Prateek Chaudhuri, a brilliant performer, is acclaimed
as one of the most outstanding Sitar players of the
country today amongst the present generation. His Sitar
sparkles with the rare combination of virtuosity with
technical finesse and a deep sense of aesthetics. His
music also reflects the eternal essence of Sitar. Born
in New Delhi, he has been groomed in a musical atmosphere
since his birth. He has for his father, the World Renowned
Sitar Maestro, Pandit
Debu Chaudhuri, Padmabhushan Awardee. He
also had the great fortune to learn from his Dadaguru
(father’s guru), Ustad Mushtaq Ali Khan Sahab, the great
legend of the “Senia” tradition, which has been named
after “Mian Tansen” , the doyen of Indian Classical
Music. Tansen is often called the father of Indian Classical
Music and those who belong to his family and follow
his tradition are called “ Senia ”. Prateek ji is the
automatic successor to this rare “Senia” tradition of
the great Indian Classical Music, having a unique tradition
of playing the Sitar not only with the traditional and
rare 17 frets ( instead of 19,20 or 21 frets, found
at present), but also having a unique string arrangement
of it’s own.
Prateek ji, today, strides the musical panthenon like
a young handsome Colossus. His graceful style and intricate
technique echo the great masters of the past. From his
nimble fingers resonate, the rich tones and melodious
phrases, which are characteristics of his style. His
skillful fingers handle rapidly moving passages with
ease, while maintaining integrity and beauty of every
note, the mark of a true virtuoso. With each performance,
he evokes masterful handling of his instrument emitting
grace, fluidity and dexterity with each note.
His charming stage presence and charisma only serve
to enhance the overall grandness of the performance.
That being so, it must be mentioned that simplicity
and clarity are the hallmark of his style. Amongst his
numerous achievements, Prateek ji has been ranked as
an “A Class” Artist by the National Television and Radio
of the Govt. of India. His mastery over the Sitar and
"Laya" (rhythm) has been acclaimed and praised
by the leading musicians of the country and he has also
been accompanied by almost all the leading Tabla maestros,
in his recitals in India and Abroad. In his concerts
and concert tours in India and Abroad, Prateek ji has
been accompanied by almost all the leading Tabla Maestros
of the country including the Late Ustad Shafaat Ahmed
Khan, Pandit Kumar Bose, Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, Shri
Bikram Ghosh, Ustad Akram Khan, Shri Sandeep Das, Ustad
Rafiuddin Sabri and many other reputed players of the
country.
Special
Awards & Recognitions :
Prateek ji has been awarded the “Pandit Nikhil Bannerjee
Award” from Lucknow, “The Best Instrumentalist Award”
from Delhi and the “Surmani Award” from Mumbai, amongst
many other Awards and recognitions. His name has also
been listed amongst the prominent personalities of the
World in American Biographies Intl., and Asia’s Who’s
Who.
Special
Concerts :
- Prateek ji
received the rare distinction and honour to give
a Special Concert for the President of United States
of America, Mr. Bill Clinton during his first visit
to India
-
He also had the honour to perform for the President
of India, Shri Abdul Kalam and
Shri R. Venkataraman in Rashtrapati Bhawan, New
Delhi.
-
He has also performed for the Prime Minister of
Norway during his trip to India in 2005.
-
Prateek ji has performed at Major Venues across
the world including the prestigious Carnegie Hall
and Kennedy Centre, in USA and the famous Queen
Elizabeth Hall in London. He also has to his credit
many successful concerts in Major Music Festivals
in India and Abroad.
-
Prateek ji has also been the featured artist in
almost all the Major Festivals of the country including
the famous and prestigious Music Festivals like
the Jaipur International Heritage Festival in Jaipur,
UNESCO Music Festival on Intl. Day for Tolerance
in Delhi, ITC Music Festival in Kolkata and Delhi,
Tansen Music Festival in Gwalior and Delhi, Maihar
Festival of Music in Maihar, Sawai Gandharva Music
Festival in Poona, Saptak Festival in Ahmedabad,
Baba Harballabh Festival in Jalandhar, Pandit Vishnu
Digambar Jayanti in Delhi, UMAK Music Festival in
Delhi, just to name a few, amongst many others.
-
He is the only Indian musician to have performed
with the Renowned “Swarovsky Music Wattens” Orchestra,
consisting of 80 musicians, from Austria in a Special
Concert held in Jaipur, India in the year 2005,
which was highly appreciated and profusely praised
by the audience.
