Powerful Vocals,Colours and Rhythms

Mushfiq Ensemble
Genre / World, Folk and Classical Music from India and Afghanistan
Contact / Mushfiq Hashimi, Artistic Director
Email /
Tel. / (613) 521-2736 / (613) 862-8856
Website /

Left to Right: Shalini Sahni, Said Moheb Hashimy, Said Mushfiq Hashimi, Rishma Peera

Mushfiq Ensemble features two brothers as principal artists: Said Mushfiq Hashimi, lead vocal and harmonium player, and disciple of Pandit Ajoy Chakraburtty of the Patiala Gharana. He is the founder of the Mushfiq Ensemble and Mushfiq Arts Company, School of Music and Visual Art in Ottawa. He is accompanied by his younger brother, Said Moheb Hashimy, a distinguished tabla player, composer and singer. Said Moheb is a disciple of Pt. Anindo Chatterjee from the Farokhabad Gharana in Kolkata He also studied under Ustad Arif Cheshti and Ustad Ejaz Hossain, of the Punjab Gharana, from 1990 to 2002. In the areas of Vocal and Raga Music, Moheb is a disciple of Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan, son of late Ustad Salamat Ali Khan from Sham Chaurasi Gharana. They are also accompanied by Rishma Peera and Shalini Sahni, students at the Mushfiq Arts Company, School of Music and Visual Arts in Ottawa, and will provide support on vocal, tanpura and khanjari. The Mushfiq Ensemble is known for their interactive performances, providing something special for everyone while creating a feeling of unity and harmony amongst all. Please visit for complete bios and videos.

Special Features
Genres / Afghan Folk, North Indian Classical, Qawwalis, ghazals, light classical, Bollywood hits and dance music
12 languages / Songs are performed in Farsi, Hindi, Arabic, Punjabi, French, and Russian, to mention a few. We typically speak to audiences in English and French.
Workshops for children & adults
Educational Outreach / Participate in highly interactive workshops that explain the differences between eastern and western approaches to music. Highlights vocal technique as well as harmonium and tabla techniques from all over the world.
Afghan calligraphy / Live demonstrations using audience members’ name
Henna workshops / Learn the history and various techniques of beautifying your body with these temporary tattoos

Youtube Links

Folk on the Rocks Festival, Yellowknife, NWT

Small World Festival, Toronto, Ontario

Chin Radio World Showcase, Ottawa, Ontario

Please visit our website for our most recent videos.

Recent Performances

2012
1 Dec. / Mushfiq Ensemble Holiday Concert, Carleton University / Ottawa, Ontario
5 Sept. / Afghan Independence Day Celebration hosted by Afghanistan Embassy of Ottawa / Ottawa City Hall
2 Sept. / Private wedding reception, 500 people / Ottawa, Ontario
26 Aug. / Private wedding reception, 200 people / Ottawa, Ontario
11-12 Aug. / Festival of India / Ottawa, Ontario
20 July / Ottawa Turkish Festival / Ottawa, Ontario
8 July / TD Festival of South Asia / Toronto, Ontario
7 July / Private wedding reception, 350 people / Toronto, Ontario
2011
19 Nov / Celebration of Eid and Diwali / Ottawa, Ontario
15 Oct. / OCFF Family Showcase / Niagara Falls, Ont.
17 July / Ottawa South Asian Festival / Ottawa, Ontario
16 July / Gerrard India Bazaar – TD Festival of
South Asia / Toronto, Ontario
9 July / RBC Mosaic Festival / Toronto, Ontario
Aug. / Private Concert (Wedding Reception) / Ottawa, Ontario
19 Jan. / Professional concert (Headliners) / Kolkata, India
2010
8 Oct. / Morning Raga Concert featuring Anol Chatterjee, accompanied by Mushfiq Ensemble / Ottawa, Ontario
1 Oct. / Mushfiq Arts Company presents Anol Chatterjee, Centrepointe Theatre / Ottawa, Ontario
7 Aug. / Outdoor Student Concert,
Andrew Haydon Park / Ottawa, Ontario
2009
26 Nov. / Launch Concert for ‘Bahami’ , the first
Student CDfrom Mushfiq Arts Company / Ottawa, Ontario
18 May / Concert performance to celebrate the
poetry of Rumi / Ottawa, Ontario
23 Mar. / Peace Camp, Ashbury College / Ottawa, Ontario
08 Mar. / Concert to celebrate 6th anniversary of MushfiqArts Company & International Women's Day / Orleans, Ontario
2008
14 Nov. / Concert for Department of National Defense(Federal Govt.) / Edmonton, Alberta
23 Sept. / Mushfiq Ensemble presents an Evening of Devotional Music at the Satya Sai Spiritual Centre of Ottawa-Carleton / Ottawa, Ontario
28 June / Mushfiq Ensemble performs at Conference Honoring Poetry of Bedil / Toronto, Ontario
2007
15 Sept. / CHIN Radio World Showcase, Carleton University / Ottawa Ontario
31 Aug. / Shelter Valley Folk Festival / Shelter Valley, Ont.
09 Aug. / Ottawa Folk Festival / Ottawa, Ontario
26-28 Jul. / Calgary Folk Festival / Calgary, AB
13 Jul. / Vancouver Folk Festival / Vancouver, BC
6-8 Jul. / Harrison Festival / Hot Springs, B.C.
16 June / Brampton Folk Festival / Brampton, Ontario
18 May / Concert at Library and Archives Canada to celebrate Asian Heritage Month,
Broadcast by CBC Radio / Ottawa, Ontario
15 Apr. / Small World Music Society / Toronto, Ontario
Folk on the Rocks Festival / Yellowknife, NWT
21-25 Feb. / North American Folk Alliance / Memphis, Tennessee

Technical Requirements

General

The Mushfiq Ensemble requires a stage minimum 16 feet wide by 10 feet deep.

The Mushfiq Ensemble plays seated on chairs or stools.

Specific

TABLA (Percussion)

2 mikes with stand (one for each tabla drum) with boom

Shure 58

Shure SM57 Dynamic LO Z

VOCAL

4 mikes with stand - Shure 58

1 cordless headset - Shure PGXD1 Digital

HARMONIUM

1 mike with stand - Shure SM57 Dynamic LO Z

Hercules keyboard stand

KEYBOARD

3 1/4 inch lines for keyboard and electronic tanpura

5 chairs

Hercules keyboard stand

ELECTRONIC DRUM SET

Shure cordless mike

2 1/4 inch lines

line for Ipad connection to sound board

MONITORS

4 monitors