Rakesh Chaurasia
About
Rakesh Chaurasia, a composer & flautist, is known for playing impeccable Bansuri. He is the nephew of the renowned flautist Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia.
He has been continuing the rich legacy of the Chaurasia tradition by being adept at both the Hindustani classical form as well as other music formats like Jazz, and Fusion to name a few.
Rakesh is not just a great sought after Soloist but he’s also collaborated with many celebrated musicians like Ustad Zakir Hussain, Shri Pankaj Udhas, Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Marco Salaun, Pt. Subhankar Banerjee, Vid. Shashank Subramanyam, and Vid. Patri Satish Kumar among others.
He has performed at a number of prestigious festivals, including the Womad Festival in Athens, the Womad Earth Station Festival in Europe, the Festivals of India in Russia, Japan, the United States, and Europe, the Festival of Saint-Denis in Paris and the Leicester International Music Festival in England.
Rakesh was invited to conclude the 24 hour live BBC Radio broadcast celebrating Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee, reaching audiences worldwide.
Rakesh also started a Fusion Band RAF - Rakesh and Friends which creates music that appeals to the young without sacrificing the essence of classical music.
Awards and accomplishments
Awards and accomplishments
- Rakesh received the ‘Indian Music Academy Award’ from the former President of India, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in 2007.
- He received the ‘Aditya Birla Kalakiran Puraskar’ in 2008.
- Rakesh was presented with the ‘Guru Shishya Award’ in 2011.
- He received the ‘IWAP-Pandit Jasraj Sangeet Ratna Award’ in 2013.
- He was also bestowed with the ‘Pannalal Ghosh Puraskar’ in 2013.
Why Rakesh Chaurasia?
Rakesh Chaurasia is an innovative exponent of the modern bansuri, incorporating the tradition of his renowned uncle flute maestro Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. He has matched note and rhythm with wind instruments of other cultures, infusing his personal style, and has evolved a form of music with maintaining the purity of the flute that captures the attention of the young listeners too.
With the inclusion of jazz, flamenco, and Bollywood in his territory, and despite an eclectic repertoire, Rakesh remains rooted around a detailed classical core. His forte is in blending his flute without really losing its identity in mixed instruments concerts and he continues to captivate his audience with it.
