Shafaat Khan

Ustad Shafaat Khan, world-renowned classical Indian musician, debuted at the age of 11 in the King’s Lynn Festival opened by the Queen Mother.  Since then he has performed worldwide at many prestigious concert halls, music festivals, and universities in India, Pakistan, Japan, Russia, China, Malaysia, UK, Germany, France, and Italy, and other European countries.  He has played at events that were inaugurated by numerous dignitaries, including Presidents and Primes Ministers of various countries around the world.  He has shared a television performance with Ray Charles in Germany and recently performed alongside Stevie Wonder at the Bonaroo Festival—one of the largest music festivals in the United States.  He has performed in almost all of the major cities in the US.  Through his music he has helped raise money for various charitable purposes including concerts for world peace, flood victims, disabled children, battered women, and tsunami victims amongst other causes serving those who are in need.

Mr. Khan has distinguished himself by being the first known artist to attain simultaneous excellence in performing the Sitar, Surbahar, and Tabla.  He has released three historic CDs produced by Dr. Deepak Chopra, in which he performed on the sitar/surbahar, and accompanied himself on the tabla, a first in Indian classical music.  He performed his own composition “River of Strings” at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia with a western Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Khan’s musical heritage can be traced back to the 16th century to the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.  He is the son of the legendary Sitar and Surbahar Maestro Ustad Imrat Khan and nephew of the legendary Ustad Vilayat Khan, and as such, represents the 8th generation of the Imdadkhani Gharana--one of the moste respected musical dynasties of South Asia.  In tabla, he is the foremost disciple of the widely respected Ustad Ibrahim Khan.

Mr. Khan has performed at many of the world's most prestigious concert halls ana music venues, with memorable performances at Royal Albert Hall, Kennedy Center, Kimmel Center, and many others.  He has conducted workshops and guest lectured at colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and has served as a resident lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania and Laffeyette College.  Mr. Khan was presented with the Professional Excellence Award for an outstanding musician, performer, and teacher, by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.