Ustad Waseem Ahmed Khan

Date: Saturday, June 22, 2024 | 7:30 pm
Price: Balcony $40 | Orchestra $50
A limited number of $20 student tickets will be available for purchase directly from Raag-Mala Toronto. Please email Raag-Mala Toronto for details.
Tickets include same-day Museum admission.

The Aga Khan Museum is proud to partner with the Raag-Mala Music Society of Toronto to bring the finest musicians performing Raag Sangeet (North Indian Classical music) to Toronto audiences.

Throughout their 2024 concert season, Raag-Mala Toronto will present five carefully selected vocalists and instrumentalists who are masters of their craft. Paying homage to tradition while carrying on this ancient art form, Raag-Mala Toronto presents a masterclass in musical complexity through a series of raags — improvisations based on musical scales that serve as the lifeblood of Indian classical music and have no traditional Western equivalent.

Experience the enchanting melodies of acclaimed vocalist Ustad Waseem Ahmed Khan at the Aga Khan Museum in an evening of captivating raag sangeet.

Ustad Waseem Ahmed Khan

Ustad Waseem Ahmed Khan comes from a family of musicians of the Agra Gharana and is one of the Gharana’s torchbearers today. He started his taleem with his grandfather Ud. Ata Hussain Khan and later under his father Ud. Naseem Ahmed Khan. Waseem ji, who until recently was associated with ITC Sangeet Research Academy in Kolkata, has performed all over India and overseas, including at major festivals like the Dover Lane Music Conference in Kolkata and Darbar in London.

Sanjay Deshpande

Sanjay Deshpande started learning tabla under Late Pt. Sabade. He then began his taleem under Taalyogi Pt. Suresh Talwalkar of Delhi-Farookabad Gharana and received guidance from the maestro Ud. Alla Rakha Khan. Deshpande continues to study under Pt. Yogesh Samsi and Pt. Vivek Joshi. He is a recipient of the coveted Ahmedjaan Thirakwa Scholarship for solo performance and has accompanied senior artists such as Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Vidushi. Malini Rajurkar, Dr. Prabha Atre, Pt. Dinkar Kaikini, and Vidushi Ashwini Bhide.

Siddhesh Bicholkar

A much sought-after accompanist, Siddhesh Bicholkar has been on a sonic journey since childhood. He has been privileged to receive guidance from Shri Sharad Mathkar and Pt. Tulsidas Borkar, a renowned Harmonium exponent and Guru. He has been the recipient of many eminent music scholarships, including from the Government of India. 

The Museum’s Performing Arts programming is generously supported by the Nanji Family Foundation.