Kalaimamani Dr. Krishna Ballesh Bhajantri

     An Internationally celebrated Shehnai Artist and (Patiala Gharana) Vocalist, Ghazal singer, “Shehnai Chakravarthy” Pandit Dr. S.Ballesh, hails from MK Hubli town Belgaum district) Karnataka. He is a disciple of world-renowned Shennai Maestro Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan. Initiated into music by his father Pandit Sanna Bharamanna he continued to learn under the guidance of his uncle Pandit Dodda Bharamanna. He further trained under Guru Dr.DP Hiremath, Kirana Gharana, and Patiala Gharana from Pandit Kodanda Singh Salunke Maharaj. He was conferred with "The Honorary Doctorate" D.Litt., (Honoris Cause) by The International Tamil University USA.
 
     Panditji was blessed to train under the guidance of Padmabushan Pandit Dr.Puttaraja Gawai (Gadag) Gwalior Gharana- Kirana Gharana. His training was complete with his induction into the Banaras Gharana under Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahib. As his foremost disciple, he also accompanied him for several years.  

     Panditji is also a renowned Hindustani classical vocalist and Ghazal singer and has been the preferred musician for many music Directors in Bollywood, Tollywood, Mollywood, Kollywood, and all languages across India (such as Maestro Naushad  Ali, Maestro MS. Viswanathan, Maestro Illayaraja, Oscar winner A R Rahman and MM. Keeravani).

       Panditji has also played for Hollywood music directors and has also collaborated with international musicians in recordings. He has also sung many Hindustani Alaaps and played shehnai for more than 10,000 background scores for films and 65,000  film songs and around 1,00,000 devotional songs. He also sang several songs along with noted singers like K.J. Yesudas, S. Janaki,  Illayaraja, and S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, MM. Keeravani and A.R. Rahman .