The Sarangi Dynasty Lives On: Ustad Kamal Sabri Leads a Centenary Tribute to His Legendary Father, Ustad Sabri Khan
Nivedita Chakrapani, Jadetimes staff
A 100-Year Celebration of Musical Heritage, Featuring the Eighth Generation of the Sabri Family at Merkin Hall, New York City
NEW YORK, NY — The timeless voice of the sarangi will take centre stage in New York City on Thursday, 28 January 2027, as internationally acclaimed sarangi maestro Sarangi Sultan Ustad Kamal Sabri leads a special centenary tribute honouring the life, music and enduring legacy of his legendary father, Ustad Sabri Khan, one of India's most revered masters of the instrument.
Presented by the World Music Institute, a distinguished New York-based organisation dedicated to bringing exceptional music from around the world to American audiences, and supported by the International Museum of The Saree, the concert will celebrate 100 years of a remarkable musical legacy that continues to inspire generations of artists and audiences across the globe.
The concert will take place at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street, Manhattan, bringing together a distinguished musical lineage whose artistic traditions have been nurtured, preserved and passed down through generations.
Honouring a Legendary Maestro
Ustad Sabri Khan was a towering figure in Indian classical music, celebrated for his extraordinary command of the sarangi, his profound musical sensitivity and his contribution to preserving one of India's most expressive classical instruments. A leading representative of the Moradabad gharana, he devoted his life to the art of sarangi playing, earning admiration for his ability to evoke the depth, subtlety and emotional richness of the human voice through his instrument.
His music represented far more than technical mastery. It embodied a lifetime of dedication to tradition, discipline and artistic expression. Through his performances and teaching, Ustad Sabri Khan helped carry the sarangi's distinctive sound to audiences in India and internationally, strengthening its place within the wider landscape of world music.
The centenary concert will celebrate this extraordinary contribution while reflecting on the continuing relevance of his musical philosophy. It will be an evening of remembrance, gratitude and celebration, honouring a maestro whose influence extends beyond his lifetime.
For his son, Ustad Kamal Sabri, the occasion carries a particularly profound significance. As an accomplished sarangi virtuoso in his own right, he has inherited his father's musical tradition while developing his own international artistic identity. Known as the Sarangi Sultan, Kamal Sabri has dedicated his career to presenting the instrument to new audiences, introducing younger generations to its possibilities and creating opportunities for Indian classical music to engage with the world.
Ustad Kamal Sabri: Carrying the Legacy Forward
As the principal artist of the centenary tribute, Ustad Kamal Sabri will lead an evening that celebrates both the memory of his father and the continuing vitality of the Sabri family's musical heritage.
His artistic journey represents a powerful connection between India's classical traditions and the international concert stage. Through performances, collaborations and educational initiatives, he has worked to bring the sarangi to audiences across cultures, demonstrating that an instrument deeply rooted in India's musical history can speak a universal language of emotion.
For Kamal Sabri, honouring his father is not simply an act of remembrance. It is a commitment to carrying forward the artistic values that shaped his life: devotion to music, respect for tradition, rigorous practice and the responsibility of passing knowledge to future generations.
The New York performance will therefore offer audiences an opportunity to experience a living tradition, one in which the past remains present through every phrase, melody and musical dialogue.
The Eighth Generation Takes the Stage
One of the most significant features of the concert will be the participation of Abdul Ahad Sabri and Asad Sabri, the grandsons of Ustad Sabri Khan and sons of Ustad Kamal Sabri. Representing the eighth generation of sarangi players in the Sabri family, the young musicians symbolise the continuation of a remarkable hereditary musical tradition.
Their participation makes this centenary celebration especially meaningful. The audience will witness not only a tribute to a legendary artist but also the transmission of a musical inheritance from grandfather to father and from father to sons.
In a world where traditional art forms must continually find new ways to engage younger audiences, the presence of the eighth generation demonstrates the importance of preserving India's classical music through practice, performance and mentorship.
Abdul Ahad Sabri and Asad Sabri represent the next chapter in the Sabri family's story. Performing alongside their father, they will help bring the family's musical heritage to a new generation of listeners, reaffirming the sarangi's place in the future of Indian classical music.
The gathering of these generations on one stage will give the concert a deeply personal dimension. It will celebrate a family whose history is inseparable from its art, while demonstrating how a classical tradition can remain vibrant through continuity and renewal.
A Cultural Bridge Between India and New York
The World Music Institute's presentation of the concert reflects the importance of international platforms in celebrating musical traditions that transcend geographical boundaries. New York, with its diverse cultural landscape and longstanding engagement with global music, offers an especially fitting setting for this tribute.
The support of the International Museum of The Saree adds another dimension to the celebration. Dedicated to the cultural heritage, craftsmanship and stories associated with the saree, the organisation shares a broader commitment to preserving and presenting India's artistic traditions on an international stage.
Music and textiles are distinct art forms, yet both carry the memory of generations. Each represents a living heritage shaped by knowledge, discipline, creativity and the hands of those who came before. The partnership surrounding this concert brings these shared values into focus, celebrating India's cultural legacy through music and cross-cultural engagement.
The centenary tribute promises to be more than a concert. It will be a meeting of generations, a celebration of artistic inheritance and an invitation for audiences to discover the enduring beauty of the sarangi.
Concert Details
Event: Ustad Sabri Khan Centenary Tribute — 100 Years of a Legendary Musical Legacy
Featuring: Sarangi Sultan Ustad Kamal Sabri, with Abdul Ahad Sabri and Asad Sabri representing the eighth generation of the Sabri family's sarangi tradition.
Presented by: World Music Institute, New York
Supported by: International Museum of The Saree
Date: Thursday, 28 January 2027
Venue: Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street, Manhattan, New York
Schedule: Doors open at 7:30 PM; performance begins at 8:00 PM.
Ticket Prices:
Standard admission: $45
Premium Orchestra seats: $55
Member prices: $36 standard admission; $44 Premium Orchestra seats
Member benefits apply.
As the sarangi's evocative voice fills Merkin Hall, the evening will honour a century of musical heritage while looking towards the generations yet to come. Through Ustad Kamal Sabri and his sons, the legacy of Ustad Sabri Khan continues to resonate — not merely as a treasured memory of the past, but as a living, evolving tradition.
One legendary maestro. Three generations on stage. A musical legacy spanning centuries of tradition. New York will celebrate the enduring spirit of the Sabri family in an unforgettable tribute to 100 years of Ustad Sabri Khan.
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