Anwar Khurshid

A devout student of Ustad Shahid Parvez, Anwar Khurshid runs the Sitar School of Toronto in his absence.

Anwarji’s interest in music began at an early age. He learnt vocal music and performed on stage very early on. He began teaching himself flute at the age of ten. In a few short years and under the guidance of Ustad Arif Jaffery, Anwar began performing live for Peshawar radio station. In 1980, he began formal study of sitar under the tutelage of the late Ustad Nasirudin.

In 1985, after Ustad Nasirudin passed away, Anwar Khurshid began studying Tabla under Ustad Muhammad Tufail Khan. Over the next four years, Khurshid would develop the strong background in tabla and keen sense of rhythm which is evident in his sitar playing to this day.

In 1997 Ustad Shahid Parvez came to Canada for a performance when Anwar Khurshid expressed his desire to learn from the maestro. In 1999 Ustadji conducted a workshop in Toronto. Ustadji promised to come back and stay in Toronto to teach. This is when Sitar School of Toronto was first formed. Since then Ustadji has mentored Anwar Khurshid, coming to teach in Toronto as many as four times a year. The guru shishya/ Ustad Shagird relationship between the two is a joy to witness.

Anwar Khurshid sacrificed his actuarial career for the love of music and took to teaching and performing music.

Adored by his students, Anwarji is simply a great guy. A good friend, and wise beyond his years, his love of music is infectious. Like Ustad Shahid Parvez, his patience and talent combine to make students of any level feel comfortable.

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Performances in 2004

Accompanied Ustad Shahid Parvez in Washington DC on Sitar

Accompanied Ustad Shahid Parvez in New Jersey on Sitar

Accompanied Ustad Shahid Parvez on Sitar in L.A. Pandit Jasraj School of Music

Harbour Front Toronto

South Asian Heritage Month opening

Toronto with Ustad Abdus Sattar Tari he famous Tabla player from Pakistan

University of Waterloo, Conrad Grebel College

Board of Education York Region

University of Toronto, Played with Probhir Mitra and James Kippin

Barrie with Probhir Mitra

Played and composed music for Mitra Sen's Film The Peace Tree

Performances in 2005

Mississuaga with Ustad Abdus Sattar Tari the famous Tabla player from Pakistan

University of Ottawa, Freiman Hall Sitar School of Toronto concert

Brampton, Cyril Center Tsunami relief concert

Mississuaga Square One Presented Hema Kukereja and Seema Gulati in a sitar trio for Sahaj Yoga Mataji's birthday celebrations.

Pakistan day Celebration concert March 23

University of Toronto OISE

Music for Yoga, Diamond Yoga April 2005

Fundraiser for Light of India April 2005
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