My Compelling Story

Hailing from a renowned family of musicians of Varanasi who have traditionally played and nurtured the shehnai for over two and half centuries, Ritesh has taken to music by inheritance. His father, Pt Rajendra Prasanna is one of the great flute and shehnai players of the country. He received all his illustrious training from his grandfather, the late Pt Raghunath Prasanna, who was the first in the Prasanna family to introduce flute-playing, otherwise known for the shehnai playing. He taught them the basic techniques of the flute-playing and exposed them to the vast potential of this wind instrument. At a young age, Ritesh had a good command over flute. His recitals are methodical with emphasis on Gayaki Ang. Consistency in sur and laya is the hallmark of his playing. This talented young has not only imbibed the subtle nuances of Banaras Gharana but also presents them in a very beautiful way. He performed at many European and Asian nations including France, Switzerland, Italy, South Africa, Slovenia, Finland, Africa, Mauritius, Thailand, Combodia and Vietnam. Performances: Performed at the prestigious World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2011 in Davos (Switzerland) Slovenia and Finland under the auspices of ICCR Ministry of External Affairs Performed at the Africa Day in Africa Wits Theatre, Johannesburg Suncoast Cine Centre, Durban Zoo Lake, Johannesburg Eldos Jazz Festival, Johannesburg Pt Raghunath Prasanna Smriti Sangeet Samaroah The launch of the Germany and India 2011-2012 Infinite Opportunities Programme Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan Sangeet Sammelan Pt Vishnu Prasanna Smriti Sangeet Samaroah Gharana Utsav Ustad Bismillah Khan Smriti Sangeet Samaroah in Varanasi Delhi International Arts Festival in 2010 Jahan-e-Khusro Festival, Jaipur Delhi Jazz Festival Jadhavgarh Music Festival, Pune Mumbai Kal Ke Kalakar Sangeet Sammelan, 2008 International Sufi Festival of India, Ajmer Woods Talk Festival, Rishikesh Kyra Theatre, Bangalore Gulmarg Winter Festival, Kashmir World Flute Festival, 2013 Ahmedabad Internation Art Festival He is conferred with the title of “Surmani” award by Sur-Singar Samsad, Mumbai. He is also honored with ‘Sangeet Sadhak Samman’, Delhi.