Wajahat Khan

Internationally renowned Ustad Wajahat Khan is one of the most outstanding sarod maestros of India. Son and nephew of legendary sitar maestros Ustad Imrat Khan and Ustad Vilayat Khan, he belongs to one of the world’s most celebrated musical families, which goes back 400 years to the courts of Mogul Emperor Akbar in 16th century India. He has performed to great acclaim in over 40 countries worldwide, with a growing reputation as one of the most dynamic Indian classical musicians of his generation.

Based in London and Kolkata, Wajahat Khan has performed at prestigious venues and festivals, including the Smithsonian (Washington DC), Symphony Hall (Berlin), Suntori Hall (Tokyo) and the Royal Albert Hall (BBC Proms, London). He is also a composer and has accomplished numerous acclaimed collaborations with Western classical, jazz, flamenco and opera; including 3 unique sarod-concertos and award-winning sarod-quintets, working with leading international artists and ensembles, such as the London Sinfonietta, Halle Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera and the Carducci Quartet. He has taught, lectured and been artist in residence at prestigious educational institutions globally, including the Middlesex University and the SOAS, University of London.

Wajahat Khan has energised the sarod performance repertoire with his revolutionary contributions, along with intricate, fluid musical styles evolved by generations of his family, as well as pioneering world-music collaborations. His distinctive style and virtuoso technique interweaves a wide spectrum of "dhrupad", "khyal" and "thumri" (vocal) forms with authentic "sarod baaj" (repertoire), spanning a full range of feeling and expression.