ARC musician sarangi maestro Ustad Kamal Sabri Khan (aka Kamal Sabri), recently received the Nashville Music City Award for International Artist of The Year 2016, in recognition of outstanding contributions to music and bringing cultures together through music.
The Avadhut Spiritual and Cultural Foundation along with Nashville Metro Park Music presented the award. Kamal Sabri’s father was sarangi legend Ustad Sabri Khan, the first musician to help introduce and popularise the sarangi to the world.
The event was held at the Centennial Performing Arts Theatre in Nashville on the 26th of October, 2016. Mr. Mike Teaney, Director of music at Nashville Metro Park Music presented the award to Kamal Sabri, and also accompanied him on banjo during his performance.
The Founder of Avadhut Spiritual and Cultural Foundation, Mr. Rajkannan Kangarajan, was present at the event and explained why Kamal Sabri was chosen as International Artist of the Year 2016. Guest musicians who accompanied Kamal included guitarist Jordan Lawhead, banjoist Mike Teaney, percussionist Adam Smith and South Indian vocalist, Ms. Bhairavi Dhandapani.
The first part of the event was Kamal Sabri interacting with audience. Then Bhairavi Dhandapani interviewed him regarding the Sarangi, his family, Gharana, performances with other world class musicians and his past awards; then Kamal Sabri Khan performed solo Indian classical music, then his fusion compositions with American musicians.