Sarangi maestro Ustad Kamal Sabri wins Intercontinental Music Award 2026

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Sarangi maestro Ustad Kamal Sabri has won the Intercontinental Music Award 2026 in Los Angeles, adding another international distinction to a career dedicated to Indian classical music and the promotion of the Sarangi across the world.

A seventh-generation custodian of the Sarangi tradition, Sabri has worked as a performer, composer, singer, writer and educator. The latest recognition also comes at a time when his efforts to take the traditional Indian instrument to international audiences have gained increasing attention.

The award is linked to Tore Bina Shyam, a musical collaboration involving Sabri and legendary singer Pt Anup Jalota. Sabri served as the composer, singer and writer of the composition, while Jalota lent his voice. The work had earlier been shortlisted in the Bollywood Music category representing Asia at the Intercontinental Music Awards.

For Sabri, the honour represents recognition not only of his individual work but also of the Sarangi and the musical tradition he inherited from his father and guru, the late Aaftab-e-Sarangi Ustad Sabri Khan.

“Winning the Intercontinental Music Award 2026 USA is a deeply emotional and humbling moment for me. I receive this honour not simply as an award, but as a recognition of the timeless voice of the Sarangi, the rich heritage of Indian classical music, and the musical legacy passed on to me by my revered father and guru, Aaftab-e-Sarangi Ustad Sabri Khan,” Sabri said.

Seven generations of tradition

Sabri represents the seventh generation of the celebrated Moradabad Gharana. He began learning the Sarangi from his father at the age of five and was trained in the traditional style before developing a career that has taken him beyond the conventional classical concert circuit.

Over the decades, he has performed as a solo artiste and accompanist and has also explored composition, recording, world music, films and documentary projects. His collaborations with musicians from different musical traditions have helped introduce the Sarangi to audiences unfamiliar with the instrument.

His international work has included collaborations with noted musicians such as Ustad Zakir Hussain and Jan Garbarek. He has performed at cultural festivals and musical platforms across Europe, North America and Asia.

Sabri has also been involved in educational initiatives and workshops aimed at introducing younger generations to Indian classical music. His academic engagement includes an Honorary Doctorate in Music and Professor of Practice roles at institutions in India and Australia.

A growing list of honours

The Intercontinental Music Award adds to a long list of national and international recognitions received by Sabri.

His earlier honours include the Best Instrumentalist Award, Sangeet Bhushan Award and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Award. His professional credentials have also included his association with All India Radio as a Top Grade Artist and recognition connected with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. He has also been associated with a Ministry of Culture fellowship.

In 2016, Sabri received the Nashville Music City Award for International Artist of the Year in the US. The recognition acknowledged his contribution to music and his efforts to promote cultural exchange through musical collaborations.

His international recognition continued in 2023 when he was named World Music Artist of the Year in Uzbekistan after representing India at the International Bakhshi Festival. The event brought together artistes and musicians from more than 40 countries.

The same year, he was recognised as Composer of the Year 2023 for his composition Sajna Mein, associated with the MID-DAY Icons of India Awards.

In 2024, Sabri received the Dadasaheb Phalke Icon Films International Award in Dubai, where he was recognised as an Iconic World Music Artist and for his contribution as a composer. His composition Dil Da Jaani was also associated with the recognition.

His other honours include a Gold Medal at the Global Music Awards in Los Angeles for his artistic contribution and innovation. In 2025, he received the Outstanding Achievement in Performing Arts Award from GOPIO International USA.

He has also received recognition from the Mayor of New York for his contribution to world music and cultural exchange.

In 2026, Sabri was honoured in London with the Global Iconic Artist Award at the World Heart Beat Awards for his contribution to world music and the international promotion of the Sarangi.

Tradition meets contemporary music

The latest recognition associated with Tore Bina Shyam reflects another aspect of Sabri’s musical journey — his effort to connect traditional Indian music with contemporary forms.

The project brought together his work as a composer, singer and lyricist with Pt Anup Jalota’s voice. It was supported by the Green FAD Museum and the International Museum of the Saree.

Sabri has said that such collaborations demonstrate that traditional instruments and musical forms can find relevance in contemporary settings without losing their original identity.

The Sarangi, traditionally associated with Hindustani classical music, has historically been known for its ability to closely reproduce the nuances of the human voice. Sabri’s work has sought to present this quality to audiences outside the traditional classical music circuit.

Music as cultural bridge

While international awards have brought attention to his work, Sabri sees his role primarily as that of a custodian of a musical tradition.

He has participated in concerts, festivals, workshops and educational programmes in India and abroad, using these platforms to introduce audiences, particularly younger listeners, to the Sarangi and Indian classical music.

“For me, this award is also a responsibility—to preserve our tradition, to introduce the Sarangi and Indian classical music to younger generations, and to continue building bridges between cultures through music,” he said.

He has dedicated the latest honour to India and to artistes who believe music can bring people together across geographical and cultural boundaries.

The Intercontinental Music Award thus marks another milestone in Sabri’s continuing international journey. From the traditional musical environment of the Moradabad Gharana to collaborations with artistes across continents, his career has sought to keep the Sarangi rooted in its classical heritage while giving it a place in contemporary global music.

For Sabri, the latest recognition is therefore both an achievement and an obligation — to carry forward the legacy of his father and guru and ensure that the distinctive voice of the Sarangi reaches new generations of listeners around the world.