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LUCKNOW: Noted shehnai player and Padma awardee Krishna Ram Chaudhury breathed his last at KGMU Lucknow on Wednesday. Aged about 83 years, Chaudhury was undergoing treatment for a gastroenterological ailment since January 4.A contemporary of maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan , Chuadhury belonged to Varanasi but was living with his family in Allahahbad.CM Yogi Adityanath expressed condolence on the demise of the exponent who was conferred the Padma Shri award in 2017.According to Sangeet Natak Akademi’s citation, Choudhary was born in 1936 in Banaras, and was groomed in the Benaras style of Shehnai at home by his father Buddh Lal Choudhary, a disciple of Pandit Bade Ram Das.He further learnt the nuances of raga-exposition and the advanced technique of Shehnai from Pandit Mahadev Prasad Mishra of the Benaras gharana.His uncle Ram Lal Sehara, a film music director, was also among his teachers in Shehnai.“An accomplished musician, Shri Krishna Ram Choudhary has received wide acclaim for his performances, in which he renders Hindustani classical forms as well as Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti, Kajri, and Hori on the Shehnai,” the citation by ministry of culture stated.Besides solo performances, Chaudhury accompanied leading musicians on his instrument, including VG Jog, Kishan Maharaj, Samta Prasad Mishra, Manilal Nag, Shujat Khan and Nishat Khan.The list of honours besides the Padma award included President's Award in the All India Radio music competition in 1961, the Critics’ Circle of India Award in 1982, and the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1991 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to Hindustani instrumental music..