About
Recognized for her enchanting performances and exceptional bel canto-like lyricism, Indian-American violinist, Maya Anjali Buchanan, is gaining wide appeal as a dynamic young artist with extraordinary musicality. Named Yamaha’s 2020 Young Performing Artist for Classical Music/Violin she has performed on three continents garnering enthusiastic reviews.
Maya has performed in recital and as the featured soloist with numerous orchestras throughout the United States, in China and Europe. “The incredibly difficult Sibelius concerto performed flawlessly and with a passion one might expect from a veteran player twice her age. Opening the concerto with a silvery magical tone she forged forward with a deep understanding… A powerful performance not to be soon forgotten” blogger Li Zhicong, raved of her Chengdu debut with the Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra. Maya has appeared as a guest artist at the Peninsula Music Festival, Harpa International Academy Festival , and made her Aspen Music Festival debut as the recipient of the prestigious 2019 Dorothy DeLay Fellowship Award performing the Glazunov Violin Concerto with the Aspen Philharmonic Orchestra. Describing her Aspen performance, Alan Fletcher, President of Aspen Festival writes, “an immensely appealing artist…with a deep musical understanding,… her [Glazunov Concerto] had great beauty of tone” and The Daily Gazette writes"...she played this very romantic work with a deep rich tone, facile technique and a sweetly romantic lyricism” following her 2022 Albany Symphony debut. Highlights of forthcoming engagements include performances with the Northbrook, Evanston and Grand Rapids Symphony, Symphony Orchestra of India in Mumbai, and recital debuts at the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in Chicago and Salon de Virtuosi recital series in NYC.
"Maya unveils the music of her heritage by presenting pieces unique to her Indian ancestry, bridging her Eastern roots with her Western classical training."
At sixteen, Maya captured First Prize in the 2017 Crain-Maling Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition and made her solo debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She is a top medalist of the 2018 Washington International Competition, 2018 Stulberg International String Competition, 2016 Stradivarius International Violin Competition and 2015 Johansen International Competition.
Maya has performed at many diverse venues including Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavík, Carnegie Hall in New York City, The Kennedy Center Terrace Theater, Chicago Symphony Center, Ravinia’s Bennett-Gordon Hall, Aspen’s Harris Hall and Benedict Music Tent, The Kimmel Center for Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Deluxe Music Hall in Chengdu, China, Door Country Auditorium in Wisconsin, and historic Chenery Auditorium in Michigan.
Selected as an “exceptional young artist" worldwide to perform at the Starling-DeLay Symposium in NYC, Maya has been featured on numerous radio broadcasts including multiple performances on NPR’s “From the Top”, WFMT Chicago “Introductions”, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, WCLV Cleveland and KJAX Aspen Public Radio.
In an effort to broaden Western classical music traditions, Maya unveils the music of her heritage by presenting pieces unique to her Indian ancestry, bridging her Eastern roots with her Western classical training. She enjoys showcasing works of Indian influence that reflect the form and improvisational quality of Eastern music, blending techniques of both cultures. An alumna of the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, she studied with Almita Vamos. She currently attends the famed Curtis Institute of Music in the studio of pedagogue Ida Kavafian. Maya performs with a c. 1730 Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ through the generous efforts of the Stradivari Society of Chicago.
