Self-taught flautist and tabla player Rakesh Soni has released his debut album, Songs of My Flute. His career has seen him play with some of the top UK orchestras like the Halle Symphony, the English Folk Music Circuit, the Fosbrooks and others. He has also played for veteran actor Amitabh Bachan and North Indian devotional singer Anup Jalota. His album’s release occurred 16 years after his uncle bought him a flute from India.

Rakesh suffers from a lung problem and is physically challenged. He was selected from KwaZulu-Natal to represent South Africa in the VSA (Very Special Arts) International Music and Dance Festival, which took place in Istanbul in Turkey in 2001.

He has a National Diploma in Information Technology from ML Sultan Technical College which is now part of the Durban Institute of Technology. He currently works at DIT as a network administrator for the department of Library Information Studies.

The album costs R50. For more information call 082 978 8498.