Canada’s most recognizable Indian Classical musician, the globally renowned Juno and WCMA nominated Cassius Khan is a performer of combining the Classical styles of Ghazal/Thumri singing and the Tabla, the North Indian pair of drums and presents both, simultaneously. He is the senior disciples of the late Malika e Tarannum Mushtari Begum (Dec 25th 1934-March 14th 2004) and Tabla maestro Ustad Rukhsar Ali, who belongs to the Delhi Gharana of Tabla playing.
Combining Indian Classical singing with Tabla, for a single artist, is a first in Indian classical music. Many noted Indian Classical Music gurus have proclaimed that singing and playing Tabla in unison is a difficult feat to master as Tabla playing requires skill and strength, as well as an absolute concentration on the kaleidoscopic rhythm patterns of the repertoire, and singing requires absolute skill in the execution of notes and vibrations of the voice and excellent breathing control. Khan’s trademark is performing the extremely rare and difficult “Tarannum Ang Gayaki style” in which the lyrics share a different metre from the rhythm but they join at the Sum point in a certain phrase.
Outside of Indian Classical Music, from a young age Khan has also lent his hands and voice to literally every genre of music spanning from Pop, Rock & Roll, Heavy Metal, Electronica and Rap to Asian, African, Aboriginal and South American Contemporary and Classical music genres, to Roots and Blues, Country and Jazz, to Indian Classical, Ballet, Flamenco and Tap Dance. This has resulted in him being hailed as “Canada’s Multifaceted Musician” by the Edmonton Journal and is currently ranked the number one Indian classical musician in Canada as the “Ghazal/Tabla Wizard.”
Cassius Khan has been included in the fraternity of Delhi Gharana Tabla players, and has contributed his syllabus with a number of educational institutions from Universities to high schools. He is a Clinician with the Mulgrave School in West Vancouver, The New Westminster Secondary School and multiple universities and colleges where he has wrote and contributed music to their orchestras and performances.
About the Maestro CASSIUS KHAN
NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Cassius Khan and his wife Amika Kushwaha were invited to perform for the UN, WIPO and the Permanent India Mission by the Ambassador of India to the UN, Rajiv Chander, to Geneva Switzerland in 2017 and 2018 in the WIPO Headquarters at the UN. Their performances of Ghazal/Tabla and Kathak were met with rave reviews and accolades.
- Nominated for the 2008 Juno Awards with the Late Ellen McIlwaine
- Nominated for the 2011 Western Canadian Music Awards alongside Amika Kushwaha for their Ghazal/Tabla album, “Mushtari – a live concert” for World Album of the Year
- Recipient of the 2019 Bernie Legge Artist of the Year Award alongside Amika Kushwaha by the New West Chamber of Commerce
- Awarded the “Salute for Excellence” Award from the City of Edmonton alongside Amika Kushwaha in 2005
- 2021 Artist in Residence at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster BC
- 2023 Artist in Residence at the Massey Theatre Eighth & Eighth Creative Spaces in New Westminster BC
- Curator of the Global Tea Series with Cassius Khan at the Massey Theatre in New Westminster BC
- Producer of the Mushtari Begum Festival of Indian Classical Music and Dance
- Adjudicator for the Juno Awards
- Received the 2017 Artist Innovator of the Year Award by Drishti Magazine.
- The first Canadian who has performed in the 2013 SPICMACAY circuit in India
- The first Canadian to perform at the prestigious Sa Ma Pa Festival in New Delhi (2013) and the the Shri Festival in Jaipur (2012).
- The very first Indian Ghazal/Tabla maestro to be invited to perform at the 2008 SXSW, the 2009 Canadian Music Week and the National Folk Alliance festivals.
- Co-composed the “Asia Music” segment in the 2001 World Track & Field Championships in Edmonton, AB
- The first Canadian to perform at the prestigious SAPTAK Festival in Ahmedabad India in 2025
- Endorsed by Tabla Makers Ustad Qasim Khan Niyazi & Sons in New Delhi, India
- Endorsed by Lehra Studio Apps by Aman Kalyan in Melbourne Autralia
- Clinician as Mulgrave School and guest Instructor at various colleges and universties
Mushtari Begum Festival of Indian Classical Music and Dance
To ensure the survival and patronage of the Indian Classical Arts in Canada, Cassius Khan and Amika Kushwaha founded the Mushtari Begum Festival of Indian Classical Music and Dance in 2012, which aims to showcase the Canadian Classical musicians and dancers to audiences. The MBF debuted on August 25, 2012 and takes place every year in New Westminster, BC Canada. The MBF is the first such Indian Classical Music festival in Western Canada and was voted the “Best Arts Festival in New Westminster” in 2014! The 14th Annual Mushtari Begum Festival of Indian Classical Music and Dance will take place at the Massey Theatre in New Westminster, the Official Venue Partner of the MBF, on September 27th 2020. Please visit www.mbfestival.ca
ARTISTIC COLLABORATION
Khan has performed extensively internationally in over 20 countries, and has collaborated with some of the world’s most critically acclaimed musicians such as Grammy Award winning Mohan Veena legend Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Satvik Veena player Pt Salil Bhatt,Slide guitar Legend Ellen McIlwaine, and Jazz Pianist Stu Goldberg Khan’s first solo album, “Cassius Khan, Young Tabla Wizard” was released by KM Prom/HMV India in 1990. Khan also collaborated with Ellen McIlwaine on their release “Mystic Bridge” (2006), with Stu Goldberg on “Dark Clouds” (2006), Dave Martone’s “A Demon’s Dream” (2004) and “The Alchemists” (2004), Pavlo’s “I Feel Love Again” (2002), D’Arcy Greaves’ “Angel of Sevilla (1989), Dan Mani’s “Mani Licks” (1990), ROAM’s, “Baby Steps” (2008) and 20,000 Miles with Slide to Freedom (2011).
