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Baljinder Sekhon is a contemporary classical music composer who was born in 1979 in the United States. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a professional tabla player and his mother a trained classical singer. From a young age, Sekhon was exposed to Indian classical music and Western classical music, which would later influence his compositions. Sekhon began his formal music education at the University of Miami, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in percussion performance. He then went on to pursue a Master of Music degree in composition at the University of Michigan, where he studied with Michael Daugherty and Evan Chambers. He later earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition from the University of California, San Diego, where he studied with Roger Reynolds and Chinary Ung. Throughout his education, Sekhon was recognized for his talent and received numerous awards and honors. In 2005, he was awarded the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award, and in 2006, he was named a finalist for the Rome Prize in Music Composition. Sekhon's compositions are known for their unique blend of Indian classical music and Western classical music. He often incorporates Indian instruments such as the tabla and the sitar into his works, while also utilizing Western instruments such as the piano and the violin. His compositions are also characterized by their complex rhythms and intricate harmonies. One of Sekhon's most notable works is his percussion concerto, "Krump," which was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and premiered in 2010. The piece is inspired by the dance style known as krumping, which originated in Los Angeles in the early 2000s. The concerto features a solo percussionist who performs on a variety of instruments, including the tabla, the djembe, and the drum set. The piece is known for its high energy and virtuosic percussion writing. Another notable work by Sekhon is his string quartet, "The Offering," which was commissioned by the Kronos Quartet and premiered in 2013. The piece is inspired by the Indian tradition of offering food to the gods, and features a blend of Indian and Western musical elements. The quartet is known for its intricate rhythms and haunting melodies. Sekhon's other works include "The Time Given," a chamber opera that explores the concept of time, and "The Speaking Hand," a piece for solo piano that incorporates Indian classical music techniques. In addition to his work as a composer, Sekhon is also a professor of music at the University of South Florida. He has been recognized for his teaching, receiving the University of South Florida's Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award in 2016. Overall, Baljinder Sekhon is a talented and innovative composer who has made significant contributions to the world of contemporary classical music. His unique blend of Indian and Western musical elements has earned him critical acclaim and a dedicated following of fans and performers.

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