Pavaka Ritchot

Pavaka began music at the age of 4 with classical training. After playing cello in the Winnipeg Youth Orchestra, he quickly moved into popular music playing bass and composing for many bands ranging in styles from folk, to jazz, to children's music and heavy rock. His compositions have earned various songwriting awards in the province of Manitoba including Concours Phonogramme from Société Radio-Canada (CBC).

Pavaka began to study meditation with Sri Chinmoy in 1995 and is now devoted almost exclusively to creating arrangements of Sri Chinmoy's music, drawing on his diverse musical background. Pavaka says: "What is important for me is to maintain the meditative quality that is inherent in Sri Chinmoy's music. I try to create music that sounds familiar to Western ears but conveys a consciousness that is very fresh, and very new".

Originally from Winnipeg and now based in Montreal, Pavaka performs regularly with The Pavaka Ensemble in Eastern Canadian Cities as well as New York City. For this European tour he will be accompanied by flute, percussion and choir. The first CD was released in 2006 is available on iTunes and is entitled simply "Pavaka performs the melodies of Sri Chinmoy Vol. 1"