Rakesh Chaurasia

Rakesh Chaurasia, the talented nephew of flute master Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, has made a name for himself as an accomplished flautist. Blending his uncle's traditional style with his own, Rakesh retains the flute's purity while appealing to younger audiences. As a leading disciple of his uncle, he is poised to advance the Chaurasia legacy.

Rakesh skillfully combines his flute with wind instruments from different cultures and has performed 'jugalbandis' with renowned Carnatic and global artists. He excels in blending his flute in mixed instrument performances without losing its unique sound. Rakesh has toured extensively, captivating audiences at both classical and contemporary shows. He is also an experienced studio musician, collaborating with many top figures in the Indian film industry.

Rakesh has received several awards, including the Indian Music Academy Award from Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in 2007, the Aditya Birla Kalakiran Puraskar in 2008, the Guru Shishya Award in 2011, the IWAP-Pandit Jasraj Sangeet Ratna Award in 2013, and the Pannalal Ghosh Puraskar in 2013.

Rakesh, despite his experimental projects, remains focused on becoming a full classical musician. He regularly performs at well-known festivals, including WOMAD in Athens and various Festivals of India in Russia, Japan, the USA, and Europe. His growing reputation has led to solo performances at significant events in India and abroad, like the Festival of Saint-Denis in Paris and the Leicester International Music Festival.

Notably, Rakesh concluded a 24-hour live BBC Radio broadcast for Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee, reaching a global audience. Recently, he toured as part of a duo for classical concerts and with legendary tabla player Ustad Zakir Hussain in major venues worldwide. Rakesh has also performed with international artists like Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Joshua Redman.

His latest project is the fusion band Rakesh and Friends (RAF), which creates music appealing to younger audiences while maintaining classical music's essence. Humble Rakesh acknowledges he has much to learn from his legendary uncle, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, and from his peers. He aims to make his mark in Indian Classical Music with the challenging instrument, the Bansuri.

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