AMJAD ALI KHAN VOCAL SAWAI GANDHARV MUSIC FESTIVAL 2016 RAAG PURIYA DHANASHRI DRUT

Amjad Ali Khan Hindustani Vocalist- Kirana Gharana Website: www.amjadalikhan.com Amjad Ali Khan is a Hindustani vocal virtuoso who has earned the reputation of stellar performer in a very short span of time. He has won a wide acclaim for his soulful classical and light classical renditions that are a harmonious blend of melody and rhythm. His ability to balance the performances with sensitive alap/vistar, complex sargams and an onslaught of lightening fast taans has set him in a class apart. He is gifted with melodic, deep and sonorous voice with tremendous power that enthrals the audience filling their hearts with ecstasy. A part from pure classical renditions he is equally adept in the light classical forms such as ghazals, tumri, dadra, bhajan and sufi. Son and disciple of UstadAkhtar Nawaz Khan, a veteran vocalist of Kirana Gharana and dignified teacher, Amjad grew imbibing music from the outset of his life. He took formal training in music from his maternal uncles Bandish Nawaz UstadMashkoor Ali Khan sahib and UstadMubark Ali Khan sahib, the music maestros and direct descendants of Kirana Gharana, who are based in Sangeet Research Academy of Kolkata. Amjad is one of the contemporary singers of the Kirana Gharana to have assimilated the essence of the meer-khand, vistar or development typical to the gharana. He is an “A” artist at All India Radio and Doordarshan Delhi. He has done playback singing in several T.V. serials like ShareekeGhalib Telefilms, AhsaasParampara, KrishanMurli, etc, and has appeared in T.V. shows. He has worked with various renowned music directors as singer and composer. The most recent endeavour was playback singing for a private album by Amjad Nadeem, the music director duo that has given riveting music in films like Zila Ghaziabad, Maximum, YehDooriyan, Angel, etc. Amjad has performed in numerous prestigious music festivals including the esteemed SawaiGandharvaBhimsenMahotsav in Pune,49thMahaShivratriSangeetSammelan by SargamMandir.Arpan and ShopanMahotsav in Delhi organised by Sahitya Kala Parishad, Delhi Youth Festival in Connaught Circle, Delhi, Mangubai Music Festival, Tihai Music Festival and Samrath Music Festival in Goa, and HariVallabh Music Festival in Jalandhar. He received huge appreciation for his rendition in the SawaiGandharvaMahotsav 2015 as reported by various newspapers, was ranked first among the 85 participants at the HariVallabh Music Festival held on 12th December, 2002, and was awarded the Surmani at the 43rd KalKeKalakarSangeetSammelan, Mumbai, held on 26th May 2004. Apart from the music festivals, his renditions in other live concerts are highly admired. He has performed in concerts of all sorts such as “A Tribute to PtDeenanthMangeshkar” organised by Prachin Kala Kendra Nritya&SangeetSammelan, Chandigarh. Golden Jublee Conference – Medical Update organized by Health Education and Research Trust at Hotel Jaypee Palace in Agra, Tribute to UstadMunawar Ali Khan organized by Sargam music society in IIT Delhi, etc. He has performed extensively and has won wide acclaim for his oversees performances in many countries like China Asian Festival 2004, Namaste India in Japan 2009, Vienna Music Festival, Switzerland, Greece, Germany, Spain, Dubai, Moscow, Olympic Opening Ceremony in London and many more. He has composed music for the poetry by several renowned poets, like RabindraNath Tagore, MirzaGhalib,Ras Khan & Amir Kusroo etc. His brilliant career is studded with numerous titles and coveted awards, such as, Bharat RatnaPanditBhimsen Joshi National Award, Best Vocal Award, Jhankar Music Award, SuronKeSilsile Award, HariVallabh, and Kaka SahebGardgill Music Award. He has received scholarship from Sahitya Kala Parishad and the Young and Talented Artist scholarship from Government of India, Department of Culture. He is also an empanelled artist in ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations). He is highly regarded for his ingenious works in music. He was recently invited for judging the Indian Idol Junior 2015 auditions 2015, the drive “Haryana EkKhoj” by Spic Macay, National School of Drama,SriramCenter etc. He is the founder of Kirana Gharana Music Academy, a formal music school established with the vision of propagating Hindustani classical music and disseminating the gharanagayaki in a structured way while preserving its soul. His zeal to excel in music and humanitarian beliefs go hand in hand. He imparts free education in music to the underprivileged children. He has an ardent desire to provide a platform to those who deserve even if they cannot afford, and in this way, serve the creation of the Almighty. Amjad Ali is blessed with an excellent voice along with his impeccable lineage and taalim. He is a shining torch bearer of the Kirana Gharana and there is no doubt that in the future he will be one of its best exponents.