Internationally known flute player Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia took the stage at Schwab Auditorium last night to play an Indian classical music concert that, even after two hours, ended with calls for an encore.

Chaurasia played as part of OMKAR 2006, an annual event organized by the Indian Graduate Student Association (IGSA). "We want to bring every Indian together so they can stay connected to their heritage," IGSA secretary Priya Luthra said.

Rohan Shirwaiker, IGSA vice president, said he was thrilled Chaurasia could come to Penn State. "Right now he's the best flute player in the world," he said.

The evening began with physics professor Abhay Ashtekar giving an introduction about Chaurasia's life and accomplishments.

"Thank you for a wonderful introduction," Chaurasia said. "I have never heard so many things about me before."

Chaurasia said the bansuri, a six-holed flute made of bamboo, is a deceptively simple instrument that is difficult to master. "It takes time. It takes energy. It takes many lives, not one," he said.

At one point in the performance, Chaurasia would play something on the flute and fellow performer Pandit Vijay Chate would attempt to recreate it by tapping it out on the tabla, a pair of hand drums.

Eventually the passages Chaurasia played became too complex for Chate to recreate on the drums and both of them broke down, laughing.

Saraswathi Bellur (graduate-media effects) said this was the first time she heard Chaurasia play live.

"I've been listening to him for all my life," she said. "I had a couple of assignments due and everything, but I was not going to miss this."

Chaurasia said he was impressed when he asked the members of the audience for suggestions of what to play and heard the names of many different songs.

"They have so much knowledge, even in India they don't have so much knowledge," he said.