-
Prateek ji is the Creator and the Main Conductor
of the “rare”, “unique”, and sought after Grand
Musical Orchestral Ensemble of the country India
– i.e “ SOUL OF INDIA -The Grand Orchestra ” which
has got musical elements of great variety including
Indian Classical, Western Classical. Rock music,
Jazz music, Sufi music, Music from Rajasthan, Pop
music, a Grand Rhythmic ensemble known as ‘Taal
Vadya Kacheri’ and also other elements of World
Music presented in a Grand scale.
-
Prateek ji was invited to give a Special Live Concert
for BBC 3 Radio in London.
-
He has been featured in the prestigious National
Programme of Music in All India Radio May’2000 and
the National Television of India ( Doordarshan )
in 2003.
-
Prateek ji has also been featured in the prestigious
AIR Sangeet Sammelan (Radio Music Festival) of the
Govt. of India, held in Shimla in 2004.
Unique
Performances :.
Fusion, Cross over
Music, World Music and Jugalbandi (Duet) Concerts
With his innovative ideas, also being a composer, Prateek
ji received rave reviews after he explored and experimented
successfully with Fusion Concerts, World and Crossover
Music, Carnatic Music and Jugalbandi ( Duet) Concerts
in India and Abroad. He has given highly successful
concerts with many reputed artists , forms of music
and combinations with artists from various parts of
the world, which include :
-
Immensely popular Concerts : with Louis Banks,the
Renowned Jazz Keyboard player and Sivamani, the
famous Drummer and Percussionist from India. The
name of the above group is “Rhythm Asia” which is
very much sought after.
- World
Music Fusion Group : Prateek ji has also recently
formed a highly successful World Music Fusion Group
of his own, which is also now very much sought after,
wherein he is joined on the Sitar by his group of
reputed Western and Indian musicians fusing the
Sitar with Keyboard, Drums, Tabla and other instruments
making it an affair to remember.
-
Sitar with Japanese Drum players : Prateek ji performed
a scintillating concert with Ryohhei and Kohei of
the famous AUN group from Japan
-
Sitar with Saxophone : He has also performed with
Dave Pietro, the famous Saxophone player from New
York, USA
-
He
has also experimented successfully with Carnatic
musicians in India which also show his imagination
in another dimension in his musical career. Another
unique and rare concert performed by him was that
Prateek ji, on the Solo Sitar was accompanied by
both Tabla and Mridangam, a highly successful and
rare combination.
-
Prateek ji has also recently given extremely successful
and sought after Jugalbandi (Duet) Concerts with
his father, Pandit Debu Chaudhuri, i.e. Duet Sitar
Concerts and with many reputed artists of the country
playing the unique instruments like the Shehnai,
Sarangi and the Sarod. These concerts also had an
overwhelming response and won the hearts of the
audience.
Countries
performed all over the world :
He has toured extensively
throughout the world with his father as well as a solo
artiste. These include countries like United States
of America, Canada, England, France, Greece, Germany,
Holland, Austria, Belgium, Japan, China, Italy, Hong
Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Mexico, Morocco, Denmark,
Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Yugoslavia (before partition),
, Indonesia, Venezuela , just to name a few. Prateek
ji is also the first Sitarist to visit and perform in
countries like Bosnia (after partition of Yugoslavia)
and even in Latin American
countries like Columbia, Guatemala and Panama.
Academic
excellence :
Prateek ji has also excelled in each stage of his education.
He is the recipient of the Gold Medal for his M.A.
(Music), while he has also secured the first position
in M.Phil (Music) examinations and is Ph.D (Music) i.e
a Doctorate. from the University of Delhi. At present,
he not only performs all over the world, but also teaches
as a Reader (i.e. an Associate Professor) at the Faculty
of Music of the University of Delhi, India, thus being
a unique and rare combination of an eminent performer
and teacher together in one , which is very hard to
find.
Besides his innumerous performances all over the world,
Prateek ji has also conducted several workshops and
also given several lecture-demonstrations in India and
Abroad for students and musicians in many countries.
Special
Mention :
- He has recorded for
many labels including India Archives in New York,
USA and also with SaReGaMa, India.
- Recipient of National
Scholarship for Music awarded by the Govt. of India
- Awarded the Delhi State
Scholarship for Music by the Govt. of the State of
Delhi.
- Recipient of the Junior
Research Fellowship and Senior Research Fellowship
awarded by the University Grants Commission, Govt.
of India for Research in Music.
- Represented India in
the Six Nation Music Festival in Greece.
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