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Dr. Mustafa Raza belongs to the Beenkar Gharana (Family or School) of Patiala and Moradabad. This Gharana holds an important place in the Classical Indian music world. Ustad Abdul Aziz Khan Saheb has made a priceless contribution to the "Vichitra Veena." The Patiala Gharana has given the name and popularity to this rare and unique instrument in the music world. Ustad Abdul Aziz Khan Saheb was the court musician and the Guru of His Highness, the Maharaja of Patiala, in the princely state of Patiala.

Ustad Ahmed Raza Khan (Beenkar) took training in the Guru-Shishya Parampara, Vichitra Veena from Ustad Abdul Aziz Khan Saheb, as per the tradition. He is the only disciple who has received tremendous appreciation in the music world and at present has created a different kind of image for his "Ustad and Gharana." The name of Vichitra Veena also comes with Ustad Ahmed Raza Khan Saheb. He has been the court musician of Patiala State, Indore, and Palanpur State for some time. He rendered performances and contributed to popularizing the Vichitra Veena all over India and abroad. He was awarded the Excellency Service of Music (A.I.R.) Rastrapati Award, Veena Ratna Award, Tantra Vilas Award, Sangeet Shiromani Award, Sangeet Natak Academy Award, Sahityakala Parishad Award, and Master of Veena Award, etc.

The father of Dr. Mustafa Raza, Ustad Ahmed Raza Khan Saheb, had been linked up as a court musician of Akbar's Darbar along with the great musician Tansen. This family has produced many great musicians and wizards of their own time like Ustad Chajju Khan Saheb, a renowned exponent of "Sur Sagar" and "Veena," who was the Court Musician of the Palampur State, Ustad Sher Khana (Kingdom of Nepal), Ustad Tajummull Hussain Khan (Veena and Dhrupad) State of Jodhpur, Ustad Kale Nazir Khan, court musician of the State of Rampur, Ustad Aman Ali Khan, and Padma Vibhushan Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa. The honor of the title Beenkar was given by the Maharaja of Patiala to Ustad Ahmed Raza Khan Saheb.

Dr. Mustafa Raza has taken early training in Vichitra Veena and Classical Music from his father, Ustad Ahmed Raza Khan, as per the tradition (Seena Ba Seena), Guru Shishya Parampara, and practices 12 hours a day. He has introduced the instrument Vichitra Veena in America, Canada, London, Finland, France, Germany, Sweden, Estonia, Syria, Tunisia, Kuwait, Turkey, Istanbul, Egypt, Doha, Qatar, and all over the world. He has participated in the Millennium 2000 Festival for 24 hours in Paris and the world music festival in Estonia. He has popularized the Vichitra Veena in foreign countries. Dr. Raza is the only traditional player of this instrument in the whole world, and the Vichitra Veena is known in the music festival by his name in the music world.

Dr. Raza has played duet fusion with Western instruments like Guitar + Veena, Cello + Veena, Piano + Veena, Saxophone + Veena, Ud + Veena, and Flute + Harp + Veena, etc., in all music festivals in foreign countries. Famous companies from America, London, France, Germany, Canada, and Estonia have released his music CDs. For the first time, an American company has released the CD "The Art of Indian Veena," which comes in the U.S.A.'s top ten and has been quoted very beautifully about the Veena and classical music. Dr. Raza has many disciples in foreign countries.

He has earned a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree. He is the Selection Grade-I artist of A.I.R. and Doordarshan, along with being a classical music scholar (Ministry of Culture, Government of India). He has taken a Diploma in Hindustani Music. He has received a Gold Medal in the Hindustani Music Competition and has also composed music in devotional music, Sufiana Kalam, and folk tradition music. He has received many awards and titles like Tantra Vilars, Veena Vadan, Veena Ratna, and Master of Veena in Qatar, etc. He has shown the developed Personal (Patiala Gharana Style of Gayaki Ang for Raga) and expression of the artist which require refined and sublime spirit, which is only developed from never-ending practice (Sadhana).
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