Sur Sangum has presented public concerts, meet-&-greets and private mehfils featuring performances by over 80 professional and amateur artists as well as aspiring hobbyists. We are humbled to continue to share the stage with seasoned musicians of our time as well as the future stars from sub-cultures and diverse groups across the performing arts landscape.

adnan haqqee

Adnan is a vocalist and a harmonium player. His silky and melodious voice reminds one of Talat Mahmood. Needless to say, Talat Mahmood’s songs are a forte of Adnan Haqqee. Son of poet-linguist Shan-ul-Haq Haqqee, Adnan Haqqee has made a name for himself as an accomplished singer and musician. Adnan has performed at many community and private events in Canada and abroad.

ANKITA NANDAWAT

Ankita hails from Jaipur, Rajasthan, and has been recognized as one of the best vocalists in North America in Eastern, semi-classical and Bollywood music. She has an original release under her title and sings in multiple languages and a wide array of genres.

Afshan Ahmed

Afshan Ahmed began her career as a child artist on Pakistani radio and TV at the age of three.  She participated in music composer Sohail Rana's programs since childhood and appeared in commercials also. She took up classical music and has been learning for many years now. Afshan has represented Pakistan in many countries. She taught music at Karachi Grammar School for many years.

ali hassan

Teacher, vocalist, composer and lyricist Ali Hassan is a talented all-rounder whose strong classical base is reflected in his singing. He sings light classical as well as ghazals. He also sings covers of popular English songs with equal finesse.  He teaches music to youngsters and gives performances at public and private events.

ali mustafa

A graduate of NCA and senior architect, Ali is a huge fan of Kishore Kumar and sings his songs with a lot of zeal. He is a lively singer who brings life to any mehfil when he takes the mic. Ali Mustafa has performed for Sur Sangum in Karachi few times.

anoos javed bhatti

A disciple of Pakistan’s ace ghazal singer, Ustad Ghulam Abbas, Anoos Javed Bhatti is a vocalist specializing in ghazal, geet and light classical. He is also a composer and musician who plays tabla and harmonium with equal ease. Anoos has released original songs besides singing covers.

ashfaq hussain zaidi

Ashfaq Hussain Zaidi (Urdu: اشفاق حسین زیدی ) is a leading modern Urdu poet and an author of more than 10 books of poetry and literary criticism. Sur Sangum was honoured to present Ashfaq sahib as a keynote speaker who enthralled the audience by his prose and poetry renditions.

asif sinan

Asif Sinan is a Pakistani guitarist, composer and singer and is notable for blending Indian classical music with jazz. Both classical purists and contemporary listeners find his guitar playing unique. Asif has worked with many international artists from Germany, India and the United States and continues to produce works of contemporary fusion.

ayesha hashmi

Ayesha Hashmi is an exceptional learner with a passion for learning and listening to music. She can easily memorize lyrics and identify music rhythms. Ayesha finds a lot of joy in singing and has performed on the Sur Sangum stage.

Ustad Babulal

Ustad Babulal is a classical music instructor who has given vocal training and taught Indian classical music to many students. He has a distinct style of teaching and focuses on teaching raags. Sur Sangum invited Ustad Babulal to give lecture-demonstrations and sing various raags along with bandishes and popular songs composed in those raags.

Bash Nandlal

Originally from the Caribbean Islands, Bash who doesn’t speak or understand Urdu or Hindi, sings Indial film songs from the days of yore in such a way that listeners refuse to believe that the language is alien to him. Bash has given many performances in Toronto and sang bhajan and classic film songs for Sur Sangum. 

Bashir Fancy

A senior business and corporate executive, Bashir Fancy learnt tabla from Pakistan’s distinguished tabla nawaz, Ustad Miyan Shaukat Hussain Khan. A collector and connoisseur of ghazal and classical music, he has the honor of accompanying Mehdi Hassan, Jagjit Singh and Talat Aziz at private mehfils.

chandu khan

Chandu Khan is a young percussionist from Lahore, now based in Toronto. He is an ace dholak player who has performed for television channels in Pakistan as well as given numerous public performances. He has accompanied many vocalists in Pakistan & Canada.

