Spiritual Curiosity ● Creativity ● Connection
Nirmal regularly performs sound journeys, leads Kirtan, facilitates workshops, and hosts retreats throughout the Northeast. Nirmal began studying cello at the age of 9 and as a music major at Brown University, he decided to dedicate his life to music. After earning his Masters of Music in Composition from San Francisco Conservatory, he took a detour into the world of intentional music, particularly Kirtan— an ecstatic form of call–and–response chanting— and Sound Journeys. These musical practices perfectly matched his desire to bring both spiritual connection and audience immersion into his work.
Sound Journey at Rowe Retreat Center, MA
Spiritual curiosity, creativity and community building are the central passions of Nirmal' work. He regularly performs sound journeys, leads Kirtan, facilitates workshops, and hosts retreats throughout the Northeast. Nirmal began studying cello at the age of 9 and as a music major at Brown University, he decided to dedicate his life to music. After earning his Masters of Music in Composition from San Francisco Conservatory, he took a detour into the world of intentional music, particularly Kirtan— an ecstatic form of call–and–response chanting— and Sound Journeys. These musical practices perfectly matched his desire to bring both spiritual connection and audience immersion into his work.
Nirmal enjoys creating gatherings and retreat experiences in which people can connect with each other through wisdom-based practices and creative expression. He is proud to serve as co-host of the Men's Retreats at the Rowe Center in Western Massachusetts and also works with Jon Fischer to offer body positivity retreats for GBTQ men in NYC.
After experiencing the many benefits of yoga and meditation, Nirmal completed programs in both areas. He received his 200-hour yoga teacher certification from the Integral Yoga Institute of New York, and completed a 100-hour meditation teacher training.
Kirtan at Upper Westside Kirtan, NYC
 Music for Yoga at Jivamukti, NYC |
 Music for Yoga at Brown Sugar, NYC |
Sound Journey with Chorus at First Parish, Lexington, MA
Ritual in Providence, RI
Highlights
Co-director of the Men's retreats at the Rowe Center, MA
Co-hosts retreats, teaches yoga and performs for Pawed Wellness, NYC.
Busking Artist for Music Under New York, NYC
Wrote the story, music and lyrics for the musical Nudists in Love, which premiered at the 2008 NYC Fringe Festival to positive reviews. (There was no actual nudity in the musical, to the chagrin of some of the audience.)
Wrote the music for anOther, a retelling of Hindu and Buddhist deities, for Queensboro Community College, which garnered a Kennedy Center Commendation.
Performance / Kirtan Venues
New York City
Bhakti Center
Integral Yoga
Jivamukti Yoga
Lucid Body House
Queensborough Community College
Dimenna Center for the Arts
Fringe Festival NYC
Church with a 2–Drink Minimum
Upper West Side Kirtan
Brown Sugar: Yoga for Folks of Color
New England
Rowe Retreat Center
Raven's Wing Yoga, Branford, CT
Kitchari Kirtan, Boston, MA
Bow Street Yoga
South End Yoga
JP Centre Yoga
Devotionfest
Fern Grove Studio
First Parish of Lexngton
Zumix Community Center of East Boston
Upstate New York
Easton Mountain Retreat Center
New Jersey
Kennedy Center College Theater Festival, Gypsy Yoga
Quebec, Canada
Kirtan!
Netherlands
Kirtan!
Online
Yoga International
Flyer for Kirtan in Quebec City, Canada
Education & Training
BA in Music
Brown University, Providence, RI
Masters of Music, Composition
San Francisco Conservatory of Music, CA
200–Hour Yoga Certification
Integral Yoga Institute, NYC
Trained in Hatha, Yin, & Pranayama (breathwork)
Level 1 Certification in Sound Healing
Sound Healing Academy
100–Hour Meditation Teacher Training
NYC
Kirtan Coursework
Bhakti Center, NYC
Cello Private Study
11 Years in Classical Cello
2 Years in Jazz Cello
BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop
NYC
Busking as part of the Music Under New York program