Dr. Shivannand Maharaj is a distinguished music educator, researcher, composer, arranger, and performer. His career spans over twenty-five years in the field of Indian Classical music. He holds a PhD in Mechatronics from The University of Trinidad and Tobago. His pioneering research explored the application of robotic technology in music education, with a particular focus on the tabla, a traditional Indian percussion instrument. Dr. Maharaj is deeply committed to advancing both the traditional and innovative aspects of music pedagogy. He believes that modern technological methods can significantly enhance tabla education worldwide.

Throughout his career, Dr. Maharaj has taught Indian Classical Music and Ethnomusicology at The University of Trinidad and Tobago’s Academy for the Performing Arts as a Senior Instructor. He currently serves as a Music Lecturer at the Department of Creative and Festival Arts at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. He also directs the UWI Arts Indian Classical Ensemble. In this role, he nurtures the next generation of musicians and fosters a vibrant community for Indian Classical music within the Caribbean.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to music education, Dr. Maharaj received the prestigious Hummingbird Gold Medal National Award for Music in 2013. The award was conferred by the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. He is a versatile musician, proficient in several instruments. These include the tabla, harmonium, violin, santoor, sarod, steel pan, and sarangi. For more than twenty years, he has specialized in teaching the art of tabla playing. His teachings encompass both theory and practical aspects.

Dr. Maharaj has delivered numerous lectures and demonstrations at local universities. He has also presented internationally at the Universities of New Delhi, Baroda, and Punjab in India. Dr. Maharaj’s influence extends beyond the classroom and the stage. He has presented his research and musical insights at international music conferences across the Caribbean, North America, and India. As a performer, he has graced major events, including the 2019 Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, India. He also performed at the Taj Mahotsav in Agra, India, in 2020. His fascination with integrating the tabla instrument into various musical genres, particularly World Music, has grown over time. He explores and promotes the use of new technological resources to enhance music education, particularly for novice students.

Dedicated to educational and cultural development, Dr. Maharaj actively engages with youth and community groups throughout the Caribbean. He inspires continued interest and participation in music and the arts. His ongoing work has significantly advanced music education, research, and cultural preservation. These contributions have made him a respected figure both regionally and internationally in the music world.