Prabha Atre is a noted Indian classical vocalist belonging to Kirana Gharana of Indian Music. As a brilliant creative thinker, performing artist, composer and teacher of music, Prabha has fetched a distinct place for herself in the creative world. Today she has been reckoned as one of the senior most leading female vocalists in India. Her creative mind, her endeavour has made her distinct from other vocalists of her generation.
Early Life of Prabha Atre
Prabha Atre was born on 13 September 1932 in Pune to Abasaheb and Indirabai Atre. This proponent of Kirana Gharana apart from exhibiting her excellence in the field of classical music has also shown her brilliance in the field of academics. She has done Bachelor of Science from Fergusson College, University of Pune and Bachelor of Law from Law College from the same university. From the institute Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal she has gained the title Sangeet Alankar. She also earned a Ph.D. in music in which her doctoral thesis was titled `Sargam`. She has obtained a degree on Western Music Theory Grade-IV from Trinity College of Music, London in a Correspondence Course. Prabha Atre has undergone her training in Indian classical music as a vocalist in the traditional `guru-shishya paramparaa`. Initially she learnt music from Vijay Karandikar. Later she was trained under the tutelage of Sureshbabu Mane and his famous sister, Padmabhushan Hirabai Badodekar. She has also received formal training in Kathak dance style.
Career of Prabha Atre
Throughout her career she has given performances in concerts all over India and abroad since 1955. She took part in various prestigious music festivals held in India and abroad. She has been nominated as the Top Grade All India Radio Artist. She has released many recordings of her compositions. Some of them are Raag - Maarubihaag, Kalaavati and Mishra Khamaaj - Thumri; Raag - Bhairav and Yaman; Raag - Desi and Madhuvanti; Raag - Miyaa Malhaar and Mishra Pilu - Kajari; `Niranjani` Album ( Two Cassettes ) and CD`s with Ninaad Music Co- Raag - Puriyaa Kalyaan, Raag - Shankaraa and Basant; Raag - Malkauns, Manjkhamaaj - Dadra; Raag - Chandrakauns, Mishra Shivranjani 
- Daadraa; Raag - Madhukauns, Mishra Gaaraa - Thumri; Raag - Baageshree, Mishra Khamaaj - Thumri.
Prabha Atre has also published some books on her credit. They are: `Swaramayee` published in the year 1984 for which she has been honoured with Maharashtra State Government Award in the year 1989; `Swaralee` published in the year 1992; `Swaranginee` published in the year 1994; `Swarmayee` published in the year1996; `Antahswar` published in the year 1997; `Enlightening the Listener: Contemporary North Indian Classical Vocal Music Performance` published in the year 2000.
Apart from exhibiting Indian classical music she has also playacted the role of a teacher as the Professor and Head of the Dept. of Music, SNDT Women`s University, Mumbai, from the year1979 to1992. Prabha Atre has also embellished as the Assistant Producer for Music with the All India Radio from 1960 to 1970. She has also been working as Associate Founder Member and Executive Committee Member, Indian Musicological Society, Baroda, since 1980. She was the Member of the Cultural Committee, Maharashtra Government, 1981; Member of the Advisory Panel of the Central Board of Film Censors, Mumbai, 1984; Committee Member of the Sangeet Research Academy, ITC, Western zone since 1985; Committee Member of the Indian National Theatre, 1987; University Grants Commission Member of the Panel of Fine Arts and Arts History, 1987, Non-official member of the Northern Panel of the Musical Audition Board of the All India Radio, 1987; Examiner for Music (M.A. Ph.D. level) and Member of the Board of Studies in Music at various universities; Judge of reputable competitions, scholarships, awards at the national level; Member of the Public Service Commission of Maharashtra.
Achievements of Prabha Atre
As recognition to this extremely talented personality many accolades have been conferred to her. In the year 1955, Central Government Scholarship for Music; in the year 1975 Jagadguru Shri Shankaracharya gave the title `Gana Prabha` and `Acharya Atre Award` for Music; in the year 1978 she has been appointed as `Special Executive Magistrate` by the Government of Maharashtra in recognition of services to the cause of music; in the year 1983 she has been selected as the Visiting Professor at the University of Calgary, 
Alberta, Canada; 1986 fetched her the Indo-American Fellowship for studying research materials used in Ethnomusicology at the University of California, Los Angeles, America and she was selected as the Visiting Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, America. In the year 1989 she has been felicitated by Mahanagar Palika, Pune, for her outstanding contribution in the field of music and was selected as the Visiting Professor at the Rotterdam Conservatory, Netherlands. In the year 1990, she was honoured with the highest civilian award, `Padma Shri` by the Government of India and in 2002 she was honoured with Padma Bhushan. She got felicitation by Sanskar Bharati; felicitation by Sawai Gandharva Vishwastha Samsthe; felicitation by Law College, Pune; has been selected as the Visiting Professor at the music conservatory , Montreux, Switzerland; in the year 2001 Felicitation by Global Action Club International; Acharya Pandit Ram Narayan Foundation Award; S.L. Gadre Maatoshri Kalakar Award; felicitation by the Mahapaur of Indore. From year 2011 "Swarayoginee Dr. Prabha Atre Rashtriya Shaastreeya Sangeet Puraskar" is instituted by Tatyasaheb Natu Trust and Gaanvardhan Pune. Other prominent awards received by Prabha Atre include Sangeet Natak Academy Award, Giants International Award, Tagore Akademi Ratna Award, Rashtriya Kalidas samman, Dinanath Mangeshkar Award, Felicitation by Global Action Club International, Hafiz Ali Khan Award and many other prestigious accolades.
Prabha Atre has composed more than 200 classical master pieces in khyaal-taraana, thumri-dadras, bhajan-geet-ghazals; new raags: Apurva kalyan, Darbari kauns, Patdeep malhar, Shiv kali etc; set of cassettes of music compositions adapted to full-length dance programme `Nritya Prabha` - choreographed by the famous Bharatanatyam danseuse Dr. Sucheta Bhide Chaphekar; music for musical-dramas.
