Baird Hersey and Prana

Biography

Prana: breath, vital energy, life force, is also an overtone singing choir formed by Baird Hersey in 2000. They performed at a Benefit for The Dalai Lama Foundation, did a personal performance for Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and had their music included in "Live! Light on Life", a performance for BKS Iyengar in New York. In 2007 they recorded “Gathering in the Light” with Krishna Das, 7 of his chants sung over Baird’s arrangements for Prana.  Baird Hersey has been a student of yoga and overtone singing for 22 years. In 1997 He began the practice of Ashtanga Yoga. He studied yearly with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois starting in 2000 in Mysore India and the US. He says of his teacher, " I would not be doing the music I do, or have the life I have, were it not for him. I realize that at the heart of whatever small success I have had is Guruji and his teaching. My gratitude is unending." Hersey's is a National Endowment for the Arts Composition Fellow with commissions from Harvard University, New Mexico Council for the Arts, The Brooklyn Bridge Centennial Sound and Light Spectacular, The HVP Symphony Orchestra, and performances throughout the US and Europe in such different setting as the Berlin Jazz Festival and MTV. Prior to 97 he had composed extensively for television.  As individuals, the singers of Prana have recorded and performed with James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, The Talking Heads, Krishna Das, Wah!, Dr. John, Todd Rundgren, John Sebastian, Steve Smith (Journey), Doane Perry (Jethro Tull), Graham Parker, Aine Minogue, Maria Muldaur, Barrie Maguire, David Hykes, Every Mother's Son, Livingston Taylor, The Fugs, Orleans, Peter Yarrow, Tiny Tim, Rick Danko, Leon Russell, and Jorma Kaukonen,

Website

www.myspace.com/bairdherseyandprana

Open Weekend Classes (Fri Oct 15 to Sun Oct 17)