Dr. Pratik Gandhi

Biography

Pratik Gandhi is a conductor, percussionist, clinician, and researcher based in Tkaronto (Toronto). He is a sessional lecturer at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music, where he directs wind bands and teaches conducting. As music director for Rouge River Winds and the Milton Philharmonic Orchestra, he has contributed significantly to the music community. Furthermore, he serves as an adjudicator, holding the position of Vice-Chair for the concert band division of MusicFest Canada, and has coordinated the syllabus for the OBA Provincial Band Festival. Pratik regularly presents workshops that focus on conducting techniques, wind repertoire, and percussion pedagogy. He champions new music and has conducted the premieres of numerous works, including Jodi Vander Woude’s 'Quiet Love: Lullaby' and Kristie Hunter's 'Stronger Than.' His leadership with Rouge River Winds has facilitated commissions from notable composers like Steven Bryant and Pete Meechan. He has also directed premieres of works from the Toy Piano Composers and collaborated with notable composers-in-residence at the University of Toronto Wind Symphony. Currently, Pratik is a PhD student in the Department of Music at York University, where he investigates issues of equity in the representation of Canadian composers in wind band music, supported by an Ontario Graduate Scholarship.

Research Interests