| Ajay Kapur | |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | United States of America, Canada, New Zealand |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Fields | Computer Science, Music |
| Institutions | California Institute of the Arts, New Zealand School of Music |
| Alma mater | Princeton University, University of Victoria |
| Doctoral advisor | Dr. George Tzanetakis |
| Other academic advisors | Dr. Perry R. Cook, Dr. Andrew Schloss |
| Notable students | Matthew Setzer |
| Known for | Musical Robotics |
| Influences | Trimpin, Eric Singer, Aashish Khan |
Ajay Kapur is a computer scientist, musician, and educator known for his pioneering work in musical robotics and electronic instrument design. He has toured internationally with his self-designed electronic sitar and mobile robotic drummer, the MahaDeviBot[1] and currently serves as professor at California Institute of the Arts and the New Zealand School of Music.
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In June 2002, Ajay Kapur received his undergraduate degree in computer science from Princeton University. For his senior thesis, he invented the Electronic Tabla MIDI Controller. After graduating from Princeton, he engaged in graduate studies at the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia under Dr. George Tzanetakis. Kapur received his PhD in interdisciplinary studies combining electrical and computer engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, music, and psychology in November 2007. His dissertation, "Digitizing North Indian Performance: Extension and Preservation Using Multimodal Sensor Systems, Machine Learning & Robotics," was published in 2008 by VDM Verlag Dr. Müller. While studying at the University of Victoria, he learned electromechanical construction techniques from renowned sound sculptor Trimpin.[2]
Ajay Kapur currently serves as the program director for the Music Technology: Interaction, Intelligence, and Design (MTIID) program at California Institute of the Arts. Since becoming the program director in early 2008, he has increased the program's focus on electromechanical design for musical robotics, DSP, computer science, and world music.[3]
Since 2009 he has served as a PhD adviser and lecturer in the Sonic Arts program at the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington, New Zealand.[4] He remains an active publishing researcher, focusing on the field of machine learning, musical interface design, and music information retrieval.
Kapur is also founder and CEO of KarmetiK Technology LLC., a multifocus enterprise with an emphasis on new music, interactive multimedia technology, and real-world audiovisual applications.[5]
Kapur plays sitar and percussion, and is one of the founding members of the Victoria-based KarmetiK Underground performing ensemble and artist collective. He currently studies Sitar under Sarode virtuoso Aashish Khan. Kapur focuses on creating electronic interfaces for traditional Indian instruments, including robotic instruments and electronic additions to classical instruments.
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