Chitra Mathur

Chitra Mathur is a ghazal singer. She moved to Canada at a young age and has been in the country for over five decades now. During this time, she continued doing music as a hobby singing mainly at private mehfils and among friends circles.

Cyma Shoaib

Cyma is a freelance writer,  jewelry designer and a singer based in Karachi.  She sings light geets and ghazals. Cyma performed at the Sur Sangum Karachi meetup.

Dale Arnie Birch

Dale Arnie Birch is a senior audio/visual director, composer, lyricist, vocalist and musician who has been associated with Pakistan’s music industry for the last over 25 years. Currently he is working for Bol TV Pakistan. He has been associated with ARY and other channels in the past. Arnie has composed music for many OSTs of Pakistani dramas.

dhaval

Dhaval Thoria is an aspiring musician who aces at playing keyboard and piano. He has performed at many private events and accompanied many local artists.

Ensemble Topaz

A Toronto based 7-member Ensemble specializes in the dances and music of Central Asia and South Asia, and also bringing these traditional music forms into dialogue with western instruments.

Ekta Jain

Ekta Jain’s singing style ranges from Bollywood music, Devotional and folk songs to bhajans. She has performed at many events and private mehfils in Toronto.

Fahad Rasheed Bhatti

Fahad is a singer, songwriter and a musician based in Karachi. He plays guitar and sings a variety of light songs. Fahad has performed on many public and private platforms. He sang for Sur Sangum in Karachi.

Farah Essa Zaidi

A doctor by profession, Farah Essa Zaidi is a disciple of Ustad Javed Taufeeq Niazi Qawwal and has performed at community and private events in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Canada. Farah sings light ghazals, geet as well as film songs. She has released original tracks also and is working towards an album. 

Ghazal Salam

An accomplished television actress, voiceover artist and vocalist, Ghazal Salam specializes in singing Sindhi folk. She is popular in Canada and known globally among Pakistani and South Asian communities for her memorable performances for Pakistan Television plays. Ghazal not only sang for Sur Sangum mehfil but also emceed at one of the events.

Gurinder singh

Gurinder has been a disciple of the Banaras Gharana through the teachings of his father Sh. Sukhdev Singh, his chacha guru Sh. Sukhwinder Singh Namdhari and Pt Ramakant Ji. He is based in Brampton where he teaches and performs tabla recitals regularly. Gurinder has performed for Sur Sangum on several occasions.

NAQI ALI KHAN

Renowned for his mastery in Indian classical, Khayal Thumri, Ghazals, Film songs, Folk, Fusion, and Sufi music, Naqi Ali Khan is the son of the late Karamat Ali Khan and the grandson of the legendary Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan of the Kasur Gharana. As a cultural ambassador, Naqi has founded the Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Music Conference in Lahore, Pakistan

Harsharan deep singh

Harsharan Deep Singh is a ghazal singer who takes pride in belonging to both Patiala and Shaam Chaurasi gharanas of Indian classical music. His interest in Urdu poetry stemmed from listening to maestros such as Ghulam Ali, Mehdi Hassan, Hariharan and others. Harsharan Singh teaches music in Toronto and performs extensively at private and commercial events.

Harvinder Shridhar

Harvinder Shridhar is a Toronto based trained singer of ghazals and light film geets. Harvinder has performed at many events, fundraisers and private mehfils.

Harryy Ali Khan

Harryy is a medical doctor by profession and an artist by passion. Harryy has given dance and music performances privately at different events. An integral member of Sur Sangum community, he has also performed for Sur Sangum in Karachi.

Imran Khan

TED speaker, corporate trainer, musician and vocalist Imran Khan belongs to Kashmir and known for singing Nusrat Fateh Ali Qawwalis besides Kashmiri folk. Besides singing for Sur Sangum many times, Imran also performed at the prestigious Mosaic Festival.

Irfan Haider

Irfan Haider is an accomplished table player based in Karachi who has accompanied many senior vocalists and instrumentalists at public and private performances. Irfan performed for Sur Sangum in Karachi for two years in a row.

