Indian Classical Sitar Music by Alif Laila
The mesmerizing resonance of the sitar is magical!
My Story
Journey's Beginning
I grew up in Dhaka, Bangladesh. I am the first and the only classical performer in my, otherwise very enlightened family. My mother, Shehida Haque, introduced and lead me on to the sitar, a dream which was unfulfilled for herself. After initial training in vocal music, I was very fortunate to become the disciple of late Ustad Mir Qasem Khan, nephew of the legendary Ustad Alauddin Khan, founder of the Senia Maihar Gharana. I feel lucky to have been embraced in this ground breaking (at the time of its birth) musical ideology and school of thought.
The Musical Journey
As I was trained and groomed in Indian classical sitar in the 'Guru Shishya Parampara' (on a one to one basis), I earned a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts at the Dhaka University. I moved to the USA in 1981 and continued to study sitar, going back and forth between the US and India, under great teachers like, Partha Chatterjee, Krishna Bhatt, and Kushal Das. Each one of my teachers has contributed greatly to enrich my music through different aspects of my growth and connection with the music. I feel a deep sense of gratitude.
Sprinkling and Spreading the Magic of Sitar Everywhere
Sitar took over my life and the journey with this rich form of music instilled positive energy and strength within me. I continued to grow professionally and soulfully. I have performed in prestigious venues such as The Kennedy Center, The Bangladesh National Museum, The Sangeet Research Academy, The Purcel Room, South Bank Center, etc. I recorded and performed with world renowned tabla artists such as Pandit Anindo Chatterjee and Ustad Taari Khan. My sitar DVDs, 'Hrydayaragam' was featured in the Women's History Month at the Smithsonian in 2008 and 'Strings of Resonance' was nominated for the Best Classical Music Award in Bangladesh in 2010. I have collaborated with South Indian classical, jazz saxophone, and lately with world percussion. I have composed music for cello, dance, and sitar ensembles. My artistic creativity leads me on to fuse boundaries of my music & art. I have presented audio visual sitar concerts in major venues in the USA, the UK, and Bangladesh.
I have founded Sitar Niketan, my music school, in the Wash DC area in 2015.
Featured at Aramco World Magazine
Sitar Master of Maryland - AramcoWorld www.aramcoworld.com › Articles › November-2020
Strawberry Festival Concert
This June marks the 40th anniversary of Sandy Spring Museum’s Strawberry with performances
Pony rides and as much strawberry shortcakes your heart desires.
Sandy Spring Museum is a local history museum to preserve the area heritage. It is a hub for cultural events, educational programs and stimulating engaging events. It brings people together to build cultural connections by sharing traditions through the arts.