Hyderabad Autumn International Music Fest Concert in October 2018 under the batons of Maestro Makhal and Maestro Alessandro Viale (Italian Pianist). It was Maestro Makhal’s dream to create a format which would adequately serve the purpose of building a crossover orchestra and organizing concerts in Europe opening doors for talented young Indian musicians to have the opportunity to perform in Europe. It took time and humongous planning and preparation to create the Grand Budapest Concert yearly seriates with the Indo-European Orchestra,
The Cultural Director of the Indian Embassy in Hungary Ms. Tanuja Shankar graced the concert along with her colleagues. We had 4 talented young and senior from Delhi, 3 of them are students of the Delhi Scool of Music Aryam Samaria, Parth Sarthi and Rahul B, the other one is the Violin teacher in DSM Pramit Biswas. We had 3 Hyderabadi musicians, in fact, the youngest members of the orchestra was from Hyderabad Varun Venkat Lanka 13 years old, and Tanish Samanta 14 years old the other member from Hyderabad was Veda Vidya Somanchi who works in TCS.
We brought together Indian talents from all over the World!
IEYO had two members from Mumbai Anish Sharma and David Menezes, accomplished young Violinists. In the Viola, there were the Viola sisters from Bangalore Gabriella and Michelle, Gabriella teaches at the Bishop Cotton School. The orchestra also had two members from US, amazing Indian origin Saxophonist Aniketh Mukhirala and a fantastic Cellist Param Mehta, both are from Tallahassee, Florida. IEYO also had a talented Indian Portuguese Violinist from UK, Joanro Gomes. And, the young concert master was from Kolkata, Violinist Apratim Nayak.
It is important to add that IEYO had the privilege to have eight amazing Hungarian musicians in the orchestra and some of them are members of the prestigious Danube Symphony Orchestra, Hungary. The orchestra had Maestro Erno Koppandi, Maestra Noemi Judit, Maestra Zsuzsanna Smeidelik, Maestro Laszlo Demeter, Maestra Ilona Szilagyi, Maestra Vivien Jarvar, and two young Hungarian musicians Lili Tolnai and Blanka Szabo from Hungary. It was an amazing experience for the ensemble to have such a blend and a true combination of Indian-European Orchestra structure, performing a finely crafted repertoire with the works of Mozart, Brahms, Gustav Holst, Rabindranath Tagore and more uplifting the message of unity and friendship through music.
The Indo-European Youth Orchestra was invited to perform for the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav Concert at the Amrita Sher-gil Cultural Centre by the Embassy of India in Budapest, Hungary on 13th Aug 2022 to celebrate the 75th Independence year of our incredible nation India. An opportunity like this will only come again after 25 years, we all at IEYO feel highly honored to represent our great nation India in a foreign land and perform for the country on such an occasion.
The primary goal of the Orchestra is to bring together talented Indian Western Classical musicians from different parts of the World under one terrain and perform around the World. Also, to introduce Indian folk style and raga based music to the new global audience.
IEYO is an ensemble of its own kind especially for its repertoire. In 2022, the ensemble performed a great repertoire namely, Spirit of India, Suswagatham, Elgar’s Serenade, Mozart’s Divertimento, Hungarian Dances by Brahms, Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto and more. The Grand Budapest Concert was held at the prestigious Festetics Palace in Budapest, Hungary. Indo-European Youth Orchestra (IEYO), an ensemble of its own kind, performed in Budapest with young and advanced musicians from around India, also citizens of the USA, Australia, South Korea, and Hungary. It goes without saying, Indo-European Chamber/Youth Orchestra has successfully made a mark for itself on the map of global chamber/youth orchestras.
Indo-European Orchestra’s specialty
The ensemble not only performs the greats like Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi and Beethoven, but it has a unique repertoire that includes Raaga based music precisely written for Western Classical styled orchestras, artists and ensembles by Maestro Makhal – who already has an admiring and loyal audience for his music in the USA, UK, Italy and India. Maestro Michael Makhal‟s latest work for Flute solo and String Orchestra – „Story of Stars‟ will have its World premiere in this concert at Budapest. The Orchestra also has a guest composer and arranger from Kolkata Upamanyu Kar, who is known for his western orchestral arrangement of Rabindranath Tagore‟s songs and also authored a book called „Tagore On Keys‟. Our Orchestra will perform one of his Tagore Medleys, exclusively written for our Danube Palace concert in Budapest.
Indo-European Youth Orchestra is all set for its 3rd Concert in Europe on 14th August 203 at the very prestigious venue the Royal Palace of Gödöllő with an ensemble many new young musicians who would be performing in Europe for the first time in their life. IEYO feels privileged to make such an impact in the lives of these young musicians, helping to gain the treasure of knowledge and exposure from such an international chamber orchestra orchestra concert. The orchestra hopes to continue this saga every year and open doors for young performers to showcase their talent to international audience.