Artists
Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan is the successor and custodian (Khalifa) of centuries old music tradition of the Delhi Gharana. His musical lineage dates back to Hazrat Amir Khusro, who founded the Gharana in the 13th century. Born and brought up in the musical environment, Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan is an active promoter of Hazrat Amir Khusro's tradition of Indian classical music. He is not only well known for his versatile style of singing but for the knowledge he spreads among the masses through his social activities in promoting the scholars of Indian classical music. He sings a whole range of Classical and Semi Classical music. His style of classical singing and his renderings of Thumri, Dadra, Tappa, Bhajans and Ghazals have won him great acclaims.
He started learning music in his teens. He was lovingly adopted and groomed by his maternal grand father Sangeet Martand Ustad Chand Khan Sahib who had recognized child's talent at an early age. He and Iqbal Khan's paternal grandfather Ustad Jahan Khan and grand uncle Ustad Usman Khan gave him intensive training in Classical Vocal music. With this grounding he also had the privilege of learning from his uncles Ustad Hilal Ahmed Khan, Ustad Naseer Ahmed Khan, Ustad Zafar Ahmed Khan & his father Ustad Zahoor Ahmed Khan and eventually emerged as top grade vocalist of Akashwani (All India Radio). A hot favorite of his grandfather, he received his blessing to be chosen as the Custodian of the Delhi Gharana (Khalifa) and today he is keeping up the family traditions as an active promoter of Hazrat Amir Khusro's musical works.
A shining example of total dedication, depth and maturity, Pandit Ramesh Misra is a phenomenon in the field of Indian classical music. Having mastered one of the most difficult and unique stringed instruments - the sarangi - Ramesh Misra is acclaimed as an outstanding Indian artist and musician. Son of the great sarangi maestro Pandit Ramnath Misra, Ramesh Misra started his initial training at a very tender age from his father and went on to acquire further knowledge from the the finest musicians of the Benaras Gharana: Pandit Hanuman Prasad Misra and the late Pandit Gopal Misra. Presently Ramesh is under the tutelage of the legendary maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar.
He has received many rewards and recognitions for his music including the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar for 2008. In addition he has produced numerous recordings including his own solo records and has earned a niche in the hearts of millions of music lovers. His sarangi can be heard in many music productions including Ravi Shankar's "Live in Kremlin" and the Grammy nominated album "Legacy" produced by the legendary Ali Akbar Khan. He was also a participating artist in the production of the "Concert for George" at the Royal Albert Hall in London, November 2002. He is one of the recording artist in Aero Smith's much acclaimed album "Nine Lives."
Soulful musicality along with graceful virtuosity makes Vishal Nagar truly one of the most gifted Tabla musicians of his generation. Rhythmic creativity and a strong emotional connection with his music contribute to Vishal's admiration as a performer amongst dancers, vocalists and instrumentalists alike. Also a dynamic soloist, he has been one of the youngest Indian musicians to perform at the WOMAD music festival, World Rhythm Festival, and Bumbershoot to mention a few. Son of the renowned Kathak danseuse and vocalist Vidushi Urmila Nagar, Vishal has been trained under his mother, Late Ustad Latif Khan and Ustad Shamim Ahmed Khan. A vibrant performer, Vishal is also a highly sought after and dedicated educator based out of New Delhi and San Francisco Bay Area who continues to perform and teach in India, the US and abroad while serving as an ambassador of Tabla.
Sonia Saraswat is an amazing singer and performer with a powerful and melodious voice and is a well-known patron of classical and contemporary India Music in the Bay area. Sonia has been learning music from a young age. Her legacy of music comes from her mother, the late Mrs. Indira Misra, a student of Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan. Indira Misra was a very well known ghazal singer in India and a patron of music and arts.
Before coming to the United States Sonia started her music training at a young age under Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan in India whose lineage dates back to Amir Khusro. Sonia also learned vocal classical music from Pandit Habib Khan at the Habib Khan Saraswati Temple and Gurukul, San Jose. She is accomplished in vocal music and has performed in many sold out concerts. Sonia's passion for music has led her to organize a number of concerts both in India and the United States. She is currently a shagird of Ustad Iqbal Ahamd Khan