Jaffer Shah

Sufi vocalist, stand up comedian, traveler and nomad Jaffer Shah is a powerhouse of talent.  He performed for Sur Sangum in Karachi. His chants and folk singing places him in a unique position. Jaffer is a strong public performer.

hasheel lodhia

Hasheel has been training in East Indian Classical Vocal since the age of five. In 2001, Hasheel also started playing the Bansuri (Indian flute) and is currently a senior student of the legendary Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. Hasheel collaborates and creates with some of Toronto's finest musicians including genres ranging from Balkan and Eastern European to Jazz, Electronic Dubstep and Drum & Bass. He has also served as a recording artist for several movie soundtracks, scores, and albums.

jasmeet chana

Jasmeet is a well known percussionist specializing in the Tabla and Jori instruments. He takes pride in upholding the Hindustani Classical tradition and wants to spread awareness of the art. Jasmeet has an ability to grasp the audience during performances and is appreciated by artists for his accompaniment as well as solo programs.

JAVED MUGHAL

Composer, recordist, flutist, vocalist and a veteran of music industry, Javed Mughal is considered as one of the pioneers in the music community within the Pakistani diaspora in Canada. He has recorded many artists, composed many songs and performed at many stages. He has many original compositions to his credit and has worked with many artists in the last over three decades of his association with music industry. Javed Mughal performed for Sur Sangum private mehfil and enthralled audience with his singing.

Kausar Irfan Ghani

A student of Taansen Academy, Kausar has been learning and performing for well over 15 years. She mostly sings light ghazals and geets. Kauser performed for Sur Sangum in Karachi.

khalid nazim

A mechanical engineer from Pakistan, Khalid is a music arranger and composer who was part of a well-known Pakistani pop band of the 80s, Live Wires. Khalid left the world of music after moving to Canada but recently got active on the scene with his keyboard and audio/visual operating skills.

Krishna Murthy

Krishna Murthy is a music composer, arranger, producer and a senior keyboard player who has been performing in Toronto for many years. He has accompanied many local and international vocalists and artists.

Jeff Woods 

The most talked about Jeff Woods attribute is his voice. It has been heard on radio and television for decades. Beyond talking on the radio and television as a host or a guest, Jeff's presence continues to extend to commercial voice-over and narration, and to the stage as an MC and speaker. Woods has been at the center of conversation and context around music for 30+ years. He was the creator and host of The Legends of Classic Rock, heard internationally over 14 seasons.

Mahmood Zaman

A Civil Engineer by profession, Mahmood Zaman took up rabab playing as a hobby. He has trained over the last six years under different maestros including Ustad Atiq Nikzad (student of Ustad Umer) and Ustad Gulab Afridi (student of Ustad Amanat Ali Khan). Mahmood continues to take inspiration from eminent players and explore techniques and believes rabab can be a powerful force to preserve and popularize ancient tradition and culture.

malhar singh

Malhar Singh started learning Hindustani Classical music from his mother and guru, Smt. Ramneek Singh ji, at the tender age of 5. Malhar in his melodious and soul stirring voice, is able to catch the most intricate classical compositions sung by Ustad Amir Khan the moment he hears them. As he follows in his mother's footsteps, it would be right to hope that he will be one of the torch bearers of the Ustad Amir Khan style of Indore Gharana, not only in North America, but in India too.

MangHoe Lassi 

Humza A. Mian aka Manghoe Lassi is a queer Canadian-Pakistani who currently resides in the GTA. He is a Registered Veterinary Technician who works in the downtown core, and a drag queen who has made a big splash on social media over the last two years. The focus of his drag is to bring awareness to the existence of queer Desi folk and breaking the chains of toxic masculinity that hold so many queer Desi’s back from expressing themselves.

MANMIT AJIMAL

Manmit Ajimal is a highly accomplished tabla player. He was born and raised in Canada and was taught the basics and importance of Indian classical music by his father.

Manmit learnt tabla from his father also and has been learning and playing ever since. He has played with many local as well as visiting artists for many years.

maria ahmed

Maria is a banker by profession who has a penchant for singing. She sang for Sur Sangum on different occasions.  She has also sung at other private forums. Maria has done Radio programs as well.

