Speakers

PT. HARIPRASAD CHAURASIA

Hari ji is an internationally renowned exponent of the bansuri or bamboo flute. His early love of music lead him toward studying classical flute under Pt. Bholanath Prasanna of Benaras for 10 years. Much later, while working for All India Radio, he received guidance from Annapurna Devi, daughter of Baba Allaudin Khan.

Over a lifetime of performances, Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia has become one of India's mostrespected classical musicians. He has collaborated with several western musicians too, including John McLaughlin and Jan Gabarek, and has composed music (along with Late Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma) for a number of Indian films. He has performed throughout the world winning acclaim from varied audiences and fellow musicians including Yehudi Menuhin and Jean Pierre Rampal. He has earned several awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1984, Padma Bhushan in 1992, Konarak Samman in 1992, Yash Bharati Sanman in 1994 and Padma Vibhushan in 2000.

Pt. Chaurasia has been bestowed the Honorary Doctorate by the North Orissa University, University of Mumbai and IIT Kharagpur for his unparalleled role and contribution to the world of Indian Classical Music.