Rajib Karmakar, widely recognized by his stage name SITARRAJIB, is an accomplished sitarist, composer, and educator whose musical journey began at the age of four under the guidance of his father and guru, Pandit Durgadas Karmakar. His artistic foundation was further deepened through training in Hindustani classical vocal music with Ustad Ghulam Akbar Khan of the Rampur Sahaswan Gharana, and in the Beenkar style of sitar with Pandit Ramdas Chakravarty of the Senia Gharana.
Over the course of his career, Rajib has collaborated with internationally renowned artists, including Herb Alpert, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Beck, Sugar Blue, Zakir Hussain, Sandeep Das, and Wu Tong, to name a few. His performance career has also been marked by appearances and collaborations with leading orchestras, ensembles, and presenters such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Atlanta Master Chorale, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Spire Ensemble, among numerous others. His performances have graced prestigious venues and festivals including the Hollywood Bowl, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Lincoln Center, Mechanics Hall, Cal Performances, National Arts Center and Straz Center, to name a few.
In addition to the concert stage, Rajib’s artistry has extended into film and media through work with major entertainment companies and studios, including Sony, A&E, Warner Bros., Universal, and Disney. His film credits, including Basmati Blues and Murder Mystery 2, among other projects, reflect his versatility across a broad spectrum of musical genres and creative settings.
A passionate and dedicated educator, Rajib has inspired emerging musicians through residencies, masterclasses, and academic engagements at distinguished institutions worldwide, including Stanford University, Brandeis University, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Butler University, the University of Waterloo, Dartmouth College, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), among several esteemed institutions.
Rajib currently serves as the Artistic Director of the Los Angeles International Music and Arts Academy, where he continues to advance cross-cultural musical dialogue through performance, education, and artistic leadership.
