Dhiren Panikker is a freelance pianist, composer, and teacher in the Orange County/Los Angeles area.  Initially trained as a classical pianist, Dhiren has been studying and performing jazz for the last decade.  Dhiren’s current work is focused on musical identity and the dialog between jazz and non-western improvisational forms, as well as new interfaces with technology.  Dhiren has performed at many of Los Angeles’s most acclaimed jazz clubs including The Jazz Bakery and Catalina Bar and Grille, as well as appearances on the Ellen Degeneres Show, and music festivals in Reno, Monterey, and Seoul, South Korea. In addition to holding a teaching position at the Yamaha School of Music, Dhiren also maintains a large private studio where he teaches piano, theory, composition, and improvisation to vast range of both children and adults.  In his spare time, Dhiren enjoys listening to music, spending time in nature, gardening, and travel.

http://www.myspace.com/dpanikker