MARINA AHMED

Marina Ahmad was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and began training in the North Indian Classical vocal style at age four. During her time in Bangladesh, she studied under the tutelage of respected musicians Ustad Phul Mohammed Khan, Shri Barin Majumdar & Srimoti Ila Majumdar and then as a student at Dhaka Music College.

Her pursuit of North Indian classical music ultimately took her to its birthplace and after a brief stint at Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya in New Delhi, Marina was taken on by the internationally renowned Sangeet Martand Padma Bhibhushan Pandit Jasraj-ji, a master and luminary of the North Indian Classical music genre. She went on to receive training in the Mewati Gharana for over two decades and remains one of his senior disciples who performed alongside him worldwide.

She never stopped her musical education, to this date learning more and more about various musical traditions. Notable, she has also received training in the Jaipur Gharana under Srimoti Manik Bhide for many years. She also received training in Gwaliar Gharana from Pandit Dr. Ram Desphande, training in Karnataka music from Srimoti T.L. Balamoni & Prassana Varrier, training in Sufi music from Hamza Aqram of the Kawal Baccha Gharana and training in thumri from Dr. Anita Sen & Dr. Ragini Sharna and semi-classical music from Gita Chandra Niser Hussain Khan.

Marina has shared a stage with Grammy-award winning artist Youssou N’Dur and has recorded several albums featuring various musical traditions. She has been collaborating with western musicians, synthesizing resonant classical Indian vocals with eclectic jazz, blues, and gospel-inspired arrangements. She currently divides her time between New York City, Dhaka and Bombay. She is also the matriarch of Ugdam, a non profit organization which runs workshops and provides a platform for up-and-coming Indian classical artists.