Saqib Razaq

BSc, MBA and with a Masters' in Ethnomusicology from SOAS, University of London, Saqib is the founder and executive director of Sadarang Archives. He is deeply passionate about Hindustani classical music and hopes to see art music actively promoted in Pakistan. Passionate about the tabla, Saqib received initial training from Seetal Singh Sitara before becoming the formal disciple of the late Ustad Faryad Hussain Bhulli Khan. He is presently receiving training from tabla maestros Ustad Faiyyaz Khan and Ustad Bashir Khan of the Delhi and Punjab gharanas respectfully. Research interests include the Punjab (tabla) and Patiala Gharanas (vocal) and the contribution of Hazrat Amir Khusrau towards Indian Music. Saqib will contribute regular articles, and conduct interviews with the leading musical figures of Pakistan for sadarang.com.

M.A.Sheikh

Born in 1911. M.A Sheikh is one of the most respected musical intellectuals in Pakistan. He is the co-founder of the classical music research cell in Radio Pakistan, Lahore. An institution which has put in great efforts in preserving classical music through archival recordings, holding regular concerts and arranging seminars.  Learnt vocal and instrumental music (sitar) from Ustad Ghulam Hussain Khan (Patiala gharana) and Ustad Siraj Ahmed Qureshi (Jaipur gharana). M.A. Sheikh has conducted extensive research on the Muslim gharanas of Pakistan and written countless articles on classical music which have appeared in the national press. He won the Khusrau Award in 1990 from the classical music guild of Pakistan for his services rendered to classical music. He has built the largest music archives in Pakistan. His specific interests include the Muslim Gharanas of Pakistan and listening to classical music. Sheikh saheb will contribute articles and research based material on a regular basis.

Riaz Ahmad Barni

Born in Bombay in 1944, Riaz Ahmad Barni’s refined musical taste has been acquired from listening to the musical programmes of Radio Pakistan, Karachi during the 1960s. He began his training in vocal music under the late tabla wizard Ustad Beebay Khan at HMV Music Institute, Karachi. Later, he went onto becoming a pupil of the late sarangi virtuoso Ustad Hamid Hussain and continued learning vocal music. Inheriting a literary taste from his writer father, late Ziauddin Ahmad Barni, Riaz saheb is presently writing his music-related memoirs. He is strongly concerned over the decline of classical music in Pakistan and supports every effort for its revival. As one of our Pakistan-based correspondents, Riaz saheb keeps us posted on developments in Pakistan's music scene and coordinates promotional activities.

Raghib Razaq

A medical doctor by profession, listening to classical music is a major part of Raghib's extra-curricular activities. He heads the media production unit of Sadarang Archives and is responsible for the restoration and maintenance of the audio visual archive. He has co-directed a documentary and a number of music videos with brother Saqib. Interests include the development of ghazal gayaki in Pakistan.

Sachin Fing

An ardent listener of classical music, Sachin is in charge of promoting Sadarang Archives to a wider audience and plays an integral role in coordinating musical concerts.  A traditionalist at heart, Sachin has strong feelings on the cultural traditions of the Indian sub-continent and wants to see an improvement in the cultural exchanges occurring in the South Asian region. Particular musical interests include Dhrupad and the gayaki of Ustad Fateh Ali Khan. He is presently learning the sitar from Ustad Wajahat Khan of the Imdadkhani gharana. Regardless of maintaining an arduous work schedule as an Economist, Sachin has ensured his passion for music forms the mainstay of his leisurely activities.

Dr. Lowell Lybarger completed his PhD on the Punjab gharana of tabla from the University of Toronto under the guidance of  Dr. James Kippen. Lowell's research interests include: Islamic music and culture of South Asia and Music Technology. Lowell has conducted extensive research in Pakistan and had the great honour of learning tabla from the late Ustad Shaukat Hussain. He has also served as visiting lecturer at the acclaimed National College of the Arts in Lahore during 2004.  

Saeed Malik

A senior critic and practitioner of classical music. Saeed Malik earned his M.A (Political Science) and LL.B. degrees from the University of Punjab. He has been associated with the American Center, Lahore, for over 30 years, retiring as Cultural Affairs Advisor.  Has contributed weekly columns on music (and other topics) to the Pakistan Times, the Muslim, the Star, The Nation and Dawn. He has authored three books: The Muslim gharanas of Musicians, The Musical Heritage of Pakistan and Lahore; Its melodic culture. Learnt vocal music from several maestros, especially Ustad Sardar Khan of Tanras Khan Delhi Gharana. Saeed Malik will contribute articles to this website on a regular basis. 

Sarwat Ali

A regular columnist for the News, Pakistan, Sarwat Ali is well versed on all cultural fronts. He has learnt classical music under the guidance of the late Ustad Faiz Ahmed Khan of the Gwalior gharana and has co- hosted the classical music programme "Baat Aik Raag Ki" on PTV. Sarwat has kindly given permission to use his published articles for the website.

Syed Islam Shah

Former radio producer associated with Radio Pakistan (Lahore). Has authored two books on classical music and many articles have featured in the national press. Learnt vocal music from G.A. Farooq of the Kirana Gharana as well as studying tabla. Islam Shah has worked with all the top-notch classical musicians of Pakistan during his association with Radio Pakistan.

Anwar-ul-Haq, associated with the civil service, is a well respected music director, scholar, connoisseur and poet. His initial training was as a sitar player under the guidance of Ustad Sharif Khan, but later had an inclination towards musical composition under the influence of the renowned composer, Khwaja Khurshid Anwar.  Anwar-ul-Haq has learnt the rudiments of classical music from Ustad Hafeez Khan of Talwandi gharana and Ustad Asad Ali Khan, Beenkar. He has hosted the classical music television programme "Raag Rang" for more than eight years. His area of interest in classical music is Dhrupad and Alap. 

Sound recordist/ librarian of the classical music research cell in Radio Pakistan, Lahore. Saeed saheb has worked extremely hard in assimilating material for the research cell in Lahore, in particular his work in collecting rare recordings of archival value for the research cell is worthy of note. He has learnt the sitar from Ustad Sharif Khan Poonchwaalay. Saeed saheb has supported this venture by providing rare audio recordings for the archives.