Rourkela: A teenager with roots in Odisha, eastern India, has been making headlines in the United States with his musical compositions.
Vaibhav Mohanty, who lives with his parents in Charleston in South Carolina, loves to compose for concert bands, small ensembles and jazz bands. The 16-year-old boy’s performances have brought him multiple national and international recognitions leading to performances at various venues in America, including one at the world famous Grand Ole Opry House, reports odishasuntimes.com.
He began playing the piano when he was four and saxophone at the age of nine, the same year he composed his first original western music.
He composed “Floodgate of Happiness” on piano, which won the first prize at the school and state level. His composition also received an honorable mention in a national level competition.
“Altitude,” which he wrote when he was 13, was performed by Piedmont Wind Symphony at Winston-Salem, North Carolina by about 50 musicians and by All-National Honor Band of National Association for Music Education at Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville, Tennessee, using more than two dozen instruments.
The winner of the National Young Arts Foundation award later showcased his musical talent in Miami, Florida during the National YoungArts week where he was selected by YoungArts as a gene U. S. Presidential scholar (academics).
‘Verve Street,’ which he wrote at age 15, has been performed by 20 professional musicians of Charleston Jazz Orchestra last October. A gifted young musician, he was honored at the South Carolina Music Educators’ Conference and has already won six national and international music competitions, has been a finalist in one national competition and has got two national honorable mentions in music competitions.
After Vaibhav turned a professional music composer, JPM Music Pushing in Festus, Missouri, US, published his music compositions such as “Scherzo,” “Train Ride” and “Humoresque” while Lighthouse Music Publishing in Ontario, Canada will publish “Altitude” soon. Several of his compositions are in the process of review for publication.
The talented student has got admission to Harvard University to pursue his college studies. He plan s to join there in winter.
“We are extremely happy with our son’s achievements,” said his parents Bidyut Mohanty Sangeeta Mohanty said over phone from the States.
“I want to compose more and more music and bring laurels,” said Vaibhav Mohanty speaking to OST. When asked about his future plans, Vaibhav said “I want to be a doctor.”