MARYAM SHAFI

Maryam is passionate about singing and Sur Sangum gave her the platform to showcase her talent. She sings film songs and ghazals. A promising voice, Maryam received a lot of applause whenever she sang for Sur Sangum. 

Mohammad Zaheeruddin

Mohammad Zaheeruddin is a sufi and ghazal singer as well as a Na’at khwan. He has been performing in Canada for many years. He sings original compositions as well as old, classic ghazals.

Manish Rajani

Manish Rajani is a young vocalist based in Toronto. He mostly sings modern, contemporary Bollywood songs and has earned a name for himself as a musician and a singer with several performances to his credit.

mohan bhide

Mohan Bhide learnt Indian Music since childhood - initially from local music teachers - Modak and Thakre. Later he trained under the tutelage of Balasaheb Mate and Govindrao Patwardhan - both accomplished harmonium players and versatile musicians. Mohan ji has well-rounded knowledge of the Indian Classical and Semi Classical / Folk music traditions and he has played with well-known artistes both in India and abroad.

Muhammad Ahsan shabbir

Music Educator, Music Composer. Graduated from the National Academy of Performing Arts in Pakistan, Shabbir has performed South Asian folk, sufi, qawwali, pop, fusion & contemporary styles of music solo and in collaboration with international jazz, blues, rock, classical, electronic and contemporary artists from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, South Korea, China, Indonesia, and America. He has lectured and given recitals at prestigious institutions on raga-based theory, sufi music, & counterpoints between western and eastern music.

Mujeeb mustafa

Mujeeb Mustafa is a singer/songwriter and guitarist hailing from Lahore, Pakistan. He is one of the two disciples of Ustad Asad Amanat Ali Khan of the Patiyala Gharana. He was picked up by Famous music producer and mentor Zulfiqar Jabbar Khan as the premier vocalist for Nescafe Basement, a Pakistani music television series which features live studio-recorded performances by underground artists. Mujeeb released his original singles Mahiya, Bintee, Dam Hama dam, to name a few; his latest work Piya Nahi Aye (Kalavati) was released in July 2019.

muneeba Shaikh

Muneeba Shaikh is a Toronto based Sufi and Ghazal singer. Born and brought up in Montreal, she comes from a musical family where her parents and siblings were all seriously involved with music in some capacity. Growing up in that environment gave Muneeba an opportunity to learn singing under father’s guidance. She has developed keen interest in sufi music.

Nabiha Isphani

Child protege Nabiha Isphani is a student of Ustad Masood Ahmed Khan in Karachi. Nabiha started singing from a tender age and surprised audiences with her melodious singing of difficult songs and classical compositions. She has given many performances and continues learning and improving.

nadeem ali

Nadeem Ali is a well known composer and singer from Pakistan who established Avengers band in 2000 to meet the rising need of new immigrant South Asian community in Canada.  Nadeem has made many original compositions. He has also accompanied on keyboard at many public and private events with a host of senior vocalists from Pakistan and India. Nadeem is the younger brother of Azhar Hussain, legendary keyboard player of Pakistan.

nadeem shah

Tabla player, vocalist, Qawwal, Naat khwaan, Noha Khwan, orator and an ace audio/visual operator, Nadeem Shah wears many caps. Younger brother of Pakistan’s leading Naat khwan, Syed Manzoor-ul-Konain, Nadeem Shah has made a name for himself in Canada’s South Asian diaspora and performed at many events accompanying leading artists. He is a disciple of Ustad Abdul Sattar Tari Khan.

nadia hashmi

A music enthusiast, former Rotarian and a fluent speaker in English, Urdu and Punjabi, Nadia Hashmi is an avid music aficionado and closely associated with Sur Sangum. While in Pakistan, Nadia had a stint with Radio Pakistan where she read news in English. She has emceed for Sur Sangam as well as other public forums.

Navaid Akhtar

Navaid Akhtar is a seasoned keyboard player based in Toronto. With a career spanning many years, Navaid has performed in Pakistan and Canada with leading singers and musicians. He is a sought after keyboard player in Canada and invited at many platforms to play.

