Strings for Peace

AMJAD ALI KHAN …

The Indian sarod maestro, and the world’s most famous sarod player, is best known for his clear and fast ekhara taans.

“Music is a precious gift of God. For peace of mind and good health, every human being must listen to appealing music.” —Amjad Ali Khan

ABOUT AMJAD ALI KHAN

Amjad Ali Khan is one of the undisputed masters of the music world. Born to sarod maestro Haafiz Ali Khan, he is the sixth generation in the legendary line of the Senia Bangash School. Since giving his first performance at the age of six, he has played for audiences worldwide, bringing a new and yet timeless interpretation to the repertoire, while being widely credited with reinventing the technique of playing the sarod. Over the course of a distinguished career spanning more than six decades, Amjad Ali Khan has won numerous accolades including a Grammy nomination, the Crystal Award by the World Economic Forum, Unicef’s National Ambassadorship and the Fukuoka Cultural grand prize. Amjad Ali Khan has made regular appearances at Carnegie Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Sydney Opera House, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Esplanade Singapore, the Kennedy Center and Symphony Center in Chicago. He has performed at festivals worldwide including the Hong Kong Arts Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, WOMAD, World Beat Festival, Enescu Festival Bucharest, and the BBC Proms as well as for prestigious organizations such as the United Nations, UNESCO, World Arts Summit and for the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony in Oslo in 2014. Amjad Ali Khan’s passion for bringing the sarod to new audiences has led to numerous residencies as well as an appointed as Visiting Professor at several universities. Amjad Ali Khan won a Gold Medal at the Global Music Awards for his outstanding contribution to the global music industry and excellence in the classical music sphere. This honor was bestowed in recognition of Peace Worshipers, an album recorded with his sons Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash in 2017.

ABOUT SHARON ISBIN

Acclaimed for her extraordinary lyricism, technique and versatility, multiple Grammy Award winner Sharon Isbin was named the 2020 Musical America Worldwide Instrumentalist of the Year, the first guitarist to receive the coveted honor in its 59-year award history. Hailed as “the pre-eminent guitarist of our time,” she has been a soloist with over 200 orchestras and has performed in the world’s finest halls across 40 countries.

Winner of the Munich ARD, Madrid and Toronto Competitions, Germany’s Echo Klassik and Guitar Player‘s Best Classical Guitarist awards, she performed in Scorsese’s Oscar-winning The Departed, at Ground Zero for the first internationally televised 9/11 memorial, at the White House by invitation of President Obama, and as the only classical artist at the 2010 Grammy Awards. The documentary Sharon Isbin: Troubadour, seen by millions on more than 200 PBS stations across the U.S. and abroad, won the ASCAP Television Broadcast Award and is available on DVD/Blue-ray and Amazon streaming. Recent highlights include sold-out concerts at the Kennedy Center, Kimmel Center, and Carnegie Hall including a collaboration with Sting.

Isbin’s catalogue of over 35 albums has sold nearly a million copies. Her two recent recordings were named Best of 2020 and feature world premieres composed for her: Affinity showcasing Chris Brubeck’s dazzling guitar concerto and Strings for Peace with India’s legendary sarod master Amjad Ali Khan. Her 2019 Souvenirs of Spain & Italy with the Pacifica Quartet debuted at #1 on Amazon and #2 on Billboard, and her Alma Española was honored with a 2018 GRAMMY Award for Producer of the Year. Author of the Classical Guitar Answer Book, Isbin has premiered over 80 works written for her by some of the world’s finest composers. She directs the guitar departments at the Aspen Music Festival and The Juilliard School, which she created in 1989.

ABOUT AMAAN ALI BANGASH

Amaan Ali Bangash is the elder son and disciple of the Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan. Initiated into the fine art of Sarod playing at a very tender age, Amaan began his public performances at the age of eight. Accompanying his father to various music festivals in India and abroad, he has today carved out a niche for himself and his performances have evoked considerable applause. His precision in tunefulness and his bold and resonant strokes are all pointers to the importance of tradition and continuity in Indian classical music. He made his debut abroad in 1986 at the Festival of India in Moscow. In 1990, Amaan performed in UK and at the Asia Society in 1991 in New York. Today, Amaan is considered one of the finest young sarod players and has attained a very special place for himself among Indian music enthusiasts. Awards and accolades came his way early in life, yet Amaan steadfastly pursued his family’s inheritance and legacy. His personal belief being that his work will speak for itself. In October 2002, he received Provogue Society’s Young Achievers Award for Performing Arts. Beyond playing the sarod, Amaan has anchored Top Drive, the all-new television series on Star World that aired beginning in January 2003 for five episodes. He also took part in the relay for the Athens Olympics in New Delhi in June 2004. In 2005, Amaan composed for the music for the film American Daylight by Academy Award winner Rodger Christian.

ABOUT AYAAN ALI BANGASH

Ayaan Ali Bangash is the younger son and disciple of the Sarod titan Maestro Amjad Ali Khan, making his solo concert debut at the age of eight. Since that time, Ayaan has been performing concerts worldwide, giving many solo performances and also appearing in concert with his illustrious father and brother. Ayaan has won the hearts of music lovers both in India and around the globe. He made his UK Debut in 1989 and US Debut in 1991 at the Asia Society in New York. In 2000, Ayaan joined his father at the Dalai Lama’s Sacred Music Festival inauguration. In June 2004, Ayaan took part in the Athens Olympic Torch Relay in New Delhi and the fall of that same year he performed at the Symphony Hall in Fukuoka and New York’s Town Hall. In 2005, Ayaan composed the score for Roger Christian’s film American Daylight. Ayaan has participated in over seven recordings including three solo projects. His recent recordings include Sarod for Harmony, Live at Carnegie Hall, Strings for Peace with guitarist Sharon Isbin, and Music for Hope with pipa virtuoso Wu Man.