Centenary Stage Company welcomes internationally acclaimed Indian classical musician Ustad Shafaat Khan to the Sitnik Theatre at the Lackland Performing Arts Center on Sunday, October 4 at 2pm.
This afternoon presentation of Where East Meets West will showcase Khan’s extraordinary mastery of sitar, surbahar and tabla — three instruments on which he has achieved simultaneous distinction, a rare accomplishment in the history of Indian classical music. The program blends the cultural traditions of Indian classical and folk music with flamenco, pop, guitar, keyboard and western percussion.
Khan began performing publicly at just 11 years old at the King’s Lynn Festival in England, an event opened by the Queen Mother. A member of one of India’s most distinguished musical families, he is the son of legendary sitarist Ustad Imrat Khan and nephew of renowned sitarist Ustad Vilayat Khan. His musical heritage stretches back centuries, with a lineage of instrumentalists dating to the 16th century.
Over the course of his career, Khan has performed throughout India, the United States, China, Europe, Russia and Japan at major concert halls, festivals and universities. His collaborators have included some of the biggest names in music and culture, including Stevie Wonder, with whom he performed at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, and Ray Charles, with whom he appeared in a televised concert. His recordings have also been produced by renowned physician and author Dr. Deepak Chopra.
Khan's artistry has earned international critical acclaim. The Washington Post has praised him as a “virtuoso” whose “classical purity” is “astonishing,” while The Times of London called him “absolutely superb!” The Chandigarh Tribune has described him as a “star in the world of classical music.”
In addition to his career as a performer, Khan is an accomplished educator and has received the Professional Excellence Award from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for his work as an outstanding musician, performer and teacher.
Ustad Shafaat Khan "Where East Meets West" at CSC
East Meets West" blends the cultural traditions of Indian classical and folk on sitar, tabla and vocals, with flamenco, pop, guitar, keyboards and western percussion.