Nazia Zuberi-Hassan

Nazia Zuberi hassan is a well known vocalist based in Karachi. She is the lead singer of Rushk, a popular band. Nazia is also a mentor at I Am Karachi Music Mentorship program. She is a popular jingle vocalist and has been part of legendary musician Sohail Rana’s music group. Nazia sings light classical.

Nataranjan Vaidhyanathan

Nataranjan Vaidhyanathan is an award-winning violinist and passionate music teacher. He spent over ten years studying classical Indian music in Chennai, India. Featured on national radio and television programs in India, his musical talents brought him to Canada where he played alongside luminaries and also founded the Swaravani School of Violin in 2007 where he teaches violin. Nataranjan has received awards from National Association of Indo-Canadians, Divya Arts Foundation & the Saamagaanam Academy of South Indian Fine Arts.

QAIS ESSAR

Qais Essar is a contemporary Afghan composer, instrumentalist and producer who channels his melodic designs through the rabab, a 2,500 year old instrument from Afghanistan. Award-winning and internationally acclaimed Essar has performed on many stages worldwide and contributed original music to feature films. He earned a Canadian Screen Award for “Best Original Song” for his piece "The Crown Sleeps."

Rajazz Abbas

Ghazal singer, dentist, marketing specialist and photographer, Abbas Naqvi popularly known as Rajazz Abbas in art and music circles specializes in singing ghazals. Besides singing covers, Rajazz also sings originals and is one of the few vocalists who have sung the poetry of Jaun Elia. Rajazz has performed at many forums and is a well known name in Pakistani diaspora in Canada.

rakae jamil

Rakae Jamil is a young Pakistani sitar player, music producer & studio owner and lead member of a contemporary instrumental funk-fusion music super-group "Mughal e Funk". He has learned sitar from Ustad Ashraf Sharif Khan Poonchwalay and Ustad Shujaat Khan among others. Rakae has also performed on Coke Studio. With Bachelor’s in Musicology from NCA and a Master’s in Humanities with a focus on music, Rakae is a musical wizard when it comes to the sitar. Sur Sangam Meet & Greet featured sitar conversations and an exclusive recital by the accomplished artist.

Rakshanda Ahmed

Rakshanda comes from a family of music and art lovers. The love for Urdu poetry and Indian classical music was instilled in her from a very young age. Her training in classical music began early with late Ustad Shabbir Hussain Khan and later Ustad Bulan Iqbal Khan in Karachi and Mahesh Mulwani of Sangeetanjali Institute of Music in Toronto. She enjoys singing poetry of Ghalib and Faiz. 

Ramneek Singh

Ramneek Singh, introduced to Indian Classical Music at the tender age of 6, is an accomplished vocal artist with decades of strict vocal training. She has a Visharad (degree) from Bhatkhande Sangeet Vidyapeeth, and prides herself in being a purist from the Indore Gharana, a distinctively meditative and serene style of Khayal presentation, as instituted by Ustad Amir Khan. Ramneek has given numerous performances in India and North America, and teaches advanced Vocal Hindustani Music.

Randy Mahadeo

Randy is a Classically Trained Vocalist and musician. He studied Indian Classical music and Gurmat Sangeet under his Ustad Davinder Partap Singh Ji, an exponent of traditional Gurmat Sangeet known worldwide. Based in Toronto, Randy performs regularly throughout the GTA for many different cultural programs, sings in a variety of Indian languages, and plays harmonium and keyboard. He is also a musician in Sangeet Mandala.

rauf shaikh (rufi)

Rufi Shaikh is a Toronto based percussionist who is regarded as one of the leading tabla and dhol players at local events. Born and brought up in Montreal, he comes from a musical family where his parents and siblings were all seriously involved with music in some capacity. Unlike his parents and sisters, Rufi developed an interest in percussion instruments and learnt tabla and dhol and made a name for himself in the local music scene.

rizwan wali muhammad

Son of renowned ghazal maestro Habib Wali Muhammad, Rizwan started his musical journey in 1970 with Pakistan Television’s children’s music program ‘Kalyon Ki Mala’, conducted by music director/composer Sohail Rana. Rizwan diligently pursued his musical interests and received training in semi/light-classical music under the mentorship of his father. In addition, during the last three decades, Rizwan alongside his father, as well as a soloist, has performed at musical concerts in Pakistan, India, United Kingdom and all over the United States.

