Abhay Sopori

2020: Abhay performing with Pt. Bhajan Sopori ji

Abhay Rustum Sopori was born on 7 June 1979 in the Kashmir valley of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (union territory). He was born to the living legend of music Pandit Bhajan Sopori and mother Dr. Aparna Sopori,[5] professor of English literature and acclaimed academician of Jammu and Kashmir (union territory). He learned Santoor under the traditional Guru-Shishya Parampara of his mystic Shaivite - Sufi tradition from his grandfather late Pandit Shamboo Nath Sopori,[6] hailed as the "Father of Classical Music" in Jammu and Kashmir (union territory) and his father Pandit Bhajan Sopori, hailed as the "King of Strings"[7] and "Saint of Santoor".[7][8][9]

Abhay represents the fabled Sufiana Gharana of Kashmir, the exclusive traditional Santoor family of India with its roots spanning over nine generations over more than 300 years.[10][11]

Abhay has a master's degree in Music from Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh, India and holds bachelors in 3 different disciplines, Commerce from Delhi University, Computers from Indira Gandhi National Open University and Music from Pracheen Kala Kendra.

He is currently working on his thesis to complete his PhD. in music.

All throughout academics, Abhay has held various cultural positions like:

• General Secretary, SaMaPa (Sopori Academy of Music And Performing Arts) (SaMaPa), one of the most prominent and prestigious music academy and organization of India (2005 onwards)[12]
• Member of Central Committee, J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Govt. of J&K (2016 onwards)[13]
• Member of General Council, J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Govt. of J&K (2016 onwards)[13]
• Member, Editorial Board, JK Music Initiative, Music Journal by Department of Higher Education, Govt. of J&K (2018 onwards)[14][15]
• Visiting Faculty', University of Massachusetts, Amherst USA (2004)[16]
• Cultural Advisor to the Foundation for Promotion of Natural Products (FPNP), India (2003 onwards)
• Abhay has also headed the various panels for judgment like Sangeet Natak Akademi's All India Music Competitions, Delhi Rotary Club Music Competitions, Ramleela Dushera Darpan, Competition for Physically Challenged People (Kolkata), Music Competitions for Doordarshan and other TV shows on various channels, etc.

Abhay received his training in music since childhood in Indian classical, Western and Sufiana music. Apart from Santoor, he also learnt Vocal, Indian classical Sitar, Sufiana Sehtar and Piano. He recorded his first song at the age of 3 for a musical feature for All India Radio composed by his father Pandit Bhajan Sopori and was also part of his father's grand choral presentation featuring over 8000 voices in Srinagar Kashmir in 1985.[17] He participated in various programmes of Doordarshan as a child artist in Kashmir. In 1989, at the age of ten, he won the State Music Competition organized by J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir (union territory).

Abhay's family had to shift to Delhi in 1990 due to the exodus in the Valley. Abhay started his musical career as a Santoor player in mid 1990s in Delhi. He also had his advanced training in composing orchestras and folk music ensembles as well as choral presentations from his father Pandit Bhajan Sopori.

Abhay Rustum Sopori at SaMaPa 2014

Abhay, while exploring the dimensions of Santoor and his Baaj (Style), introduced the 'Open String Concept' in 2002 and 'Enhanced Sustain Technique' in 2005 giving a new dimension to the sound of the Santoor. He composed and conducted his first J&K Folk Music Ensemble named ‘Soz-o-Saaz’ in 2003 in a music festival organized by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) titled 'Rhythms & Melodies of Kashmir' in Delhi and later in successive concert in 2004 and 2005 featuring over 75 musicians.[18]

He presented his first Choral presentation featuring over 100 singers in October 2005 in Kashmir organized by Sopori Academy of Music And Performing Arts (SaMaPa).[18] Abhay's J&K Folk Music Ensembles (Soz-o-Saaz) has also been presented at various other festivals and conferences, which includethe 'Jammu & KashmirFestival' presented at the Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts in New Delhi in 2009[19] and Ganesh Kala KridaRangmanch in Pune in 2010,[20] which left the audiences captivated and mesmerized. Abhay's Classical fusions have also received rave reviews.[21]

In 2000, Abhay started his musical work in Kashmir performing for the youth across the Valley promoting Indian classical music and culture and is credited for changed the entire cultural scenario of Jammu & Kashmir bringing the youth together through music. His concerts in border areas of J&K have been attended by over 20,000 people.[22]

Abhay Rustum Sopori conducting along with Mr. Zubin Mehta in Kashmir 2013

Since his debut as a Classical Santoor player in mid 1990s, Abhay has performed in prestigious festivals across India and around the world in countries like the United States, Russia, Brazil, Mauritius, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Germany, France, Italy, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Slovenia, Ukraine, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Morocco, Iran, Israel, Bahrain, Dubai, etc.

Abhay introduced the concept of 'Sufi Music Ensemble' titled 'Sufi Kinship®’ in 2011 featuring 35 musicians and Santoor led 'Indian Classical Music Ensemble' in 2014 featuring 25 musicians[23] and performed at various concerts across India.

