Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan’s Luton performance set to sound out deep devotion to his Indian heritage

COMING from a line of musicians with a heritage stretching back to the Mughal Courts of the 15th century is not easy but judging by the noise being made about Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan, he is not doing too bad.

The Pakistani-born singer is said to be a master of the Khyal tradition of Indian classical music.

His father is the legendary Ustad Salamat Ali Khan who passed away in July 2010 and was a prominent exponent of Hindustani classical music.

On their own, the Ali Khan family represent a 500-year lineage of musicians of the Shamcharasi Gharana, descendants of court musicians reported to be artistically-devoted to Akbar the Great.

At the tender age of seven Shafqat began performing and learning what would become his lifelong career and calling.

His first appearance was at the Lahore Music Festival in 1979 and since then he has performed throughout Europe with several concerts in France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Holland, Spain, and Switzerland at the Geneva Festival.

Other shows in the western world have taken him to Canada and the United States, with memorable dates at the Smithsonian Institute in 1988 and 1996, the World Music Institute at the New York’s Metropolitan Museum in 1988 and Merkin Concert Hall in 1991.

In his home continent of South East Asia, Shafqat is an established performer throughout India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

His performances have also been followed by a number of awards.

In 1986 he received the Amir Khusro Award in Lahore for being the best young classical singer.

A year later in 1987 he received the Gold Medal from Faislabad University, Pakistan.

This was followed eight years later in 1995 by the Ghanda Award which came from New Deli University.

Shafqat’s career has been marked by his disciplined nature. He prays five times a day and when asked why he says, “My music includes praising God as He alone is worthy of it. He will sustain us.”

Tickets cost £10 and can be purchased by calling 01582 878100 or by visiting lutonculture.com