Ashraf Sharif Khan is the son of sitar master Ustad Muhammad Sharif Khan Poonchwala, and like his father and grandfather, belongs to the illustrious Poonch Gharana school of traditional sitar.
Ashraf’s music combines technical proficiency with perfect musical expression. The melodic beauty of his style, accentuated by his dynamic rhythmic development and virtuoso technique, combine to create a unique musical experience. In 2015, Ashraf was presented with a lifetime achievement award from the All Pakistan Music Conference and was awarded with the Presidents Pride of Performance Award from the government of Pakistan in 2017.
Shahbaz Hussain is regarded as the leading Tabla virtuoso of his generation. He began his Tabla journey with his father, the late Ustad Mumtaz Hussain – a prominent vocalist – and went on to study with legends Ustad Faiyaz Khan, the late Ustad Shaukat Hussain Khan and the late Ustad Allah Rakha Khan. Shahbaz is an extremely versatile player, and his solo performances have gained great recognition all over the world. He is highly sought after for his accompaniment skills by many of the great master musicians of India and Pakistan and has performed in many prestigious venues, including the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. Lincoln Center in New York and London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Shahbaz is also passionate about passing on his knowledge and regularly teaches across the country.
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