- Abhay Rustam Sopori is an Indian santoor player, composer and conductor. He is the son of santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori, known for his versatility, innovation and experimentation.
- Abhay was invited to speak at the international conference TEDx.
Abhay Rustum Sopori Biography In English
Birth Details –
Place – Jammu and Kashmir, India
Date of Birth – 7 June 1979
Nationality – Indian
Family –
Mother – Aparna Sopori
Father – Bhajan Sopori
Education – Graduation
Early Life –
- Abhay Rustam Sopori was born on 7 June 1979 in a Kashmiri Pandit family in Srinagar city located in the Kashmir Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. His parents were musician Bhajan Sopori and Aparna Sopori, a professor of English literature.
- He learned Santoor under the traditional Guru-Shishya tradition of his mystical Shaiva-Sufi tradition from his grandfather Shambhu Nath Sopori, known as the “Father of Classical Music” in Jammu and Kashmir and his father Bhajan Sopori.
- Abhay represents the Sufiana Gharana of Kashmir, coming from a family of traditional Santoor players spanning nine generations spanning over 300 years.
- Sopori has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the Center for Ancient Arts, Chandigarh, India and a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Delhi University and computer science from Indira Gandhi National Open University.
Career –
- Sopori was trained in Indian classical music as well as Western and Sufiana music since childhood. Apart from Santoor, he also learned singing, Indian classical sitar, Sufiana sitar and piano.
- He recorded his first song at the age of 3. He worked for a music feature for All India Radio composed by his father and was also a part of his father’s grand choral presentation of over 8000 voices in Srinagar Kashmir in 1985. Were.
- He presented his first choral performance with more than 100 singers organized by Sopori Academy of Music and Performing Arts (SAMAPA) in Kashmir in October 2005.
- In 2000, Abhay started his musical work in Kashmir, performing for youth across the valley to promote Indian classical music and culture and bring them together across the cultural landscape of Jammu and Kashmir by bringing youth together through music. Is given credit for changing.
- Since his debut as a classical santoor player in the mid-1990s, Abhay has performed in India and across the world in countries such as the United States, Russia, Brazil, Mauritius, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Germany, France, Italy Has performed at prestigious festivals.
- Sopori introduced the concept of ‘Sufi Music Ensemble’ named ‘Sufi Kinship’ in 2011 consisting of 35 musicians and Santoor led an Indian Classical Music Ensemble in 2014 with 25 musicians and performed various musical acts across India. Performed at functions.
Santoor Style –
- Sopori’s classical santoor performance is characterized by melodious playing, lightning speed, clarity and precision of Indian classical raga presentation and his adoption of Sopori Baj (style), a unique and systematic format of santoor playing created by his father.
- Presentation of Dhrupad system with the accompaniment of Pakhavaj is also a special feature of his Sopori Baj and performances. He sings compositions with instrumental accompaniment, reviving his traditional Shaiva tradition – the Sufi Santoor tradition.
Award –
- 2018: Raag Ranjani Sangeet Bhushan Award
- 2018: Pt. Man Mohan Bhatt Award
- 2017: Atal Shikhar Samman
- 2017: Dr. S. Radhakrishnan National Media Award
- 2016: Pride of Paradise Award
- 2015: Pride of India Award
- 2015: Sangeet Gaurav Samman
- 2014: Madras Music Academy Awards
- 2014: Sangeet Mani Award – Delhi
- 2013: Indian Fine Arts Society Award
- 2013: Sabzar Excellence Award
- 2012: Kashmir Kirti Samman
- 2011: Jammu and Kashmir Citizen Award
- 2010: Glory of India Award
- 2010: Best Citizen of India Award
- 2010: Raag Ranjani Sangeet Shri Award
- 2010: Bharat Shiromani Award
- 2009: Maa Sharika Samman
- 2008: National Dogri Award
- 2007: Sangeet Bhushan Samman
- 2007: Excellence Award
- 2006: Ustad Bismillah Khan Youth Award
- 2006: Young India Award
- 2005: Junjo Korean International Heritage Award
- 2004: Kalavant Samman
Question Related to Abhay Rustum Sopori
When and where was Abhay Sopori born?
Abhay Sopori was born on 7 June 1979 in Jammu and Kashmir, India.
What was the name of Abhay Sopori’s father?
Abhay Sopori’s father’s name was Bhajan Sopori.
What was the name of Abhay Sopori’s mother?
Abhay Sopori’s mother’s name was Aparna Sopori.
