Quick Facts
Biography
Amjad Ali Khan is an Indian classical singer and teacher of Kirana Gharana. He descends from the family lineage of Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan and Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, who are deemed as the founders of Kirana Gharana. He got education in music from his father Ustad Akhtar Nawaz Khan, and his maternal uncles Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan and Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan, the primary masters of Kirana Gharana musical style.
His mellifluous recital of khyal emanating the beauty of Kirana Gharana's musical style has earned him the reputation of the torch-bearer of the gharana. He has performed world over and is the founder of Kirana Gharana Music Academy that aims to preserve the gharana gayaki and mentor the budding talent.
Early life and education
Born in the principal family of Kirana Gharana musicians, as the elder son of the veteran vocalist Ustad Akhtar Nawaz Khan, Amjad Ali Khan started imbibing music from the outset of his life. He got formal training in music from his maternal uncles Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan and Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan, sons and disciples of sarangi maestro Padamshree Ustad Shakoor Khan, and the primary masters of the gharana's gayaki.
Career
Khan has performed in many prestigious music festivals and concerts; such as Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival, Pune in 2015,Ganga Mahotsav in Varanasi, Delhi Youth Festival conducted by Ministry of Culture in Delhi, ARPAN and SHOPAN MAHOTSAV in DELHI, Tihai Music Festival, Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan, Yuva Pratibhotsav in Goa, "Khayal - the Colours of Indian Classical Vocal" organized in Lok Kala Manch, Delhi, Nritya and Sangeet Sammelan organized by Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, Shastriya, Nritya Vadya Yantra & Sangeet, IITF - Delhi, "Tribute to Ustad Munawar Ali Khan" organized by Sargam music society in IIT Delhi, etc.
He has conducted workshops for the propagation of Indian music for many organizations such as Sahitya Kala Parishad, SPIC MACAY, Shree Ram Center, Routes to Roots.
He is an empanelled artist in ICCR and has performed world over in places like China, Switzerland, Germany, Europe, Australia, etc.
He is the founder of Kirana Gharana Music Academy, a formal music school established with the vision of propagating Hindustani classical music and the gharana gayaki in a structured way. He aims to train the deserving talent irrespective of their social and economic class; he imparts free education to the under privileged children.
Awards and recognitions
He received the Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi National Award in 2015. He is also the recipient of Rotary Club’s Vocational Award for excellence in the field of music (2016), SURMANI Award by 43rd KAL KE KALAKAR SANGEET SAMMELAN Mumbai (2004), Hari Vallabh Music Award (2003), Jhankar Music Award (2002), Kaka Saheb Gardgill Award (2000), Best Vocal Award (2000), and Suron ke Silsile Award (1999).
He received a scholarship from the Sahitya Kala Parishad and the Young and Talented Artist scholarship from Government of India, Department of Culture.