He is the only contemporary composer of India whose compositional work has been conducted by the legendary music maestro Zubin Mehta and has the rare honor to co-conduct along with him.[17] He scored the music for one of the greatest acclaimed fusion composition titled Haftrang (seven colors in Kashmiri) in 2013 performed by the Bavarian State Orchestra of Germany, one of the top most orchestras of the world, together with Abhay's Kashmiri folk music ensemble Soz-o-Saaz, giving international recognition to Kashmiri music and creating history in the world of music. The concert was telecast live in more than 100 countries. The orchestra consisted of around 100 musicians.[24][25][26]

Abhay has also done international collaborations including presentations with the world renowned Austrian Vienna Boys Choir, Moroccan Lute Maestro Haj Younis, Iranian Santur Maestro Dr. Darius Saghafi, American Dulcimer Maestro Malcom Dalgish, French Clarinet Maestro Laurent Clouet & others.[9]

Abhay's Classical Santoor performance is marked by mellifluous playing, lightning tempo, clarity and accuracy of Indian Classical Raga exposition and adoption of the Sopori Baaj (style), the unique and systematic format of Santoor playing created by Pandit Bhajan Sopori[27][28][29]

The Sopori Baaj of Pandit Bhajan Sopori is a formal system of playing the Santoor and incorporates all the essential technical nuances of both the Gayaki (vocal) and Tantrakari (instrumental) Angs (aspects) such as Meend, Gamak, Glides, Taan, Bol, Chhand and Laya patterns, which are absolutely essential for the correct rendering of Raga-Sangeet in the true Indian Classical tradition.[27][28]

Presentation of Dhrupad system along with the accompaniment of the Pakhawaj is also a special characteristic of his Sopori Baaj and performance.[30] Another remarkable and unique quality of his presentation is that he sings the compositions along with its instrumental rendering reviving his traditional Shaivaite - Sufi Santoor Parampara.[27]

Abhay continues to innovate and experiment with Santoor to further extend its dimensions. In keeping with his lineage he has introduced the Open String Concept' on Santoor, together with the Enhanced Sustain Technique giving a new dimension to the sound of Santoor further established the concept of ‘Gayan-Vadan Baaj’ (vocal-instrumental system) and ‘Been Ang on Santoor.[31] He invented, designed and introduced a 30-stringed instrument in 2004 named as Sur-Santoor.[32]

He has been instrumental in reviving the old Sufiana compositions of his predecessors and adopted them in the Indian Classical scenario and also composed and introduced new Khayal compositions.[33] Raga Nirmalkauns[34] named after Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi and Raga MahaKali[35][36] named after Goddess Mother Kali are Abhay's newly composed Ragas that have been widely acclaimed in the music world.

Abhay has composed music for Films, Telefilms, Short Films, Serials (TV & Radio) and Documentaries. He recently debuted as a composer in Bollywood commercial cinema with Shikara movie and composed the Love theme song Dilbar Lagyo and the Wedding Song titled Shukrana Gul Khile.

His other work includes Mahatma, a documentary film by Government of India on Mahatma Gandhi, presented at the United Nations marking the first International Non-violence Day[37] National award winning Kashmiri film Bub,[7] International award winning film Ziyarat[9] etc

• Vishuddha 1, SaMaPa, Classical Santoor
• Vishuddha 2, SaMaPa, Classical Santoor
• Triveni, SaMaPa, Santoor Fusion
• Sopori Legacy, SaMaPa, Classical Santoor
• Dancing Dewdrops, Virgin EMI Records, Santoor Fusion (Classical)
• The Urban Grooves – Kashmir, Virgin EMI Records, Santoor Fusion (Kashmiri)
• Tum Jo Mile, Virgin EMI Records, Santoor Fusion
• Voyage au coeur de l'Inde, Virgin EMI Records, Santoor Fusion
• Spirit of Doon, Virgin EMI Records, Composer
• Fragrances of Cabella, SaMaPa, Classical Santoor
• Voice of Strings, Mars Music, Classical Santoor
• New Strings, Mars Music, Classical Santoor
• Santoor Vadan, NITL India, Classical Santoor
• Shehjaar, Saregama& SaMaPa, Composer
• Aalav, Saregama & SaMaPa, Co-composer
• Runjhun, Saregama & SaMaPa, Co-composer
• Kabir Bani, SaMaPa, Composer & Singer
• Meera Bhajans, SaMaPa, Composer & Singer
• Ma Haro Meri Peer, SaMaPa, Co-composer
• Ajab Nain Tere, SaMaPa, Co-composer
• Anwari Muhammadi^SAW, SaMaPa, Composer
• Jai Baba Barfani (Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board), Co-composer & Singer
• Amarnath Yatra, Times Music, Co-composer & Singer

• Vaishno Janto Folk Instrumental version, Doordarshan, Govt. of India, Co-composer
• Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat, All India Radio, Co-composer & Singer
• Challa, T-Series (company), Composer
• Aao Kadam Badhayain (SaMaPa), Composer
• Dua (SaMaPa), Composer & Singer
• Wohi Khuda Hai (SaMaPa), Composer
• Nai Subha - Kashmiri (SaMaPa), Composer & Singer
• Nai Subha - Dogri (SaMaPa), Composer & Singer
• Hazrat-e-Nabi^SAW (SaMaPa), Composer
• Jannat-e-Kashmir (SaMaPa), Co-composer & Singer