Jake Charkey is a pioneering cellist who has developed innovative techniques to adapt the cello to Hindustani music, blending Indian classical traditions with contemporary genres. Described by composer Clinton Cerejo as someone who “redefines the sound of cello,” Jake’s performances explore the space between these two musical worlds.
Since returning to the U.S. in 2016, Jake has been a strong advocate for new music for solo cello, actively commissioning works that merge Hindustani music with modern compositions. In 2023, he received an award from the New Music USA Creator Fund for his upcoming double album Rasika: Beyond the Bounded Territories, which will be released in 2025. He is also set to premiere a new work by Michael Harrison in 2025, supported by the New York State Council on the Arts.
Jake’s sound has been featured in over 100 Bollywood soundtracks and songs, as well as on the title theme of the Emmy-nominated Netflix series Sacred Games, season 2 of MTV’s Coke Studio, and multiple episodes of MTV Unplugged. In India, he collaborated with leading musicians such as Zakir Hussain, Hariharan, and Arijit Singh.
Jake has performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, and Lincoln Center and appeared on radio shows such as WQXR’s Meet the Composer podcast and KEXP. As an educator, he teaches at Marlboro College and serves as Education Director for Brooklyn Raga Massive. Jake holds degrees from Rice University and the California Institute of the Arts.
Learn more at www.jakecharkey.com