Ajay Prasanna

Ajay Prasanna Born in 1979 in Allahabad, Ajay Shankar Prasanna is an Indian classical flautist and hails from a family of classical musicians. He received his training in flute from his Guru and father, Pandit Bholanath Prasanna, from the Banaras Gharana, who is also the Guru of Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia.

Ajay Prasanna started his training in Indian classical music at a tender age of 3 years by simply observing his father play the flute and teach his students. During Ajay Prasanna's childhood days he would observe his father giving music lessons to Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia who would visit Guru ji to receive his blessings and learn new Raagas, which Pandit Bholanath Prasanna would create himself and then teach to Chaurasia. Sitting by the room window Ajay Prasanna would silently observe his father teaching Raagas of his own creation to his students and imbibe that into his flute playing. An ardent listener, a great observer and an extremely fast learner, Ajay developed an immense ability to innovate any raga keeping the traditionalist approach intact by observing his father's lessons.

Ajay Prasanna gave his first performance at the age of 6 years in Allahabad Akhil Bhartiya Sangeet Sammelan. Since then he has gone on to enthral audiences with his performances around the world. A rare combination of innovator and traditionalist, All India Radio, which is India's national broadcaster, has bestowed Ajay Prasanna with the  ranking of a 'Top grade' classical artist.  He has significantly expended the expressive possibilities of north Indian classical flute through his masterful blowing technique. Ajay is well known for his incredible melody, fluency, maturity and dexterity in his performance in both the gayaki and tantrakari styles of playing.

  

Ajay Prassana first performance was at the Allahabad Akhil Bhartiya Sangeet Sammelan at the age of six. He has since performed several times including solo concerts in London, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, Kenya and Russia. He has had the opportunity to perform alongside renowned classical music maestros like Pt. Ravi Shankar, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Sultan Khan and Shubha Mudgal. He has also played in several fusion music concerts with Anoushka Shankar, Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan and collaborated with Sting. A worthy musician like Ajay Prasanna deserves this worthy introduction.Apart from his solo concerts he has played with renowned classical musicians including Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ustad Sultan Khan, Ustad Shujaat Khan, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pandit Rajan and Sajan Mishra and Shubha Mudgal. 

Ajay Prasanna has also played in several fusion music concerts with Anoushka Shankar,  Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan, Karsh Kale, Salim-Sulaiman Merchant, Midival Punditz, Indian Ocean, and collaborated with Sting. 

In addition to international recognition for his solo classical concerts, Ajay Prasanna has formed his own dynamic fusion band called, ‘Secret Weapon’, whose performances have been held throughout India and abroad.

Ajay Prasanna Performances within India:-