-Shreyosi Chakraborty

Blending the oriental and occidental cultures, young Gauri’s forte lies in playing Indian Classical Music on her piano. Gauri Mishra, who had won the National Award from President Ram Nath Kovind (Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya BAL Puraskar) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2020 as the youngest pianist of India, is the only pianist of India to have ever received a national award. Mishra has also been certified as the Youngest Indian Classical Pianist by Children’s Book of Record and other organisations.

A few excerpts: 

Q. How did you come up with the idea of learning to play the piano? Playing the piano is a luxury for many in Indian families. Is anybody in the family associated with it?

As an over-inquisitive child and for all good reasons, I loved trying my hand out at everything. No one in the family is associated with music, leave aside piano. Coming from a humble, middle-class background, let’s say choosing to play the piano was an unconventional choice that I had made, along with support from my parents.

Q. When did you start learning the piano? Share some experiences.

I started learning the piano when I was just four. Although an unconventional choice, the lessons started on a traditional note with Indian Classical Music which further made the combination very rare. 

Although I do play Bollywood and Fusion, Indian Classical Music remains my forte.

Presently, I am doing grade eight from the Trinity college of London and also taking lessons from Prayag Sangeet Samiti Allahabad, India

Q. Share with us some challenges involved in the journey.

The major challenge still lies to find a teacher. Over the years, I have changed many institutes and teachers for getting a better teachers. There are hardly any piano players, leave aside teachers.

Q. At present, who do you take your piano lessons from?

The funniest part about this is that I am getting trained from Neel Ranjan Mukherjee, who plays the Hawaiian guitar! Actually, I get my lessons simultaneously from two teachers. Neel Sir teaches me Indian Classical Music whereas Ramesh Chandra Jain, who is my piano teacher helps me articulate it on the piano.

Q. What are your future goals?

I have never thought about taking up playing instruments professionally nor have I imagined my life without Music. Honestly speaking, I have never given a thought about what I would want to take up. Till then, I will go with the flow. I do play at concerts and functions, however, as of now, I am not playing the piano in a commercial way. I am still in my learning phase and I have a long way to go. Learning the instrument and Music still remains my aim and I have not yet decided about my ambition.

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