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Monday, September 17, 2012

PRESENTS WORLD-RENOWNED INDIAN SITARIST USTAD SHAFAAT KHAN

“Virtuoso…Classical purity astonishing…intellectual and poetic…creator as well as performer”—Washington Post

PHOTO _ Ustad Shafaat Khan 1USTAD SHAFAAT KHAN

WHEN: Sunday, September 30, at 2:00 PM
WHERE:
the “Little Theatre” on Jefferson Street, on the campus of Centenary College in Hackettstown
TICKETS: $17.50 for adults and $10 for children under 12. They may be purchased through the Centenary Stage Company box office at 908-979-0900, and online at www.centenarystageco.org, or at the Lackland Center office at 715 Grand Ave in Hackettstown, as well as the new CSC Box Office on Main (217 Main Street) , opening in late September.

The world-renowned classical Indian musician, Ustad Shafaat Khan has mastered such classical Indian instruments as the Sitar, Surbahar and Tabla, and will be joined on stage by accompanying musicians,  Richi Mehrotra and Layla Plaza. Khan’s  powerful performances have made him a success throughout the world, and he has been hailed as “Absolutely superb,” (The Times London). “His ability to move his audience has helped to revive the art of classical Indian music,” states the Irish paper, The Cork Examiner, going on to say, “[this is ]Indian music at its top level…Shafaat’s marvelous showed us the rhythmic complexity of the music and enthralled the audience!”

Shafaat Khan comes from musical heritage that can be traced back to the 16th century. He began his career under the tutelage of his father, Ustad Imrat Khan, who along with his brother, Ustad Vilayat Khan, are two of the legendary maestros of India. He later developed a passion for the tabla and went on to study under the guidance of Ustad Ibrahim Khan, a well-known master of rare and ancient table compositions of the varying regions of India. “Ustad” is the honorary title for those who have reach the epitome of their art as a teacher and performer.   

Since Khan’s debut his debut at age eleven, he has performed worldwide, including performances at the Acropolis, Royal Albert Hall, The Great Hall of the Kremlin, Lincoln Center, Suntory Hall and The Smithsonian Institute.   He has performed for presidents, prime ministers and the Queen Mother. He has shared a television performance with Ray Charles in Germany and recently performed alongside Stevie Wonder at Bonaroo, one of the world’s largest music festivals. Khan was also featured in the IMAX film, Pulse: A Stomp Odessey. His latest recording  project, The Rhythms of Nature, was produced by Deepak Chopra. Through his music, he has helped to raise money for various charitable purposes and has become a philanthropist for those in need. Mr. Khan was presented with the Professional Excellence Award for an outstanding musician, performer, and teacher, by the State of Pennsylvania.

The 2012-13 season of performing arts events at Centenary Stage Company  is made possible (and affordable) through the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the NJ State Council on the Arts, Season Sponsor- Heath Village Retirement Community, and Series sponsors Fulton Bank, Hackettstown Regional Hospital, Restaurant Village, and Mama’s and Café Baci, as well as CSC supporting members.