Tejomayananda: Guruji, as he is lovingly called by the Chinmaya Mission family, is a perfect blend of spirituality, music and love. He has been a guide and mentor to me in every stage of my life and I believe that his presence has shaped my music to what it is today.
My father, Commander Ram Mohan Rao: His mother was an exponent of Carnatic classical music and this meant that he became passionate about music too. He constantly encouraged me to learn and practice against all odds over the years, and is the main reason why I am in music today. My first album titled Khyal is dedicated to my dad as I couldn't have done it without him.
My mother, Mrs Sarala Rao: She worked hard all her life and achieved great success in her career. Everything she did was to only support my growth in life and if I am able to sit on stage and inspire a group of people in the audience today, it is because of her efforts while I was growing up.
My Guru, Smt Chandrima Misra: I am the luckiest student to have a Guru who is dedicated and traditional in her approach, yet open-minded. She has taught me a lot over the last 12 years and I owe every single performance of mine to her efforts. I am blessed to have her as my musical mother. I can talk to her about pretty much anything in my life!
Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan: He is the doyen of the Patiala Gharana, the lineage of musicians that I belong to. His life will always be remembered as a key milestone in the development of Indian classical music. His voice and compositions will ring in people’s ears for generations to come – his ‘khyal’ is eternal.
Ganasaraswati Kishori Amonkar: I attended a concert of hers as a child not knowing what I was about to experience. At that age, I didn’t really understand the technicalities of the music she presented. But her aura, stage presence and divinity in music is something that I can never erase from my memory.
MS Subbulakshmi: Having lived in Chennai as a child, I was surrounded by her voice. We woke up to her recordings every morning and even heard them in shops and restaurants. She is my favourite Carnatic classical vocalist.
Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar: His name is probably one of the most frequently searched artists in my YouTube and Spotify accounts! The purity in his voice and approach to improvisation is something I am inspired by. He truly is a musician’s musician.
All my students: I teach a group of students at various levels and abilities. Each one is musical in their own way, but also have areas that they need to further develop. They are pretty much my blank canvas. I try out different techniques of teaching and see how they respond. What I learn through the process is invaluable.
My musical family: There are so many others who have impacted my life. My family, many teachers who taught me music over the years, artists I have heard, accompanists I have performed with, friends who have encouraged me, friends who have questioned my passion in music, and every audience member who has given me feedback. I believe every human interaction has an impact on us and I am grateful to have chosen music to make a difference to people’s lives.
- Prabhat Rao, of the Patiala Gharana, is a Hindustani classic-al vocalist and teacher based in London, who has performed globally. Visit www.prabhatrao.com and www.Facebook.com/prabhatraolondon for more.
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