Anwar Khurshid

Anwar Khurshid is the director of Sitar School of Toronto.

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. He reverently recognizies Ustad Qazi Zahoor ul Haq, Ustad Zahid Farani, Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Ustad Ghulam Hyder Khan as major influences on his music.

Since 1997 Anwar learnt under the guidance of Ustad Shahid Parvez in Canada hosting him at his place for as long as six months at a time. Since then Shahid Parvez has mentored Anwar Khurshid, coming to teach in Toronto as many as four times a year.

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. His patience and talent combine to make students of any level feel comfortable.

2007
Markham Theatre Prince Kareem Agha Khan's 50th Anniversary of Imamat December 22, 2007
Markham Theatre Pathways, United Church Christmas Celbration December 23, 2007
Ontario Science Centre, Ismaili Community Show, Riazat December 23, 2007
Toronto Bach Festival Oct 25, 2007
Nuit Blanche Morning Raagas Toronto Sep 30, 2007
Roy Thomson Hall Opening of Toronto Film Festival Sep 6, 2007
Shades of Brown Education Conference York University July 10, 2007
MOSAIC Arts Festival Mississuaga June 2, 2007
All Pakistan Music Conference Lahore Pakistan April 13, 14, 2007
AlHamra Arts Council Lahore Pakistan May 1, 2007

2006
FICCI Auditorium New Delhi, India November 12, 2006
OSHO World Center New Delhi December 22, 2006
Yukon Storytelling Festival, Whitehorse, Yukon, August 18-20, 2006
Baghcha: Flowers from the musical garden of the world, Hagerty Hall, Ohio, June 27 and 30, 2006
Solstice Festival, Yellowknife, North West Territories, June 20-23, 2006
Carnival of Cultures, Astrolabe Theatre, Ottawa, June 16-18, 2006
Headquarters Visible Minorities Advisory Committee Multicultural Night, La Contessa, Ottawa, May 27, 2006
South Asian Heritage Month, Bayview Country Club, Toronto, May 19, 2006
South Asian Heritage Month, Derrydown P.S. School, Toronto, May 19, 2006
South Asian Heritage Month, Museum of Civilizations, Gatineau, May 7, 2006
Cancer Society Fundraiser, Olympium, Etobicoke, April 29, 2006
Celebrations, Payal Banquet Hall, Mississauga, April 21, 2006
South Asia Benefit Concert & Fundraiser, featuring Anwar Khurshid and Pandit Jayawant Bantwal, University of South Carolina, South Carolina, April 8, 2006
Lecture-Demonstration, St-Paul University, Ottawa, March 29, 2006
Raag Mala Music Society of Canada, Calgary, February 28, 2006
Winterlude, Westin Hotel, Ottawa, February 12, 2006
Festival of Lights, Museum of Civilizations, Gatineau, December 7, 2005


2005
Earthquake Fundraising Concert, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, December 2005
Laya Angikam - Rhythms of the body, an Upasana production, Arts Courts Theatre, Ottawa, November 13, 2005
International days, University of Ottawa, October 25 and November 1, 2005
MIT Boston, October 22, 2005
Diwali Celebration on the Parliament Hill, Ottawa, October 20, 2005
An Intimate Evening in the Garden, Toronto, September 10, 2005
Hangama!, South Asian Heritage Festival, Toronto, May 28, 2005
House of Commons, Ottawa Canada, May 21, 2005
Asian Heritage Gala Concert, Ottawa, May 14, 2005 Ottawa Gala, April 2, 2005
Canajoharie Library and Art Gallery, April 1, 2005
Headquarters Visible Minorities Advisory Committee Multicultural Night, Ottawa, March 19, 2005
Tsunami Relief Benefit, Brampton, March 12, 2005
An Evening of Inspirational Music and Dance, Sitar School of Toronto Concert, University of Ottawa, March 5, 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 www.fenstarproductions.com www.rotfp.com

2004
Accompanied Shahid Parvez in Washington DC on Sitar
Accompanied Shahid Parvez in New Jersey on Sitar
Accompanied 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

Recent Performances

Join us in welcoming Spring with an evening of Sitar and Dance, May 17 2013
Raag Mala Concert, April 12 2013
One World trio, October 08 2012
Indo-Afircan Collaboration, May 11 2012
Sitar and Blues Collaboration at The Inner Garden, April 14 2012
Living Arts Centre Music Poetry and Painting, March 18 2012
One World , March 10 2012
Anwar Khurshid and Paul Deslauriers, Auberge Glen Sutton, Quebec , October 15 2011
Indian-Arabic Music Fusion, October 08 2011
City of Orillia - 2011 Beatles Celebration, September 17 2011
Classical Music of the East & West (Sitar & Cello) w/ Rachel Mercer, Inner Garden, September 10 2011
Sitar Concert with Anwar Khurshid & Ravi Naimpally, August 13 2011
Anwar Khurshid and Sienna Dahlen - Sitar & Jazz , July 09 2011
Fundraising Sitar and Fusion Concert, June 25 2011
OCHO ART FORUM, June 22 2011
Sitar and Blues Collaboration at The Inner Garden, June 11 2011
Annual York-Noor Concert: Raks-aur-Raag, May 07 2011
Sitar Concert at The Inner Garden, April 09 2011
C27 Metro Box Event - City of Toronto, Metro Hall Rotunda, April 05 2011
CCA-Canada Charity Fundraising Dinner, November 21 2010
Toronto, Art Gallery of Ontario, November 16 2010
Festival du Monde Arabe de Montréal , October 31 2010
Thunder Bay Lakehead University, October 29 2010
Rumi Fest Toronto Sitar and Santoor Collaboration , October 24 2010
Pickering Flood Relief Fund Raising Event, October 23 2010
Sufi Music, October 21 2010
Rakatak CD Release, October 20 2010
New Market Great Hall York Region Arts Council, October 18 2010
Ottawa OCFF Showcase, October 16 2010
Ottawa OCFF Showcase, October 15 2010
Koshish - Musical Night, October 10 2010
Harvest of Healing Arts & David Hickey's Crystal Journey, October 09 2010
ROM- Ragamala: Garland of Melodies, October 01 2010
Ghazals: Javed Mughal and Anwar Khurshid , July 29 2010
The Attic New Delhi, January 06 2010
Islamabad Private Concert, January 03 2010
f, September 09 2009
Performance at Central Island St. Andrew's Church, June 29 2008
Richmond Hill Anwar Khurshid and Faheem Mazhar, June 28 2008
Mosaic Arts Festival Mississuaga, June 21 2008
Mosaic Arts Festival Mississuaga, June 20 2008
Luminateau Festival Rangoli Concert Harbourfront Toronto, June 15 2008
Rangoli Concert Harbourfront Toronto, June 14 2008
Performance at Riviera Park, June 14 2008
Sitar Performance Forest Hill, June 10 2008
Naming Ceremony Etobicoke, June 08 2008
Sitar Performance Scarborough Golf Club, June 07 2008
Performance for Canada Pakistan Business Council, June 06 2008
Mehfil in Brampton Anwar Khurshid with Ustad Tari Khan, May 31 2008
South Asian Heritage Month Celebration, May 29 2008
Mehfil at Sitar School Studio, Toronto Anwar Khurshid with Ustad Tari Khan, May 24 2008
Sitar Concert Richmond Hill Friends of Ramzan Ali, May 18 2008
Friendship Concert Toronto Performance with Ustad Tari Khan, April 14 2008
Washington DC performance with Ustad Tari Khan, April 13 2008
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