Faculty – Community Education Division (Texts and Tradition)
Dr. Kanniks Kannikeswaran serves as a faculty member in HUA’s Community Education Division, bringing his expertise as an internationally acclaimed composer, educator, and scholar in Śāstrīya Saṅgīta. He is recognized for pioneering contributions to Indian American choral and orchestral music, blending traditional ragas with global musical forms.
Dr. Kannikeswaran has directed Indian American community choirs in over 12 U.S. cities, collaborating with amateur and professional musicians, academic institutions, and dance companies. He has presented papers at the Madras Music Academy and taught graduate-level courses in Indian Music Theory, History, and Creativity at the University of Cincinnati. He has collaborated with renowned artists including Bombay Jayashri, Kaushiki Chakraborty, Ranjani & Gayatri, Pandit Ajay Chakraborty, the Gundecha Brothers, Lakshmi Shankar, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, involving over 4,000 performers worldwide.
His flagship production, Shānti – A Journey of Peace, interweaves the Upaniṣadic vision of Oneness into choral and orchestral music. His award-winning film Colonial Interlude highlights Indo-Colonial music through Muttusvāmi Dīkṣitar’s compositions and has been screened internationally. Dr. Kannikeswaran’s contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from IIT Madras and the Ohio Heritage Fellowship, reflecting his global impact in music, scholarship, and cultural preservation.
Beyond his musical accomplishments, he continues to bridge cultural and musical divides, enriching the global music landscape while promoting the richness of Indian traditions to diverse audiences.