Tansen  Academy  of  Music (R)

" Surmani Awardee "
Dr. PRAKASH BALAPPA BHAJANTRI 

Hindustani Classical Vocalist , Voice Trainer , Mentor 

Bhajan Singer , Harmonium , Tabla & Dukkad Player 

             Shri. Prakash Balappa Bhajantri @ Prakash Balesh  , son and disciple of Hindustani Vocalist and Shehnai Maestro Pandit Dr. S.Ballesh, Prakash Ballesh is General Secretary of Tansen Academy of Music Chennai (R) (Taan Institute).

             He has done his Sangit Visharad and Sangit Alankar from Akhila Bharatha Gandharava Mahavidyalaya, Sangeet Prabhakar from Prayag Sangit Samiti, Allahabad  and He has finished his Vidwath Poorva & Anthim from Karnataka State Govt Music Exam Board and B. Music and M. Music from Karnataka University. In 2022, he was honoured with Honorary Doctorate award from Mother Theresa University, in Chennai. 

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            Prakash had his initial Hindustani Classical Music training  from his grandfather Shehnai Samrat Pandit Sanna Bharamanna and at the age of 7 years, he started his musical, learning in Kirana gharana Vocal Gayaki from the Late Pandit Dr. DP. Hiremath of M.K Hubli for nearly 10yrs.     

           Prakash is one of the early senior disciples of Pandit M.Venkatesh Kumar of Dharwad (Gwalior-Kirana Gharana style), Later, He learnt Patiala Gharana Khayal Gayaki from his father Pandit Dr. S. Ballesh. Prakash is inspired by Voice culture and Gayaki ang of Guruji Ustad Rashid Khan Sahab and received his blessings. 

           Currently Prakash is guru of nearly 250students in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Worldwid teaching Hindustani music. Prakash learnt the nuances of Tabla from Table Nawaz Ustad Nazim Hussain, son of Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan. Prakash is a multi skilled artiste playing Hindustani Vocal, Shehnai, Harmonium, Tabla, Dukkad (Banarasi Drums). He has accompanied his father Pandit S. Ballesh in many concerts with Vocal support and accompanied Harmonium for his Vocal concerts and also accompanied Dukkad (Banarasi Drums) for his Shehnai concerts. 

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          Having all these multi skills, he is very much specializes in teaching. His way of making his disciples to understand the foundation of music is unique and makes a very comfortable learning. He rigorously trains his students by making them sing toughest alankars, a basic vocal exercise that creates a strong understanding about swaras and improves voice culture. He never discourages a student and makes even a non-singer into a trained singer. He follows a systematic approach by making the students take each step without any fear about music. He has received many honors and awards to his credits.

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Notable concerts - Vocal  & Shehnai & Dukkad & Harmonium

Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahostav , Pune

Shri Baba Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan , Jalandhar, Punjab

Delhi Classical Music Festival, Sahitya  Kala Parishad, Delhi

Ganga Mahotsav, UP  Govt., Benaras

Kashi- Vishwanath Festival - Benares

Tansen Sangeet Samaroh , Bhopal

Shehnai Mahotsav  , Bharat Bhavan , Bhopal

Sur Singar Sansad Sangit Sammellan , Mumbai

Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur Sangeet Utsav , Dharwad

Smt. Gangubhai Hangal Sangeet Sammellan , Hubli

Ganayogi Panchakshari Gavayi Sangeet Sammellan , Gadag

Pandit Kumar Gandharv Sangeet Sammellan , Belgaum

Spirit of Unity Concert , Tirupati 

Pt. Motiram - Pt. Maniram Music festival , Ernakulam , Hyderabad

Gaanayogi Swar Utsav , Dharwad

Notable Jugalbandi performances

He has played Harmonium, Shehnai and Dukkad alongside many senior artistes like Shri. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Ustad Shaid Parvez Khan, Shri. Ronu Majumdar, Shri. Atul Kumar Upadhyay, Ustad Rafique & Shafique Khan along with his father Pt.S. Ballesh and was blessed to have the accompaniment of seniors like Yogesh  Samsi, Ravindra Yavagal, and Subhankar Banerjee. 

Fusion, Folk  & Popular Music

Prakash has performed with playback singer and music composer A. R. Reihana for "Indian Fusion Music Festival", held in Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center, Maryland, United States of America & In 2019 he performed in Malaysia with music composer A. R. Reihana for Sufi and Film music festivals held in Malacca , Malayasia

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Contribution to Hindustani Sangeet :

Co Founder : Tansen Academy of Music

To propagate the legacy of his Gurus’ Ustad Bismillah Khan Shehnai & Pt. Puttaraja Gawai, he co founded Tansen Academy of Music in Chennai along with his father for promoting Hindustani music, Shehnai, Harmonium, Dukkad. The institute has over 1000 students who learn classical music - Vocal, Ghazals, Qawwali, Bhajans Tabla, Sitar, Flute and Shehnai.