Since childhood, Shri Ashish Kukreti found music to be the most inspiring force and was greatly inspired by the legendary Hindustani classical vocalist, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. Sans the privilege of coming from a Gharana, a vocalist in Hindustani Classical Music, credits his grandfather Late Shri Sadanand Kukreti who always encouraged him to pursue his passion for music.
Ashishji’s deep desire to learn vocal form of Hindustani Classical surfaced as he stood at the threshold of adulthood. He learnt his basics from Pandit Shivanand Sharma. However, due to family compulsions, after completing his education, he was constrained to take up a job of a computer engineer. He started his career at with AHYMSIN, a spiritual organization founded by Swami Veda Bharati, one of the leading disciples Swami Ram. He then moved on to Delhi to further his career. Despite a demanding job, he would take out almost 6 hours on a daily basis to practice. However, the corporate life and his inner calling to pursue music always led to an internal conflict which only increased with the passage of time
In 2013, Ashishji decided to bid goodbye to corporate life. He then started practicing under the guidance of Pandit Anup Misra from Banaras Gharana. Presently, Ashishji is guided and mentored by Pandit Dr. Vikas Kashalkar from Gwalior Gharana.
Ashishji has rendered performances in India and abroad and been an integral part of prestigious projects like OPERA SERIA 2014, Matā Gangā Orchestra Tour 2013 (Musical-Cultural exchange between India and France) and Living Hanuman. He is also an integral member of research being done on the effect of sound in Srividya Tradition.
This budding classical vocalist, apart from his practice of eight hours every single day, has set up a registered Trust (Non-profit Organization) in Rishikesh by the name of “Shruti Sarita Art” that invites classical performers from pan India to showcase their talent and promote classical music in the state of Uttarakhand. Ashishji has also set up a Music school that teaches the students under Guru Shishyā paramparā (Master and Disciple tradition).