Asad Qizilbash

Born in Pakistan in 1963, Asad Qizilbash is living in Islamabad - capital of Pakistan. He is the second of three sons, all gifted for music. However, only Asad pursued a classic music career.His father, the well known and much appreciated K. H. Qizilbash, was himself a very educated and talented self-made violinist. He appreciated very much the western classic music (Beethoven, Mozart, Paganini, etc.).

He was composing and playing creations of his own, where the influence if the western music was appearing in famous ragas. When he became the first music composer of the Pakistan Television (PTV) in Rawalpindi, he was a recognized composer-conductor-cum-violinist. In 1973, in front of 59 other countries, he brought to his country the award of the 9th "Hollywood Festival for Ballet Dance". His career as much oriented in the promotion of Pakistanis musicians also. Among others the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Qawal) and the present much appreciated Hadiqa Kayani (Pop singer) were given technical support by him, since the mid seventies.

It is no wonder that Asad Qizilbash received the best kind if musical instructions, starting with the violin. And today, Asad Qizilbash still remembers each detail of his father's lessons. This did not bring Asad to consider a classical music career in the beginning. As many youngster, Asad Qizilbash also learned guitar, a much more fashion instrument. And he was performing successfully in Folk & Pop songs.

However, a complete U-turn occurred in his life when he attended the concert given by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan the Ustad of sarod in the Liaquat Hall / Rawalpindi in 1981. A paradigm shift occurred then. Asad became Ganda Band Shagird of Amjad Ali Khan (New Delhi 1997).

As he likes to remember it: "we never liked classical music at that time. But when I heard him, I thought to throw my guitar. I wished I was playing myself that sarod...", and he would add, "before Amjad Ali Khan, there was no Asad Qizilbash.". His father encouraged him warmly and gave him two things: a sarod and some cassettes from Amjad Ali Khan. From there onwards, Asad Qizilbash listened and learned to play the sarod with the fragrance of his Ustad.

After that, Asad Qizilbash went for a musical retreat. He left for Germany in 1989. He was learning sarod every day and night. He put all his mind and soul into it. He attended the Tagore Institute in Bonn and gave even two concerts (1990 and 1991). He learned, through the cassettes and videos of Amjad Ali Khan. And just as his father had been a self-made violinist, Asad Qizilbash was learning the sarod the same way.

And since he came back to Pakistan in 1992, he is the only recognized sarod player in the country. But more than anything else he is a Spiritual son (Ganda band Shagird) of Ustad Amjad Al Khan, to whom he owes much of his musical style.

Performances of Asad Qizilbash

1973 - Asad Qizilbash started learning violin when he was around 8 years old. At 10 years age, he was asked to perform in a function patronized by UNICEF: "The Universal Children Day". This was in 1973, in Islamabad. It was his first public performance.

1975 - Asad Qizilbash became a performing member of the children Art Workshop" at the Pakistan Council of Arts (PNCA).He was playing violin and the guitar. He remained member of this workshop till 1982, when he left for the Middle East. During those days he used to play daily at the workshop. At the same period e became a contract musician at the Pakistan Television, the PTV.

1981 - Asad Qizilbash was selected with some other musicians to represent Pakistan at the Attaturk Festival, in Ankara. He was playing violin and guitar. This was an invitation from the Radio-Television authorities of Turkey. On that same year he met Ustad Amjad Ali Khan in Pakistan, for the first time.

1983 - "Kasbey Qamal", a television serial by the PTV where Asad Qizilbash was performing sarod and violin.

1984 -"Pangnat", a television serial by the PTV where Asad Qizilbash was performing for the musical background .

1990 and 1992 - Sarod concerts at the Tagore Institute in Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany.

1992 - Since his return to Pakistan, Asad Qizilbash is playing sarod, mainly. His talent is largely recognized and he has performed already in four Rag Rang: 1993, 1994, 1997, and 1998. These are very exclusive concerts reserved only for classical musicians of highest level.

1993 - "Raselay Log" - a television serial by the PTV where Asad Qizilbash has performing sarod.

1994. "Standby Studio", a special program run during the election campaign and where Asad Qizilbash was participating in a music event with other musicians.

In addition, Asad Qizilbash performs for all the official visitors at the President Palace and Prime Minister House (in average, twice a month). Prestigious guests included:-

Prince Charles (United Kingdom)

President Bush (United States Of America)

Nelson Mandela (South Africa)

Suleyman Demirel (president of Turkey)

Begun Khaleda Zia (Prime Minister of Bangladesh)

Jiang Zemin (President of China)

Fidel V. Ramos (President of Philippines)

Haider Aliyev (President of Azerbaijan)

Islam Karimov (President of Uzbekistan)

Prof. Barhanuddin Rabbani (President of Afghanistan)

Enomali Rkhmaniv Sharifovich (Head of State, Tajikistan)

Heads of State and government to the ECO Summit (1995)

 Asad Qizilbash performs also for various associations (French Cultural Centre, American Cultural Center, Asian Study Group, etc.) and official institutions (various Embassies, High Commissions, etc.) Asad Qizilbash has been a very much demanded accompanist when western groups of classic musicians are coming to Pakistan. He is keen in such interactions. These happen to be at times in form of jazz or folk music as well. Asad Qizilbash accompanies them, fr the greatest pleasure of all, In the meantime, Asad Qizilbash keeps offering lively evenings at the private parties as well.

 All in all, Asad Qizilbash happens to be a much gifted musician, and able to share his talents with much simplicity, across all cultural border. He has proven this throughout the numerous concerts he has performed.