ruhi samina

Ruhi Samina is a naturally gifted singer of light songs. Hailing from Karachi, she is a writer and a published author as well. Ruhi did not undergo any formal training in music but has a good command over sur and taal. She has performed at many private and commercial events in Toronto.

saamia rizwan

Saamia Rizwan is known for her melodious and mellifluous singing of Urdu and Punjabi film songs. Saamia’s interested in singing came from her mother who had a strong command over sur and taal and used to sing privately for family and friends. Saamia got an exposure on Pakistan Television also where she sang and received accolades. Sur Sangum’s mehfils with Saamia earned her a lot of praise and attention.

SAAD ARIF

Saad comes from Pakistan, and is a singer, songwriter and one of the most vibrant performers in North America. Being a guitar player and music composer, Saad creates his own arrangements to existing songs in the market, and also actively produces original content..

sabuha khan

Poet, writer, broadcaster, singer, published author, entrepreneur and social worker Sabuha Khan is a multi-faceted woman who is well known in the social, literary and art circles in Pakistan and Canada. Sabuha Khan has learnt singing from Ustad Shahid Hamid in Karachi. Music is her passion and she sings purely for self-gratification and the love of art. She has performed for Sur Sangum both in Toronto and in Karachi.

SADIQ AZAM

Sadiq Azam is a noted ghazal singer from South Asia. His repertoire comprises salaams of classic as well as contemporary Urdu poets including Ghalib, Mir, Dagh, Jigar, Faiz, Bashir Badar and many more. Born and brought up in Hyderabad, Sadiq was interested in music since childhood, and performed at many musical shows. He learned light classical music from Lalitha Karolkar, principal of Andhra Pradesh Music College; and his skills were further polished by Ustad Jamal Khan.

sahar raza

Sahar is a vocalist and musician who has been singing as a passion since her student days. By training she is an architect from Islamabad. She sings film songs, Punjabi folk, ghazals and sufiyana kalam with equal ease and has performed many times at Sur Sangum stage and at other community events. Sahar was invited to perform for a TCF fundraiser in Sydney, Australia in 2017.

samreen fatima

Samreen Kashif is a multi-talented and creative young professional. While pursuing a full-time career in management, Samreen is also an enthusiastic singer and eager to perform. She has performed for Sur Sangum and was also the emcee at one of the events.  

Shahrina Salam

Shahrina Salam hails from Bangladesh and sings in both Bangla and Hindi with equal ease. She sings old, classic film songs, nazrul geetis and light songs. Shahrina has sung at many private mehfils in Toronto.

shahid iftikhar

Shahid is a vocalist who sings sufi kalam as well as film songs. He has a keen interest in sound operation and managed sound at several of Sur Sangum concerts. Shahid has performed at many private mehfils and events.

Shayma Saadia Saiyid

A classical dance exponent, Shayma also sings more as a passion. She has received training in singing and sings ghazals as well as film songs. As a kathak dancer, Shayma has given many performances in Pakistan and abroad at different festivals and events. She divides her time between Pakistan and Canada.

shakila ahmed

Svelte and artful, Shakila is a singing sensation, recording and performing live in concerts all over the world. Shakila trained in Indian classical music from an early age in Dhaka, Bangladesh and later from Ustad Mohd Dilshad Khan in Mumbai, India. Her music ranges from classical, ghazals to pop/rock, in various languages, English, Bengali, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and Farsi (Persian). Shakila brings sufi, traditional and contemporary poetry to life through her emotional rendering and is a pioneer, in the now-so-popular style of fusing divergent world music together.

sheema kermani

Sheema is one of the most celebrated Pakistani theatre practitioners, an accomplished classical dancer and a social activist. She and her group Tehrik-e-Niswan has received international recognition for their dance and musical theatre and ensemble performances. Sheema hosted Sur Sangum Karachi meetups twice and also performed with her group.

