Boston Chapter of Association for India’s Development is organizing a fundraising concert featuring Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan on September 25th 2004, at MIT Kresge Auditorium in Cambridge. More details about the concert are available at http://www.aak2004.com

Association for India’s Development is a voluntary non-profit organization committed to promoting sustainable, equitable and just development, by working with grassroots organizations in India. AID supports and initiates efforts in various interconnected spheres such as education, livelihood, natural resources, health, women's empowerment and social justice. Founded in 1991, AID has completed 365 projects covering 18 Indian states. Since its inception, AID has established 36 chapters in the United States, 4 chapters in India, is operated by 500 volunteers and supports over 100 ongoing projects. AID supports projects worth $500,000 every year. More details are available at http://www.aidprojects.org

AID has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America's largest independent evaluator of charities. A.I.D is also #2 among 10 of the Best Charities.

Information about the artists:

"There is no essential difference between classical and popular music. Music is music. I want to communicate with the listener who finds Indian classical music remote." – Amjad Ali Khan

It is this very attitude that has endeared him and his music into an inseparable fusion of harmony with his listeners. Watching him on stage, you do not feel separate from Amjad Ali Khan; indeed the rapturous devotion he has for his instrument creates a togetherness between him and the audience that is truly memorable.

Today, Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan is one of the most distinguished and successful musicians in the world of Indian Classical Music. His name has become synonymous with the Sarod and his unique style of playing has made the instrument far more appealing to a wider audience throughout the world. Born on October 9th, 1945, he is the son and disciple of the legendary Hafiz Ali Khan. He hails from a family of distinguished musicians who invented the Sarod, the present day modification of the ancient mid-eastern folk instrument. Today, he shoulders the sixth generation inheritance of the 'Senia Bangash School’, which traces its roots to the great Mian Tansen, the legendary court musician of the mogul king Akbar.

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan has won several titles and honours - the 'Padmashree' in 1975, the Sangeet Natak Academy award in1989, the Tansen Award in 1989, Sarod Samrat, UNESCO Award in 1970, Unicef's National Ambassadorship, the Padma Bhushan in 1991, the International Music Forum Award etc. and Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of York, England, Delhi University and 'Commander of the order of Arts and letters' by the French Government. His collaborations include a piece composed for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, duets with Guitarist Charley Byrd, Violinist Igor Frolov, Soprano Glenda Simpson and Guitarist Barry Mason. In addition, BBC Magazine voted one of his CDs titled 'Bhairav' among the best 50 classical albums of the world for the year 1995. Massachusetts has a special relation ship with Ustad – April 20th, 1984 was declared as the Amjad Ali Khan Day by the Massachusetts government. More recently Amjad Ali Khan has been awarded the 15th Fukuoka Asian Culture Award by Japan for 2004.

His two sons, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, have already been introduced to the concert platform and were hailed as “coming masters..” by New York Times for their mesmerizing performance at Carnegie Hall. They are the seventh generation in the family to continue the Sarod tradition.

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