The Sarod Trilogy

Sarod Trilogy

Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, seventh-generation sarod players and disciples of Amjad Ali Khan, carry forward a rich musical lineage. Performing under different configurations, they have performed throughout the world's most cherished concert halls venues including Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, and Royal Albert Hall, collaborated with artists such as Derek Trucks, Sharon Isbin, and Evelyn Glennie, and have appeared in concerto format with orchestras like the Chicago Philharmonic and Avignon Symphony Orchestra.

As the seventh generation of this illustrious musical lineage and disciples of Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan and Ayaan have performed worldwide at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, and Royal Albert Hall. They have collaborated with artists across genres, including Derek Trucks (The Allman Brothers Band), Sharon Isbin, Sean Shibe, Evelyn Glennie, and orchestras such as the Chicago Philharmonic, Bronx Arts Ensemble, and Avignon Symphony Orchestra. Their versatility has established them as both soloists and a duo, bridging the past and present of Indian classical music.

Among their many achievements, they performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 2014 in Oslo and won Gold at the Global Music Awards in LA for their album Peace Worshippers. More recently, they have presented Amjad Ali Khan’s concerto Samaagam with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (under Xian Zhang), Moscow State Philharmonic Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. In 2018, they performed at the UN Day Concert alongside their father and the Refugee Orchestra Project, under the theme Traditions of Peace and Non-Violence, in the presence of UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

A Legacy of Innovation

One of the undisputed masters of the sarod, Amjad Ali Khan inherited his craft from his father, Haafiz Ali Khan, and gave his first performance at age six. He is credited with revolutionizing sarod technique, earning a Grammy nomination, the Crystal Award by the World Economic Forum, UNICEF's National Ambassadorship, and the Fukuoka Cultural Grand Prize. His concerto, Samaagam, has been performed by leading orchestras such as the Britten Sinfonia, Orchestre National d’Île de France, London Philharmonia, Gulbenkian Orchestra, and Scottish Chamber Orchestra. He has also served as a visiting professor at Stanford University, the University of New Mexico, and the Jacobs School of Music.

Amjad Ali Khan, Amaan, and Ayaan were honored at the Global Music Awards for their contributions to classical music, reinforcing their status as torchbearers of their tradition. They were also featured in the UN Day Concert 2018, a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, advocating peace and non-violence.

Bridging East and West

Amaan and Ayaan have expanded their reach beyond classical music, performing at Joe Walsh’s VetsAid Charity Concert alongside Gwen Stefani and Jon Bon Jovi in 2020 and 2021. In collaboration with Joe Walsh, they co-released the EP Prayers with their father, blending Indian classical and Western rock to honor frontline workers. The project brought together Stewart Copeland (The Police), Jim Keltner, Nathan East, Leland Sklar, Abe Laboriel Sr., Ed Roth, Davey Johnstone (Elton John’s guitarist), and Joe Vitale, demonstrating their ability to merge diverse musical traditions on both cellular and cosmic levels.

Amaan and Ayaan were recently named Associate Artists at Wigmore Hall ahead of its 120th anniversary celebrations, joining esteemed musicians like Lawrence Power and Gweneth Ann Rand. They also served as visiting professors at the University of Chicago, contributing to the Don Michael Randel Ensemble-in-Residence program.

“a contest of virtuosity that was breathtaking”.
– The Times