Shoaib Ullah

Shoaib Ullah is a ghazal singer who is passionate for vintage film songs and light classical. Hailing from Lahore, he started singing as a hobby while in Pakistan and spent much time jamming with his nephew, Ali Zafar who rose to become a leading vocalist and actor. Shoaib Ullah is based in Toronto and sings at private mehfils.

sing bandana singh

Sing Bandana Singh is a Toronto-based alt/rock singer-songwriter with influences that range from Hole to Susheela Raman. Distortion and aggression are a large part of her sound. The music itself is focused on intersections, meetings and mergers of what are sometimes antithetical elements of the identities and the communities that make her. "I am a daughter of diaspora twice over, being Indian, born in Fiji and living in Canada. I've always felt the tension of being made of many things. Music is how I make sense of this tension."

TANVEER ALAM

Tanveer Alam creates and presents contemporary dance works through kathak, an Indian classical dance form. His dynamic approach makes kathak more accessible to a wider audience. Tanveer strongly believes in creating works that evoke a sense of togetherness and representing the South Asian diaspora of young artists. 

Tahira Sattar Bhutta

Tahira Sattar Bhutta is a trained singer of light ghazals and geet who has sung for Pakistan Television Centre before moving to Canada. She lived in Calgary for few years before moving to Toronto. She has sung for many private events in Canada and has also recorded songs for TAG TV, a local multicultural television in Toronto.

Tasnim Hashmi

Tasnim Hashmi learnt classical music from Ustad Shahid Hamid and has been performing at private mehfils for last few years. She sings khayal, tarana and thumris as well as ghazals. She has many original compositions to her credit also.

UMAYMA SHaIKH

Umayma Shaikh is a ghazal singer based in Toronto. Born and brought up in Montreal, she comes from a musical family where her parents and siblings were all seriously involved with music in some capacity. Growing up in that environment gave Umayma an opportunity to appreciate Urdu poetry and learn ghazal singing under her father’s guidance.

urvah khan & the scrap army

Urvah Khan born in Karachi, Pakistan arrived in Canada with her family as a teenager. Currently Khan resides in Toronto and over ten years has gained a worldwide following through her performances, online music and video releases. Her unique story and musical style have been recognized by BBC, CBC, Noisey/ Vice, as well as Sports Centre LA (during the Winter X Games,) among many other prominent outlets. Urvah’s live band, The Scrap Army, comprises Ruben Huizenga on guitar, Ken Griffin on drums, Oriana Barbato on bass & Anita Katakkar on tabla.

YASMIN RASHID

A seasoned artist, poet and singer, US-based Yasmin Rashid is versatile and multi-faceted. Yasmin developed the passion for music as a child and later went on to excel in her talent with hard work that led to her recognition. She learnt classical music and being the exceptional vocalist that she is, worked with various music styles such as Ghazals, Semi-classical and Sufi music. One of Yasmins’ greatest source of inspiration is Madam Noor Jahan. She is also inspired by Ustad Amanat Ali Khan. 

YESHA PATEL

Yesha Patel is a classical pianist, vocalist, percussionist and composer based in Toronto. Having started learning classical music at a very young age, Yesha picked up singing as well as instruments such piano, keyboard, harmonium and tabla. She has excellent command over eastern classical as well as western classical music and has performed at many events in India and Canada.

ZAFAR REHMANI

Zafar Rahmani is a tabla player who had his initial learning from one of the most distinguished tabla players in the Indian subcontinent, Ustad Miyan Shaukat Hussain Khan. Zafar chose to keep tabla as a serious hobby and passion. He has played at many private mehfils and accompanied many vocalists.

Zeeshan Lalani

Zeeshan Lalani plays mandolin and other instruments. Along with fellow musician, Nico Henderson, he formed Kaysik and started playing in 2016. Kaysik secured multiple residencies at Toronto bars and are working on pulling together material for their first EP. KAYSIK’s music is both atmospheric and folky, underpinned by traditional roots and furnished with world music influence.

zohra zoberi

Poetess, playwright,  author, theater director, community volunteer and founder of Bridging The Gap, Zohra Zoberi has been associated with Sur Sangum since inception and acted as Emcee at one of the musical evenings.